Mandatory muzzling of pet greyhounds in public occurs only in Australia and Northern Ireland. RSPCA Australia has not identified any evidence of increased safety risks or incidents/issues arising from the absence of mandatory muzzling of pet greyhounds in public places in other countries or in those jurisdictions in Australia where greyhounds do not have to be muzzled.
In some Australian jurisdictions, there is a compulsory requirement for pet greyhounds to wear a muzzle in public.
Greyhound muzzling laws are based on ‘breed’ not on individual dog behaviour and are an example of breed-specific legislation (BSL). There is no evidence to show that greyhounds as a breed pose any greater risk to the public compared to other dog breeds or mix of breeds. The RSPCA does not support breed specific legislation. Compulsory greyhound muzzling is contrary to RSPCA policy which states that the use of muzzles should be based on the behaviour of each individual dog.
Compulsory muzzling contributes to negative public perceptions about greyhounds and their suitability as pets. Most people are not aware that compulsory muzzling requirements are in place and, therefore, mistakenly conclude that greyhounds are muzzled due to an aggressive and dangerous temperament. In reality, greyhounds generally have friendly and gentle dispositions making them great companion animals.
The RSPCA supports the complete removal of mandatory muzzling requirements for pet greyhounds while in a public place. Some jurisdictions have already removed or modified mandatory muzzling requirements for pet greyhounds. Please check with your relevant local jurisdiction for information specific to your area.
According to a study conducted by James Serpell Deborah L. Duffy, and Yuying Hsu, greyhounds were among several other breeds that ranked as the least aggressive toward both humans and dogs.
The oldest form of hare coursing often involved two greyhounds chasing a hare, and the winner was the dog who caught the hare.
Track racing entails greyhounds chasing after an artificial lure on a track up until the finish line. The mechanical artificial lure consists of a stuffed toy or a small plastic wind sock.
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As seen, greyhounds wear muzzles when racing for some very valid reasons, but aggression is not one of them.
Back to the original question of this article – Why do Greyhounds wear muzzles when they race? Let me be clear about something before I answer that. Greyhounds normally only wear muzzles when they race; as a family pet this is rarely necessary. Greyhounds are normally just big sweethearts that are very happy to snuggle with you on the sofa for hours on end. They are also pretty good runners too if you haven’t noticed. They are visually stimulated by prey (they officially are a sighthound) and therefore must always be kept on a leash as pets because they will go from 0 to 45 miles per hour in about two seconds to chase a paper bag blowing down your street.
Greyhound dogs, a breed that can be polarizing. Almost all of the Greyhounds that you see as pets came from the racetrack. They ended up at a Greyhound rescue organization because they either retired from racing at four to six years of age or because they never made the cut and therefore can be very young.
As with every breed, there are good points and some things that can be challenging. This is why they are so polarizing. For more information on the breed please see this great article on the 10 reasons you don’t want the breed and 10 reasons you do. I wish there were more articles like this for every breed because all dog breeds have pluses and minuses.
Another mindset says that racing Greyhounds is unnatural and inhumane. Further, the environment they are required to live in while of racing age can be abusive. Rescuing the retired racers and those that didn’t make the cut only makes it easier for those racing these dogs to readily dump their dogs when they are done with them, recruit yet more young dogs and give the Greyhound racing community an air of legitimacy.
Why and When Do Racing Greyhounds Wear Muzzles?
Many greyhounds wear muzzles when they race. If you ever attended a greyhound race or saw a picture of these sprinting dogs racing, you may have wondered why theyre wearing muzzles in the first place. Lets discover why.
Seeing greyhounds wear muzzles when they race may seem odd. The last thing you knew, greyhounds were gentle dogs who are sweet and friendly, so why on earth do greyhounds wear muzzles when they are racing? Turns out, those muzzles have two important functions when these dogs are racing nose-to-nose.
Greyhound racing has its roots from an ancient hunting technique known as “coursing.” Coursing entailed the pursuit of game by swift dogs, mostly greyhounds and other sight hounds hounds.
This hunting technique was commonly practiced by nobles in the Middle Ages and consisted of dogs chasing and hunting prey animals such as rabbits, deer, foxes and hare mainly by sight.
The oldest form of hare coursing often involved two greyhounds chasing a hare, and the winner was the dog who caught the hare.
Due to controversy over the bloody sport of hare coursing, today, greyhounds are no longer chasing after hare in open fields.
Track racing entails greyhounds chasing after an artificial lure on a track up until the finish line. The mechanical artificial lure consists of a stuffed toy or a small plastic wind sock.
Despite this sports initial popularity, greyhound racing is now declining due to welfare issues. According to the Humane Society of the United States, this sport is now now illegal in 39 states.
Many people assume that greyhounds are aggressive because they must wear muzzles when they are racing. This can sometimes discourage potential foster homes or those wishing to adopt a retired racing greyhound.
Racing greyhounds are raised among other greyhounds and are used to their presence from an early age. Most have good skills in reading dog body language and play well with other greyhounds.
Aggressive tendencies can be troublesome in the race track and can even put an end to a greyhounds career.
According to Greyhound Crossroads, an organization that aids in greyhound adoptions, greyhounds who show any aggression towards other racers during a race are banned from the race track.
So why do greyhounds wear muzzles when they race if its not because they are aggressive? After all, arent muzzles mostly built with the purpose of preventing dogs from biting?
The purpose of the muzzle, in this case, is to protect one greyhound from another as they are excitedly racing nose-to-nose.
According to Greyhound Crossroads, when greyhounds are racing they do so with their mouths open. A bump with a tooth into another greyhound at 40 miles per hour or more can cause injuries in this breed with a thin, delicate skin. The muzzle can therefore help prevent potential injuries in these valuable animals.
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An additional reason reported by the Greyhound Board of Great Britain is to prevent greyhounds from trying to damage the artificial lure at the end of a race.
On top of protecting the delicate skin of greyhounds, muzzles offer another less-known advantage that is worthy of mentioning.
When two greyhounds are racing nose-to-nose and cross the finish line, it can be difficult to determine which one wins the race.
The muzzles can therefore turn helpful in determining who is the true winner in the case of a photo-finish race, according to Daytona Beach Kennel Club. As the saying goes “win by a nose” applies to greyhound racing just as it does in horse racing!
Did you know? According to veterinarian Dr. Robert L. Gillette, the greyhound stride is known as a “double suspension rotary gallop. “This gait, which allows greyhounds to have their legs completely off the ground at two points, is definitely the fastest gait, but also the most fatiguing.”
As seen, greyhounds wear muzzles when racing for some very valid reasons, but aggression is not one of them.
With that in mind, consider that many wonderful greyhounds are seeking homes for a happy retirement. Do you have what it takes to be a good greyhound owner? Discover more about this fascinating breed below.
Every year, thousands of greyhounds are retired from the race track and put up for adoption. Owners looking for a dog who is friendly and rather docile may find a greyhound to be their best friend.
According to a study conducted by James Serpell Deborah L. Duffy, and Yuying Hsu, greyhounds were among several other breeds that ranked as the least aggressive toward both humans and dogs.
Greyhounds tend to be peaceful with medium to large breeds of dogs, but a watchful eye must be kept when around cats and tiny dogs because of their heritage as chasers. However, many greyhounds can learn to coexist with these smaller pets with close supervision and gentle guidance.
Overall, greyhounds are very docile dogs blessed with a sweet temperament that makes them great therapy dog candidates.
Surprisingly, they are generally laid back if you provide them with regular opportunities to romp a few times a week.
Because of their chasing tendencies though they required a safely enclosed yard and must be always kept on leash (and on a safe martingale collar) when out and about on walks.