Grooming and other requirements All greyhounds must be groomed by brushing or bathing, whichever is necessary, at a frequency that ensures coats are kept in good, clean condition. All greyhounds must have their toenails checked and trimmed at a frequency that prevents overgrowth. Muzzling Greyhounds are not to be muzzled in housing pens. Basket muzzling during toileting, socialisation and group exercise is acceptable as a means of acclimatising greyhounds to muzzles for racing. However, greyhounds must not be muzzled for more than 30 minutes at a time during these activities. Barking muzzles must not be used except under strict, documented, direction by a veterinary practitioner. Barking muzzles must not be used for a period of more than five minutes at a time and no more than twice per day. Barking muzzles prevent drinking and panting which are essential for hydration and temperature regulation. Breeding Breeding mates must not be closely related to one another, such as father- daughter, mother-son, brother-sister, grandfather-granddaughter etc. Heritable defects All breeders must comply with the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986 (Vic), particularly with respect to the Code of Practice for the Responsible Breeding of Animals with Heritable Defects that Cause Disease. The proprietor or owner of any establishment notified that a greyhound sold by the establishment has been diagnosed by a veterinary practitioner as having a heritable disease or defect, or provided with reasonable evidence of a heritable disease or defect in the greyhound, must stop breeding from the parents of the greyhound until the following have been completed: the parents have been tested for the heritable disease or defect, if they are still used for breeding and an acceptable test is available. If an acceptable test is not available, the parents must be assessed by a veterinary practitioner for the heritable disease or defect; and existing offspring of those parents still currently residing at the establishment have been tested for the heritable disease or defect, where an acceptable test is available. If one or both of the parents have the heritable defect, genetic counselling must be obtained from a veterinary practitioner prior to continuing to breed with those greyhounds. If any offspring have the heritable defect, a sale or euthanasia plan must be developed in conjunction with a veterinary practitioner and all details about the
Category Exercise and training requirements Environmental enrichment requirements Puppies 0–4 weeks Normal movement within the whelping box and mother’s pen area. Must be provided with a variety of different surfaces within the enclosure that expose the puppies to different textures (for example, hard floors, soft bedding, newspaper, artificial grass, turf, etc.). Puppies 4–8 weeks Normal movement and play within the mother’s pen area. Can include playing with toys and interaction with humans. Must be provided with at least three different surfaces within the enclosure that expose the puppies to different textures (for example, hard floors, soft bedding, newspaper, artificial grass, turf etc.). Must provide a variety of toys within the enclosure to develop motor skills and play behaviour. Must rotate the toys on a weekly basis. Puppies 8–16 weeks Must provide a minimum 20 minutes run or play time daily within a secure area outside of the primary greyhound housing area. Exercise and training includes being taught to: wear a collar; walk on a lead; walk by their collar; and play chasing games. Must be provided with at least three different surfaces within the enclosure that expose the puppies to different textures (for example, hard floors, soft bedding, newspaper, artificial grass, turf, crate training etc.). Must provide a variety of toys within the enclosure to develop motor skills and play behaviour. Must rotate the toys on a weekly basis. Must be exposed to different environments and/or changes to their environment (for example, changes in toys and obstacle items in pens, starting boxes, walking in new environments, introduction to new people or environments) on a weekly basis. Category Exercise and training requirements Environmental enrichment requirements
If sign of stress are identified, the greyhound must be moved back to a minimum 20 sqm kennel. If improvement is achieved, the greyhound may be gradually introduced to kennels the size of 15 sqm, then 10 sqm then 6 sqm then 3 sqm. If the greyhound does not improve, an Animal Behaviourist or Veterinary Behaviourist is to be consulted. From 9 sqm up to 15 sqm 2.4 m 10 sqm per greyhound (maximum of 2 greyhounds). Retired greyhounds must not be housed in this kennel size. If housing two greyhounds, minimum of 20 sqm is required. Greyhounds must have a minimum of: five breaks per day consisting of toilet and exercise. Each break from the pen must be a minimum of 15 minutes in duration; and 30 minutes exercise daily – can be split into 2 x 15 minute sessions. Note: on days when the greyhound is racing and the day following a race, there are no requirements to exercise the greyhound. Exercise areas incorporated into or made adjacent to housing pens must have a minimum additional area of 20 sqm per greyhound. Breeding greyhounds must have access to 20 sqm exercise area for a minimum of five hours per day. Enclosure area for the first greyhound in square metres (sqm) Minimum width in metres (m) Additional dimensions for second greyhound in square metres (sqm) Conditions of housing
be a minimum of 1.2 m in height and a minimum width of 1 m and length of 1.2 m; not have a floor made of wire; have a roof and be located in an area with appropriate shade and/or protection from the weather (sun, wind, rain and extremes of heat or cold); have doors which are self-locking; be cleaned of faeces and urine after the removal of each greyhound from the cage; and be disinfected daily. Greyhounds must: not spend more than 2 hours at any one time in a viewing cage; have access to water at all times while in the viewing cage; be continuously monitored for signs of distress while in the viewing cage; and be removed from the viewing cage if they are showing any signs of stress. Race day cages Race-day cages must: be constructed of materials that can be easily cleaned and disinfected; be constructed of materials that will not cause injury to the greyhound; be cleaned of faeces and urine after the removal of each greyhound; and be disinfected after use. Greyhounds in race-day cages must: not spend more than 4 hours without the opportunity to toilet; and have access to water as needed. Transfer and Sale of greyhounds All greyhounds being sold, given away or transferred from the establishment must be accompanied with a health and management statement and an up to date GRV treatment record book. Details of any known physical abnormality (including injury) at the time of sale or transfer, any treatment the greyhound is receiving or requires, and how that abnormality may affect the short and long term health and welfare of the greyhound must be included. The GRV treatment record book must include vaccination certificates stating the date of the last vaccinations and the due date of the next vaccinations. All greyhounds being sold, given away or transferred to a new owner must have