{"id":40,"date":"2014-05-28T20:53:02","date_gmt":"2014-05-29T00:53:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.net\/?page_id=40"},"modified":"2015-09-08T10:21:27","modified_gmt":"2015-09-08T14:21:27","slug":"at-the-farm","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.org\/?page_id=40","title":{"rendered":"On the Farm"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2 style=\"text-align: left;\">Table of Contents<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>On the Farm<\/li>\n<li>Following the Pups<\/li>\n<li>The Time and Cost of Raising Race Dogs<\/li>\n<li>Raising Baby<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>On the Farm<\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">This is where it all begins for a racing greyhound in North America. While not all farms are the same, our\u00a0intent is to provide\u00a0a general idea of life on the farm.<\/p>\n<h4><a href=\"http:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/image8.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4030 alignright\" src=\"http:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/image8-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"Pups on the farm\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/image8-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/image8-150x113.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/image8.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/image8-100x75.jpg 100w, https:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/image8-200x150.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/image8-450x338.jpg 450w, https:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/image8-600x450.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/image8-900x675.jpg 900w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>Whelping<\/h4>\n<p>The puppies are born in special climate-controlled buildings that\u00a0are able to house several mothers and their puppies.<\/p>\n<p>The whelping boxes have room for the mothers to comfortably lie down and nurse their pups.\u00a0There is also an area for the mothers to take time away from the litter to relieve themselves, eat, etc. The pups stay with their mother until they are weaned, usually between 6-10 weeks old, but often longer.<\/p>\n<h4>After Weaning<\/h4>\n<p>Once the pups are weaned, the litters are moved to large outdoor pens called runs. Here they play, dig, run, and\u00a0have fun doing puppy things. The runs have shelters or dog houses filled with straw in the cooler weather to keep them warm. Fresh water is available at all times. There is no shortage of food as they are fed several times a day. Tarp canopies or trees provide shade in the warmer months and some farms even have misters, which continuously spray cold water, to keep the pups from getting too warm. Most farms also have kiddie pools in the runs for the dogs to lie, splash, and play in.<\/p>\n<h4>Older Pups\/Teenagers\/Saplings<\/h4>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/image7.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-4028 alignright\" src=\"http:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/image7-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"Farm run\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/image7-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/image7-150x113.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/image7.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/image7-100x75.jpg 100w, https:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/image7-200x150.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/image7-450x338.jpg 450w, https:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/image7-600x450.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/image7-900x675.jpg 900w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>When they are older, they are separated into smaller groups or pairs, and are moved into larger runs, 300 ft. or longer. These fenced-in runs are generally parallel to each other, allowing the dogs to see one another, socialize, and chase each other along the fence line. All this sprinting helps to develop their fitness, strength, and agility, as well as burning off a lot\u00a0of puppy energy. They are hardwired to chase, and the fence running helps refine it!<\/p>\n<h4>Preparation for the Track<\/h4>\n<p>When they reach 12 months,\u00a0they are nearing the time to leave the farm for finishing.<\/p>\n<p>To help them make the transition and get used to a race environment, they are housed in individual kennels\u00a0and are\u00a0turned out as a group. They are turned out four plus times a day, each turnout lasting 45-60 minutes. At this time, they are beginning their training to chase the lure and to run on an oval.\u00a0Some farms have the facilities to train the dogs. Others send their dogs to training farms for field work (running or coursing in a sprint field), whirlygig work, and training on an oval.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Squawker.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-3053 size-full alignright\" src=\"http:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Squawker.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"240\" height=\"187\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Squawker.jpg 240w, https:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Squawker-150x117.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Squawker-100x78.jpg 100w, https:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Squawker-200x156.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 240px) 100vw, 240px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>While chasing and racing against the other pups in their litter comes instinctively to greyhounds, they need to begin to refine these skills. \u00a0They are trained with squawkers to help them learn to chase the lure.<\/p>\n<p>The whirlygig is a device with a long-arm that rotates and dangles the squawker with stuffed animals on it in front of the pups. It moves in a circular motion so that as the pups chase the squawker, they become familiar with running around a bend.<\/p>\n<p>Interestingly, many people who adopt a retired racing greyhound purchase a squawker (just the noisemaker part) and keep it handy should their greyhound get loose. Since greyhounds are used to hearing this noise from a young age, they will often come running to it.<\/p>\n<h4>Socialization<\/h4>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/image2.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-4022 alignright\" src=\"http:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/image2-300x274.jpg\" alt=\"Farm socialization\" width=\"300\" height=\"274\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/image2-300x274.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/image2-150x137.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/image2.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/image2-100x91.jpg 100w, https:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/image2-200x183.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/image2-450x411.jpg 450w, https:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/image2-600x548.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/image2-900x823.jpg 900w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>Socialization is a very important part of a greyhound&#8217;s development. As puppies, they are handled daily. The older ones are given plenty of attention as well. Many of the farms are a family affair, and the dogs benefit from the presence of everyone involved, including the children.<\/p>\n<h4>On to the Next Phase: The Track<\/h4>\n<p>By the time they are\u00a015-16 months old, they are very close to being ready to race as their speed and endurance is\u00a0significantly increasing. By 18 months, it&#8217;s time!\u00a0How well the pup will do at the track generally won&#8217;t be known until they actually run in a race. To find out more about this stage of their life, visit our <a title=\"Off to the Races\" href=\"http:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.net\/?page_id=1546\" target=\"_blank\">Off to the Races<\/a>\u00a0page for a general introduction to their life on the track.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>Following the Pups<\/h2>\n<p>What better way to learn about a greyhound&#8217;s life than to follow\u00a0a litter of pups through the entire course of their career? Greyhoundfacts.org is pleased to be able to follow two separate litters from two different farms, all the way from their birth\u00a0on the farm, to racing on the track, and into\u00a0retirement!<\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #37404e;\">The Litters:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #37404e;\"><a title=\"Oswald Cobblepot Litter \u2013 The \u201cCobblepots\u201d\" href=\"http:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.net\/?page_id=2100\" target=\"_blank\"><em>Oswald Cobblepot\/LK&#8217;s Energizing<\/em><\/a> litter from\u00a0Blu Too Kennel.\u00a0<\/span>Whelped on 6\/26\/2014.<\/p>\n<p><a title=\"Paddy Whacker x Blazin Angelfire Litter\" href=\"http:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.net\/?page_id=2067\" target=\"_blank\"><em>Paddy Whacker\/Blazin Angelfire<\/em><\/a> litter from Schmidt Greyhound Kennel. Whelped on 5\/21\/2014.<\/p>\n<p>For more about each litter, including photos, videos, and posts, please stop by our <a href=\"http:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.net\/?page_id=896\">Blu Too Kennel Page<\/a> and our <a href=\"http:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.net\/?page_id=959\">Schmidt Greyhound Kennel Page<\/a>. Don&#8217;t forget to check out the articles on each.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>The Time and Cost of Raising Race Dogs<\/h2>\n<p><em><strong>by Katherine Abatti \u00a92014<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>I am often asked if I have puppies for sale and what does it cost to raise a litter of race dogs.\u00a0Everyone has their own program. I have no idea if it&#8217;s better or worse. I do what I do because it feels right. So here&#8217;s an inside view of the cost and time involved in our pro<span class=\"text_exposed_show\">gram at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Blutookennel?ref=br_tf\" target=\"_blank\">Blu Too<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"text_exposed_show\">I will base this on a litter of 7.\u00a0This does not include the purchase cost of the dam or semen (enormous variables).<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Transport to the vet and back for implant surgery and 1-3 weeks board at another facility while in season and being tested &#8211; $300.00<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"text_exposed_show\">Vet costs for FS implant and brood care (progesterone tests, etc.) &#8211; $400.00 -$500.00<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"text_exposed_show\">Here at <a title=\"Blu Too Kennel\" href=\"http:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.net\/?page_id=896\" target=\"_blank\">Blu Too<\/a>, we feed all pregnant broods, and all pups until 8 weeks of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/image2.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\" size-medium wp-image-3405 alignright\" src=\"http:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/image2-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"Other dog breeds\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/image2-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/image2-150x113.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/image2-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/image2-100x75.jpg 100w, https:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/image2-200x150.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/image2-450x338.jpg 450w, https:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/image2-600x450.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/image2-900x675.jpg 900w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>age, human-grade beef. It costs\u00a0$3.99 a lb. at best, usually higher here because we mostly feed our own beef and there is a butcher\/processing fee as well. Each girl eats approximately 2 lbs. per day of beef alone.\u00a0Add in ProPlan kibble and all the extras we put in our feed &#8211; veggies, vitamins, cooked chicken, fish and so on &#8211; and it costs about $9.00 a day to feed one pregnant mama. $<\/span>9 x 60 days= $540.00. 4 &#8211; 5 weeks of nursing costs $12.00 a day per brood (food amount increases) x 35 days of full nursing = $420.00. Moms also need vaccinations just prior to breeding, as well as deworming and defleaing during pregnancy &#8211; $15.00. Conservative mom pregnancy cost &#8211; $1725.00.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"text_exposed_show\">Ok&#8230; setting mom aside, and barring any extra vet care during pregnancy, here come the puppies&#8230;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"text_exposed_show\">Greyhounds spend a lot of time in the company of numerous other dogs. Vaccinations and deworming are key to\u00a0keeping them healthy. Our puppies get 5 sets of pup shots, 3 kennel cough covers, and a rabies shot by 6 months. They get a booster at a year and another\u00a0booster at the track before they can race.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"text_exposed_show\">That&#8217;s $93.94 for vaccines per pup. 7 x $93.94 = $657.58. We deworm at 2,3,4,6, and 8 weeks, then every month after. It costs approximately $40.00 per pup per year in dewormer. It takes 16 months to get to the track. So, we will call it $44.00 per pup. $44.00 x 7= $308.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3068\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3068\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/image21.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-3068\" src=\"http:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/image21-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"Nap time\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/image21-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/image21-150x113.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/image21-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/image21-100x75.jpg 100w, https:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/image21-200x150.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/image21-450x338.jpg 450w, https:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/image21-600x450.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/image21-900x675.jpg 900w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3068\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Nap time<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span class=\"text_exposed_show\">We go through a LOT of puppy paper at our facility. Each litter uses approximately four boxes, from whelping to weaning. 4 x $75.00 = $300.00. Add puppy toys, rubber gloves, syringes, betadine, and the massive cost of a washer and dryer in constant use, keeping buildings at a constant temp with air conditioning and\/or heat&#8230;about $300.00 per litter.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"text_exposed_show\">Now, we have to feed the littles. Weeks 5-7 cost about $1.00 per day per pup. That&#8217;s $7.00 a day for two weeks =$98.00. Weeks 7-9 = $1.30 a day x 7 = $127.40. By the 10th week our pups start to really eat and are fed like royalty. At 10-12 weeks it costs $1.50 a day x 7 = $147.00. At\u00a0<\/span>3-4 months of age, $1.75 per day x 7 = $367.50. At 4-6 months, $1.90 a day x 7 = $798.00. At 6 months to a year, $2 per day per pup x 7 = $420 per month (6 months = $2,520.00). At one year of age, the dogs are fed a highly specialized diet. Adding supplements is expensive. It&#8217;s approximately $2.75 per day per pup at this time x 7 = $19.25 per day. 4 months x $19.25 a day = $2,310.00.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"text_exposed_show\">Most pups are in training by 8 months of age. The cost until a year old is $100.00 a month x 7= $700.00. 4 months x $700.00 = $2,800.00. Pups are then moved into a race kennel, and the cost per pup increases to $150.00 a month x 7 = $1050.00 per month. 4 months x $1050.00 = $4,200.00. Now you are ready to transport your pups to the track. 7 x $105.00 transport= $735.00.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"text_exposed_show\"><br \/>\nThe time involved is unbelievable. We have four people who work around the clock for 12-hr. shifts until all pups are 8 weeks old. At 8 weeks, we catch a breath and work 6-hr. shifts with nights off. At the very least, all pups are gone over, picked up after, fed, walked, and turned out several times a day. When they are old enough and training begins, we add sprinting, schooling, rundowns, etc.<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"text_exposed_show\">Assuming you have no vet bills and no set backs of any kind and you are a family-owned operation that is not paying employees, your wonderful litter of race pups should cost you only around -are you ready?- $18,000 to raise.<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><a href=\"http:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/RaisingBaby-1.pdf\">Raising Baby<\/a><\/h2>\n<p><strong>Have you ever wondered how your Greyhound was raised as a puppy? One curious owner decided to find out.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><em><strong>By Joee<\/strong><\/em> <strong>Kam<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Sometimes whe<img loading=\"lazy\" class=\" wp-image-3664 alignright\" src=\"http:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Picture7-285x300.jpg\" alt=\"Picture7\" width=\"285\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Picture7-285x300.jpg 285w, https:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Picture7-143x150.jpg 143w, https:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Picture7-100x105.jpg 100w, https:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Picture7-150x158.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Picture7-200x210.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Picture7-300x315.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Picture7.jpg 370w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 285px) 100vw, 285px\" \/>n I watch my retired racers, I wonder what they were like when they were puppies and how their life was before I adopted them. I\u2019d ask myself questions, like: Did he steal toys and keep them for himself? Was he the one who instigated play and antagonized the others? Did he learn to\u00a0dig those craters on the farm? I was curious and wanted to know more so I contacted several Greyhound farmers and asked questions.<\/p>\n<p>One farmer in particular, Melissa Schmidt, really touched me with the story of how her determination to start a farm came to be. \u201cI fell in love with this breed after literally spending one evening at a Greyhound farm. After the first time seeing them, I begged my husband every day for four years to let me get into the Greyhound business. That is approximately 1,460 days! He finally gave in.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>National Greyhound Association (NGA) Greyhounds are born on farms, in climate-controlled buildings where they stay with their mothers until they are between six and ten weeks old, and occasionally longer. Once they are weaned, the entire litter moves to a large outdoor pen, known as a run. There they can play until they tire themselves out, take a nap, and do it all over again. Typically, Greyhound puppies stay with their littermates on the farm for a year.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Picture9.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-3666 size-medium\" src=\"http:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Picture9-282x300.jpg\" alt=\"Picture9\" width=\"282\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Picture9-282x300.jpg 282w, https:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Picture9-141x150.jpg 141w, https:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Picture9-100x106.jpg 100w, https:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Picture9-150x160.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Picture9-200x213.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Picture9-300x319.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Picture9.jpg 346w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 282px) 100vw, 282px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Her pups have a variety of toys to play with: stuffed animals, braided ropes, tug-of-war toys, rubber tires, and balls. Of course, they also dig (perfecting their techniques in creating those large holes that drive us crazy), roll around, and run, just like they do in our backyards. During this time, they also start \u201cfiguring out pecking order and how to negotiate, mediate, pick on each other, and establish who the boss is \u2013 all the things they are going to need for the real world,\u201d Melissa said, adding it\u2019s similar to what we do at home with our siblings.<\/p>\n<p>Greyhound puppies have dog houses filled with straw, to keep them warm in cooler weather, and have fresh water available at all times, not just for drinking, but for playing, too. Most farms have kiddie pools in which the dogs can lay, splash, and play. During the warmer months of spring and into the heat of the summer, sprinklers mist the runs to keep the dogs cool.<\/p>\n<p>As the pups grow older, they are separated into smaller groups and moved into larger runs. They generally start in 100 ft. runs, then move to runs that are 200 ft. As they get older, they finally grow into runs that are 300 ft. long or longer. The fenced-in runs are usually parallel to each other, so the dogs can socialize and chase each other along the<img loading=\"lazy\" class=\" wp-image-3667 alignright\" src=\"http:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Picture10.jpg\" alt=\"Picture10\" width=\"308\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Picture10.jpg 259w, https:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Picture10-150x146.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Picture10-100x97.jpg 100w, https:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Picture10-200x195.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 308px) 100vw, 308px\" \/> fence lines.<\/p>\n<p>Greyhound farms often have visitors, which the dogs are always happy to see. If you\u2019ve never been to a farm, remember to wear long sleeves and long pants to protect your bare skin. Greyhound puppies have sharp teeth and nails and can\u2019t wait to include you in their play. They\u2019re not called \u201cland sharks\u201d for nothing!<\/p>\n<p>An important part of a puppy\u2019s development is socialization. Greyhound puppies are handled every day, and the older ones are also given attention throughout the day. Melissa has six children, aged 6 to 17, who all play a big role on the farm. They help socialize the pups from the minute they are born. The children help with tattooing, worming, vaccinating, walking, and moving the pups to new runs. They also routinely bring puppies into their home to give them some extra attention. After all, who could resist those adorable faces?<\/p>\n<p>Worrying ab<a href=\"http:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Picture11.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-3668 size-medium\" src=\"http:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Picture11-250x300.jpg\" alt=\"Picture11\" width=\"250\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Picture11-250x300.jpg 250w, https:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Picture11-125x150.jpg 125w, https:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Picture11-100x120.jpg 100w, https:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Picture11-150x180.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Picture11-200x240.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Picture11-300x360.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Picture11.jpg 340w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 250px) 100vw, 250px\" \/><\/a>out the health and well-being of the dogs is also a part of a Greyhound farmer. \u201cI do worry a lot about safety, but more so about the heat or air conditioning going out,\u201d Melissa said. \u201cI have alarmed my buildings for temperature controls. I couldn\u2019t even sleep at night, worrying about it getting too hot or too cold for the pups and broods.\u201d Notices are sent to her cell phone if the temperature in the buildings changes significantly. To her it\u2019s peace of mind.<\/p>\n<p>Melissa also said she feels very strongly about her responsibility to Greyhound adoption. She does regular hauls to adoption groups for free, and helps them whenever she can. Each time a brood is adopted, she provides all of its vaccinations, pays for a health certificate, and gives the adoption group a healthy donation.<\/p>\n<p>Being a Greyhound farmer is a tough, but rewarding occupation. Being on-call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, is just like being the parents of children, but on a larger scale. Most days start between 5 a.m. and 6 a.m. and don\u2019t end until approximately 10 p.m. Between feedings, changing water buckets, turnouts, sweeping, picking up after the dogs, and disinfecting and hosing down pens, there\u2019s still more to do. So why is Melissa a Greyhound farmer you might ask?<img loading=\"lazy\" class=\" wp-image-3669 size-medium alignright\" src=\"http:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Picture12-259x300.jpg\" alt=\"Picture12\" width=\"259\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Picture12-259x300.jpg 259w, https:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Picture12-129x150.jpg 129w, https:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Picture12-100x116.jpg 100w, https:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Picture12-150x174.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Picture12-200x232.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Picture12-300x348.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Picture12.jpg 340w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 259px) 100vw, 259px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>\u201cI do what I absolutely love. It radiates from every cell of my body, beginning from my heart,\u201d she explained. She adds that her favorite place to be is \u201cin the brood barn and the whelping barn. You just can never be in a bad or sad mood around any of them&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGetting to work every day with the most beautiful, graceful, gentle, funny, loving, and loyal animals on the planet,\u201d witnessing the birth of their amazing babies, and watching the pups they raise turn into mothers and athletes is the ultimate reward for their labor of love.<\/p>\n<p>If you ever get the opportunity to visit a farm, ask as many questions as you can, while watching the happy hounds doing what they love to do \u2013 dig, play and run.<\/p>\n<p><em>About the author: Joee Kam and her family adopted their first retired racing Greyhound in 2004. They currently share their Grand Rapids, Michigan home with Sasha, a Golden Retreiver, and Joy (AJN Joy Lee). Joee is the founder and president of the non-profit Greyhound Facts Inc.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/unnamed.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\" wp-image-3688 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/unnamed-300x169.jpg\" alt=\"unnamed\" width=\"533\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/unnamed-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/unnamed-150x84.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/unnamed-100x56.jpg 100w, https:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/unnamed-200x112.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/unnamed-450x253.jpg 450w, https:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/unnamed-600x337.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/unnamed-900x506.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/unnamed.jpg 930w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 533px) 100vw, 533px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Table of Contents On the Farm Following the Pups The Time and Cost of Raising Race Dogs Raising Baby On the Farm This is where it all begins for a racing greyhound in North America. While not all farms are &hellip;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"> <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.org\/?page_id=40\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">On the Farm<\/span> Read More &raquo;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":3,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"full-width-page.php","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/40"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=40"}],"version-history":[{"count":162,"href":"https:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/40\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":401,"href":"https:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/40\/revisions\/401"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.greyhoundfacts.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=40"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}