What Other Purpose Do Greyhound Muzzles Have on the Racetrack?
Another reason to muzzle Greyhounds when racing is to prevent artificial lure damage. The lures usually take the form of windsocks or stuffed animals, which a dog can rip to pieces quickly.
Although track officials don’t want to see anything damaged, another reason is to keep dogs from savaging lures. The materials used for lures can break into small pieces capable of causing choking or digestive tract obstructions.
Another reason Greyhounds wear muzzles while racing is because these races often have a photo finish. The presence of muzzles makes it easier to determine which dog crossed first.
Can Muzzling a Greyhound Be a Good Idea Around Unfamiliar Dogs?
Even if your Greyhound hasn’t shown aggression, muzzling around unfamiliar dogs might be a good idea, especially if the dogs are smaller. When the muzzle fits properly, your dog should be able to drink, pant, and breathe without problems.
Although Greyhounds love dogs by nature, any dog without proper socialization can have problems with acting out. Sometimes the behavior manifests as aggression in stressful settings. Many rescue dogs retired from racing have had abusive owners.
Retired racers may require muzzling around smaller dogs until they have gotten used to their new friends. A small dog’s movement and behavior may mimic a hare or racing lure to the hound.
Many small breeds, for example, tend to show aggressive behavior. These dogs might invade a giant dog’s space and start biting or snapping. A Greyhound’s reaction to an aggressive smaller dog might mean severe injury or death to the small dog.
Muzzling your Greyhound during introductions to other bigger dogs can also be a good idea. These dogs may take time to get used to other breeds and their body language and behavior.
However, you may want to consider whether muzzling your dog in a public setting is a good idea unless required by law. A muzzled dog cannot defend himself properly if a dog not under the owner’s control attacks.
What Were Greyhounds Used for Before Racing?
Although Greyhounds are best known for racing, this sport was not their original purpose.
Greyhounds and similar breeds were initially bred for coursing, a hunting technique dating back thousands of years in the Middle East. These sighthounds were bred to pursue the game as quickly as possible.
The European nobility adopted this practice during the Middle Ages. Some of the games these dogs hunted included hares, foxes, deer, and rabbits.
Hare coursing was a predecessor to Greyhound racing, involving two Greyhounds chasing the same hare. Whichever dog caught up with the hare won the challenge.
Greyhound racing on a track replaced hare coursing in modern times. Instead of pursuing a live hare, the dogs would chase a mechanical lure around the track.
Despite the sport’s popularity at one time, humane issues have come to light that has caused a decline in popularity. Greyhound racing has been banned in 39 states.
Because Greyhounds wear muzzles while racing, many people wrongfully assume these dogs are aggressive. Many who want to adopt retired racing dogs have concerns about aggression, mainly if there are children at home.
Greyhounds, however, are used to being around other dogs from a very young age. These dogs usually play very well with others and learn to read other dogs’ body language quite well.
Aggression is a bad trait for a Greyhound on the race track. When a dog shows too much aggression, his career may end abruptly.
According to experts specializing in adoptions, track officials take aggression issues seriously. Race tracks will ban dogs from the premises if they show aggression while racing.
Your greyhound’s muzzle
From 1 January 2019 the legal requirement for your pet greyhound to be muzzled in public will no longer apply — if it is retired from the racing industry.
You can choose to keep a muzzle on your pet greyhound in public if you want to.
If your greyhound is showing signs of hyper-excitability or agitation around other dogs, consider keeping a muzzle on your greyhound when walking in public.
A muzzle should fit your greyhound comfortably and not restrict normal behaviour such as panting and drinking.