National Geographic - USA (2021-03)

GROW TRAIN RACE RETIRE

12 months 18 months 3-4 years Expected life span of 12-15 years

Muscle fibers

(cross section)

Fast twitch

Slow twitch

Greyhound Siberian husky

Extended

aerial phase

Gathered

aerial phase

Gathered

aerial phase

No aerial phase during

full back extension

Double suspension

Single suspension

Greyhound

Retriever

READY TO RUN

Long bred for sport hunting,

greyhounds more recently have

been bred to race. Their anatomy

and gait are ideal for bursts of

speed up to 45 miles an hour,

making them the world’s fastest

breed. But those attributes also

make them susceptible to frac-

tures and spinal complications

that rarely afflict other dogs.

A greyhound can be airborne 75 percent of its racing time,

when it’s aloft twice per full gallop. Most other breeds,

such as retrievers, are aloft only once per gallop.

A body fat content of just 2

percent and a thin layer of fur

make it harder to stay warm.

A keen sense of

sight aids in chasing

fast-moving prey.

Racing muzzles

keep sand out and

help identify dogs

in finish line photos.

A deep chest maximizes

lung power and holds an

especially large heart.

Angling to the left at racing speed

can cause stress fractures and other

injuries in the ankle, wrist, and foot.

Fast-twitch muscle fibers support quick, powerful

movements such as sprinting and jumping. Dogs

built for long distance and endurance, such as

Siberian huskies, have more slow-twitch fibers.

Litters are reported to the

National Greyhound Asso-

ciation. Puppies’ right ears

are tattooed with their

birth date and litter order;

a registration number is

tattooed on the left ear.

Dogs first run on straight

sprint paths. Then they

train on small circular

tracks—chasing a lure at

the end of a pole—before

moving to larger tracks,

chasing mechanical lures.

Racers compete twice a week

on average, often traveling

to multiple tracks in different

states. When not competing,

they rest in crates and are

routinely let out to walk,

stretch, and play.

At about age four, greyhounds

are past their racing peak. Some

retired dogs are used for breed-

ing; most are adopted as pets.

Activists tracking the industry

have noted instances of abuse

and killing of some racers.

DIANA MARQUES, NGM STAFF; KELSEY NOWAKOWSKI. SOURCES: MICHAEL GRANATOSKY, NEW YORK INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY; GUILLERMO COUTO,

GREYHOUND HEALTH INITIATIVE; NATIONAL GREYHOUND ASSOCIATION; RAY FERGUSON, AUSTRALIAN GREYHOUND WORKING AND SPORTING DOG VETERINARIANS

They’re propelled by very long

foot bones (for leverage) and

high muscle mass. Their rump

and thigh muscles are larger than

those of most other breeds.

Greyhounds’ large spleens store a high number of red

blood cells, which are released into the bloodstream at the

start of a race. This thickens the blood and prompts quick

vessel dilation, oxygenating muscles for high performance.

SPEED IS IN THEIR BLOOD

POWERFUL LEGS

A RACER’S CAREER