Collars, muzzles, racing jackets, blankets, harnesses, and leashes—all this equipment is essential for racing greyhounds. While these dogs are capable of running and showing their abilities without these items, having the right gear is crucial for both performance and safety on the track. In theory, fewer items on a dog's body are better for running and results, but in practice, properly selected running paraphernalia allows greyhounds to perform at their best while also preventing injuries, incidents, and collisions on the track.
Running Jackets
During races, greyhounds wear jackets to identify them by number and colour. The requirements for these jackets are strict: they must be loose enough not to impede movement, yet secure enough to stay on the dog without flying off during the race. Judges can disqualify a dog if its jacket is not properly secured, which can upset the public and lead to additional costs.
Racing jackets typically feature a permanent loop around the dog's chest and a removable belly loop consisting of two straps. These straps are fastened together and attached to the main part of the jacket using elastic belts. The elastic straps adjust in length during the race, ensuring the jacket fits snugly without restricting the dog's movement.
Recent modifications to racing jackets have removed belly fasteners, which can cause skin irritation and become unfastened during running. This design change also ensures that the fasteners are visible to trainers and stewards, allowing for visual checks.
Jackets can be made from cotton, linen, or thick knitwear, and come in various sizes and colours, making it easy to choose a jacket that fits a specific dog.
Special commemorative silk blankets are sewn for winners of tournaments in the United Kingdom.
Muzzles
At high-class competitions, greyhounds compete only in muzzles. These muzzles do not restrict breathing but prevent the dogs, in the heat of competition, from biting each other or the racetrack workers and owners.
There are several types of muzzles designed for athletes:
· Metal Wire Muzzle: This type is made of thin metal wire, which is light and durable. It does not block the dog's view while running, and some designs allow for size adjustment to fit different dogs, including those with malocclusion.
· Plastic Tube Muzzle: This muzzle is made of soft, lightweight plastic tubing. The size can be adjusted by using hot water to mould it to the dog's shape.
· Dense Plastic "English" Muzzle: This type of muzzle is worn in kennels by dogs that are prone to fighting. It is designed to prevent the dog from picking up items from the ground while walking, and it is a lifesaver for the owner.
· Durable Plastic Models: These muzzles are made of dense polymer and are more closed in design. They are adjustable using an ear strap and are suitable for large and active animals.
Regardless of the type of muzzle, it should fit snugly against the dog's cheeks, back of the head, and neck without causing discomfort. The minimum distance between the nose and the muzzle basket should be one finger. The dog's nostrils should not extend beyond the basket, and the size of the basket should allow the dog to open its mouth. There should be enough space for two fingers to fit under the dog's lower jaw between the basket and the skin.
Collars
A collar is a crucial part of a dog’s equipment, particularly after a race at the finish line, allowing handlers to catch and calm a dog that is heated from racing.
Greyhounds have narrow heads and can easily slip out of standard collars. Additionally, dogs have a habit of pulling their heads forward when interested in something, which can lead to neck injuries. Therefore, ideally, collars should be wide, especially in the part under the dog’s throat, made of leather with a soft lining. Leather collars may stretch slightly or become brittle if they get wet, so they require care and should be kept out of the dog’s reach to prevent chewing.
The martingale collar is used to better control greyhounds during training or walking. It consists of two loops: a large leather loop, the collar itself, placed around the dog’s neck, and a small loop that connects the ends of the large loop and is attached to the leash. When the greyhound pulls on the leash, it tightens the ends of the small loop, causing the large loop to wrap snugly around the neck without causing suffocation, thus preventing the dog from escaping.
For training greyhounds, a more rigid electronic collar is sometimes used, with the control panel located by the trainer. This collar provides greater control over the animal by delivering a small electrical charge. In many countries, such collars are prohibited as this treatment of a dog is considered cruel. However, there are variations of electronic collars that deliver a vibration or a tone signal to the dog. Electronic collars can also include GPS tracking capabilities to easily locate a dog if it runs away.
The market for racing dog accessories is filled with goods for every taste, with many companies specialising in producing equipment for dogs and considering feedback from those who work with dogs. Owners can choose items in an exclusive design or from a range of lower-priced options