Courses
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Greyhound Welfare and Husbandry (Certificate, L6, 10 ECTS)
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Location: Moylish, Limerick City
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weeks: 15
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Fees: €1,000 -Students will contribute 25% of the fee
Course Overview
Aim of the Program
The aim of the special purpose award is to provide people who work in the greyhound industry with the training, knowledge and education in greyhound welfare and husbandry from inception to end of life.
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this module the learner will/should be able to;
- Describe the welfare legislation, welfare regulations and code of practice which owners, breeders and trainers must be cognisant of while active within the greyhound industry.
- Display a level of knowledge and competence in the care and welfare of greyhounds.
- Explain the pre-mating, mating (stud dog and bitch), whelping process and associated care of the greyhound bitch and pup.
- Describe the rearing and pre-training process for a greyhound.
- Study and explain the importance of physical exercise including rest and greyhound husbandry for the racing greyhound.
- Develop a greyhound appropriate nutritious racing diet and understand the correct nutrition requirements for a racing greyhound based on the theory of nutrition.
- Study and describe kennel layouts, gallops and structures and learn different training routines from established leading greyhound trainers.
- Explain and prepare a greyhound for retirement from active racing and/or rehoming.
Entry Requirements
The course is aimed at current participants in the greyhound industry, with the objective of increasing their knowledge of the care and welfare of the greyhounds that they work with.
Course Content
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Week Date Details Lecturer(s) Location
Week 1 13/01/2026
- Introduction to course Conor Foley TBC
- Overview of Greyhound Industry in Ireland
Current Structure of Industry in Ireland
- Historical Background
- Greyhound Racing Internationally
- Greyhound Racing Ireland – structure, committees
- Tracks – GRI, Private
- Numbers of dogs
- Trainers
- Competitions
- GOBAs
Week 2 20/01/2026 RECTS On-line – Teams
- Background
- RECTS system
- Registration of pups
- Sale and transfer of greyhounds
- RECTS future
- RECTS statistics overview
Week 3 27/01/2026 Welfare of the greyhound TBC
- Code of Practice
Regulations regarding welfare and related matters
- General welfare principles – 5 freedoms
- Specific welfare standards – housing, exercise, care
- Welfare officers – appointment and functions
- Guidelines for welfare officers
- Responsible ownership
- Husbandry issues – comfort, noise, light, stimulation
- Cleaning and disinfecting kennels and yards
- Welfare notices
Week 4 03/02/2026 Legislation and Codes of Practice TBC
- Greyhound Industry Act 1958
- Registration of greyhound breeding establishments
- Recording of other greyhound premises
- Greyhound Industry (Racing) Regs 2007
- Wefare of Greyhounds Act 2011
- Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013
- Microchipping of Dogs Regs 2015
- Welfare of Greyhounds Regs 2016
- Greyhound Racing Act 2019
- Greyhound Racing (Prohibited Substances) Regs 2023
- Background
- Future developments
- Welfare Regulations relating to Greyhounds
- Restrictions on breeding
- Code of Practice for Care and Welfare of Greyhounds
Week 5 10/02/2026 Greyhound Breeding On-line – Teams
Structure of Greyhound Breeding Industry
- Lifecycle of the greyhound
- Preparing a bitch for mating
- Selecting a stud dog
- The Rasmussen factor in breeding
- Caring for the pregnant bitch
- The whelping process
- Care of the post-whelping bitch
- Care of new-born pups
- Artificial insemination
- Greyhound Breeding in other countries
14/02/2026 Breeding Kennels Site Visit TBC
Week 6 17/02/2026 Enforcement of welfare regulations TBC
- Welfare officers and stewards
- Role of the welfare officer
- Routine inspections
- Indentifying possible problems
- Investigating a welfare report
- Writing a welfare report
- On-site actions in welfare cases
- Follow-up actions in welfare cases
- Examples of welfare case histories
Week 7 24/02/2026 Greyhound training On-line – Teams
- Licensed and private trainers
Typical trainer’s premises
- Types of kennel layouts, gallops, exercise machines TBC
- Preparing a young greyhound for training
- Procedures for new arrivals at trainers’ premises
- Preparation for trials and first races
- Typical training regime for racing dogs
- Different training routines
- Diet of the racing dog
- Assessing fitness
- Managing lengthy racing careers
28/02/2026 Trainers Kennels Site Visit TBC
Week 8 03/03/2026 Greyhound racing TBC
- Types of races
- Grading racing greyhounds
- Seeding for trap draws
- Structure of typical greyhound stadium
- Staff and roles in greyhound stadia
- Race night duties
- Owner/trainer’s role/duties on race nights
- The greyhound track and its maintenance
- Track rating and penetrometers
- The importance of banking
- Problems that arise and how they are dealt with
- The classics and qualification
- Biodiversity at GRI stadia
- Energy conservation at GRI stadia
Week 9 10/03/2026 Feeding the greyhound On-line – Teams
- Feeding the pregnant/lactating bitch
- Feeding the pup
- Feeding the young dog
- Feeding the racing dog
- Hydrating the racing greyhound
- Post-race hydrating, feeding
- Meat feeding – risks, records (if Cat 2 meat)
- Types of greyhound foodstuffs
- Dietary supplements
- Foods to avoid for greyhounds
- Developing appropriate diets
- 14/03/2026 Site Visit TBC
Week 10 17/03/2026 Racenight procedures TBC
- Entering dogs for races
- Transporting dog to track
- Check-in and weigh-in
- Kennel maintenance on night of race
- The race card
- Gambling and TOTE
- The track vet
- Routine duties
- Managing injured dogs
- Euthanasia on track
Week 11 24/03/2026 International developments TBC
- International bodies
- Greyhound racing in UK
- Greyhound racing in Australia – 8 dog tracks
- Novel track designs
- Different training regimes
- Coping with climatic extremes – for dog and track
- Differences in blood lines
Easter Break – 2 Weeks
Week 12 14/04/2026 Marketing the greyhound industry, PR, IT On-line – Teams
Types of marketing
- Marketing animal welfare matters
- Marketing racing
- Public relations
- Dealing with press queries
- Promoting image of industry
- Countering misinformation
- IT supports for industry
- Seeking information
- Recording data
- Rectifying errors in data input
- Preventing hacking, malware, viruses
- Misinformation on internet
Week 13 21/04/2026 Finance and accounting TBC
- Overview of financial terms
Essential financial records
- Legal obligations
- Managing costs
- Cost of borrowing
- Cost of maintaining a dog
- Dealing with taxation
- Health and safety at GRI stadia
Week 14 28/04/2026 Preparing for retirement and GRI welfare schemes TBC
When to retire a greyhound
- Transition from racing to retirement
- Diet post racing
- Neutering
- Health checks
- Placing on rehoming list
- Local track rehoming committees
02/05/2026 Rehoming Centre Site Visit TBC
Week 15 05/05/2026 Challenges facing the industry TBC
Strategic Plan
- Breeding – future
- Rehoming – future
- Welfare – future
- GRI industry supports
- Attendances
- Structure of tracks and stadia
- Number and types of races
- Financial outlook
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Describe the welfare legislation, welfare regulations and code of practice which owners, breeders and trainers must be cognisant of while active within the greyhound industry.
The Welfare of Greyhounds Act 2011.
The Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013.
The Microchipping of Dogs Regulations 2015.
The Welfare of Greyhounds Regulations 2016.
GRI’s Code of Practice.
Specific welfare standards.
Regulations regarding welfare and related matters.
Notification of Sale or Transfer of greyhound.
Restriction on breeding.
Registration of greyhound breeding establishments.
Appointment and Functions of Welfare Officers.
Issuing of Welfare Notices. Obstructions.
General welfare principles.
Responsible ownership.
Husbandry issues.
Animal Health.
Responsible use of Animal Remedies.
Display a level of knowledge and competence in the care and welfare of greyhounds.
The physical wellbeing and social environment of the greyhound.
Provision of prompt veterinary and other appropriate treatment in cases of illness or injury. Implementation of a comprehensive targeted vaccination program in accordance with veterinary advice and manufacturer’s instructions.
Display a knowledge of the welfare requirements and pre-rehoming activities necessary prior to placing a retired greyhound into a home environment and understand that the dietary requirements and the exercise regime of the greyhound will alter upon retirement.
Explain the pre-mating, mating (stud dog and bitch), whelping process and associated care of the greyhound bitch and pup
Learn about the breeding cycle in relation to greyhound bitches.
Study pre-breeding care, feeding and the vaginal culture of the greyhound bitch.
Identify the key attributes that a stud dog should have to be chosen as a mating partner for a greyhound bitch.
Understand line breeding, Rasmussen factor etc. in choosing a sire to mate a greyhound bitch with and explain the traits that Irish, American and Australian stud dogs generally have.
Understand how mating occurs and the different ways that greyhound bitches can be mated including the advantages and disadvantages of same.
Learn about the three trimesters of greyhound pregnancy.
Discover and obtain knowledge regarding nutrition for the greyhound bitch during pregnancy and the greyhound bitch and pup after whelping.
Study the importance of parasite control during pregnancy.
Study the different stages of the actual whelp and how this crucial stage can be done properly.
Describe the rearing and pre-training process for a greyhound
Understand the nutrition requirements and parasite control necessary at the different stages from greyhound pup to a young adult
Outline the handling and grooming requirements for greyhounds in the rearing and pre-training phase
Study the kennelling and schooling process for pre-training greyhounds
Study and explain the importance of physical exercise including rest and greyhound husbandry for the racing greyhound
Understand the training schedule necessary to gradually bring a greyhound to peak fitness before commencing racing which involves managing training with rest periods
Learn about the nutrition, dietary supplements, worming and parasite control required for a racing greyhound
Study the training schedule required when a greyhound is racing and understand how to manage same
Develop a virtual racing diet and understand the correct nutrition requirements of a racing greyhound based on the theory of nutrition
Identify and prepare the various options for the diet of a racing greyhound including meat, nuts, vegetables, supplements etc.
Manage the parasite control and worming of a racing greyhound
Learn about the hydration plans that suit a racing greyhound
Study and describe kennel layouts, gallops and structures, and learn different training routines from various established leading greyhound trainers
Learn about the various options re kennel layouts, gallops and associated structures
Understand the various and different training routines used by leading greyhound trainers
Explain and prepare a greyhound for retirement from active racing and/or rehoming.
Manage the transition process of a greyhound from racing to retirement
Initiate the pre-rehoming activities necessary for a greyhound to adapt successfully to a rehomed environment.
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Lectures – 15 weeks x 2.5 hours per week in a blended learning approach
Site Visits – 4 site visits during the duration of the program TBC
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Worksheets/Multiple Choice Question’s
Practical Evaluation
Interview
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€1,000 -Students will contribute 25% of the fee