Caring For The Retired Racing Dog

Greyhound Dog Racing Tips.

Greyhound owners- especially owners of dogs coming from adoption organizations- will face a multitude of trials during the course of their pet's lifetime. Given the extensive preparation these owners go through during the adoption process, most will cope with these during the younger years of the greyhound's lifespan. Quite often, sadly, they have difficulty with care through the later years, as the breeds specific health problems become more acute.

Noted greyhound adoption advocate, Domino Eddy, has been involved in several greyhound adoption efforts over the last twelve years, assisting in the placement of hundreds of retired racing animals and monitoring their progress over time. Intimately familiar with the challenges surrounding these animals as they get older, Eddy often counsels owners on the proper care of greyhounds afflicted with arthritis in three main areas:

Preventative Medicine

To begin, insure the dog's sleeping accommodations are both soft and warm. As any aging senior citizen will tell you, heat is the best friend to someone suffering from arthritis. These dogs are no exception; they have very little fat protecting them from the elements and are extremely susceptible to arthritis in their old age. A soft, warm bed will not only be a welcome sanctuary to these dogs, but sound medicine as well. Look for a bedding place near a heat register or radiator, yet not so close that it could burn the animal.

If the dog is suffering from arthritis, treat the condition with care. You may not wish to have them kenneled for extended periods of time at this point in their lives. Stay away from synthetic medicines that are harsh on the liver, and consider using homeopathic methods of relieving and reviving those aching joints. Antler velvet is an excellent supplement and has an extensive record of success in this area with no ill side effects.

Diet Differences

Racing greyhounds are generally fed extremely poorly. Track owners care primarily about sprint performance and have historically placed little or no value on the dog's long-term health or lifespan. The effect this has on the dog later in life is a tendency towards a sensitive stomach and a generally early degradation of the ligaments, joints, and bones.

Move away from dry foods and change to a natural diet richer in protein and higher grade calcium. Dry foods are full of fillers. When they include animal protein at all they use only the lowest grades. When you shift to a natural diet, augment it with known beneficial additives such as fish oil for a rich coat and velvet antler to assist with bone and joint issues - both, incidentally, eaten by wolves, foxes, and other wild canines the world over.

Exercise Precautions

Due to their highly specialized muscles, greyhounds as a breed, require a much longer warm-up and cool down times before they exercise. Older greyhounds can still be allowed to run in fields and parks so long as the owners walk them for around 10-15 minutes prior to letting them loose and commit to the same routine afterwards.

Regular exercise, however, must be maintained- walking no less than a mile at least four days a week- if injuries are to be avoided.

In addition to this, insure that your older animal is well-watered both before and after exercise. Eddy highly recommends carrying a squirt bottle or portable dish to avoid overheating a more delicate older dog.

In short, there is no reason the last years of your greyhounds life can't be the best. There's very little that won't be helped with just a little exercise, a better diet, some special considerations, and a pinch or two of velvet antler.

Greyhound Dog Racing.

Cannington Greyhound Racing Track

Greyhound Dog Racing Tips.

Situated just about ten kilometers from the Perth city business center is the Cannington Greyhound Race Track. It is considered the main racetrack for Perth Greyhounds. Other greyhound race parks in Perth are the Mandurah and the Northam Parks.

Races held at Cannington Park are considered by many as some of the best ones in the greyhound business. Races are held at various distances, from a distance of 297 meters to 530, 642 and even as far as 715 and 744 meters. The track has a total circumference measurement of 446.5 meters with a radius of 51 meters and a width of 6 meters.

The Cannington Greyhound Racing Park was established in 1974 and was since then under the supervision of the Western Australia Greyhound Racing Association. The dog track also accommodates Group 1 events, holding race meetings twice a week on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Race meetings during these days are also broadcasted all over Australia by SKY Channel, making it available for viewing for anyone anywhere in Australia.

The Cannington Greyhound Race Track has a lot of features and facilities to offer. It features full TAB facilities and dining facilities that provide full buffet services and casual meals. If you're looking for just small meals and snacks, there's The Chase Cafe. You also don't need to worry anymore about car parking because Cannington Park offers free parking! For entertainment, there are gaming tables available on Saturdays. One of its main features is the city grade race.

The most awaited events held at the Cannington Park are the Perth Cup and the Galaxy. The Perth Greyhound season is marked by the Perth Cup Carnival, which was first held in the park in 1976. During its early years, it was called Gold Cup but as years progressed, it eventually became one of the most awaited greyhound races. The Perth Cup is a race over a distance of 530 meters and prizes for winners amount to as much as $140,000. No wonder the Perth Cup attracts a huge crowd of punters and race betters.

If you are to go to Cannington Park, take note that gates open at 6:30 pm every Wednesdays and 6 pm on Saturdays. On Wednesdays, races usually start at around 7:05 pm with the last race commencing at 10:30 pm. On Saturdays though, the last race starts at 10:40 pm and the first race starting at 7:05 as well.

Greyhound Dog Racing.

Canine Influenza (Dog Flu) - What is it and How Do I Protect My Dog

Greyhound Dog Racing Tips.

As fall approaches, the change of season becomes apparent. This is a beautiful time of year, but it is also the time of canine influenza outbreak, just as it is the flu season for humans.

Canine influenza (otherwise known as dog flu) is a contagious respiratory disease occurring in dogs caused by a specific virus (H3N8). This disease became famous in 2004 when the virus caused the death of greyhound dogs at a race track in Florida. It was suspected that the virus jumped from race horses to racing dogs and mutated.

Today, dog flu has been classified as epidemic in several areas of the country due to its recurring nature. Southern Florida, New York, and northern Colorado/southern Wyoming reports high numbers of cases each year, although the virus can be found in over 22 states in the United States.

Although canine influenza is highly contagious among dogs, there is no evidence that supports transmission to cats, horses, other animals, or human beings. Humans, however, can be carriers of the virus and infect another dog if they have been exposed.

So far this season, 26 dogs have been sickened in a kennel in Virginia, and one has died. Other cases have been reported in Colorado, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.

What are the symptoms of canine influenza?

Symptoms can include a persistent cough lasting from 10 to 30 days, fever, and possibly a nasal discharge. If not properly treated, this virus can develop into pneumonia. It is most common in shelters where large amounts of dogs move in and out and exposure is high. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, about 80% of dogs will have a mild form of this disease.

How do I get my dog tested for canine influenza?

Veterinary Diagnostic Centers can perform tests on nasal secretions at the onset of infection. Detection from a series of blood tests can also confirm the presence of infection.

How do I protect my dog from canine influenza?

The first thing to do is to monitor your dog's behavior and appearance. Watch for nasal secretions and coughing. Your dog may also become lethargic or unwilling to eat. Take your dog to your veterinarian if these conditions continue.

Ask your veterinarian about a canine influenza vaccine that was recently approved in the United States.

Check on any bulletins from local shelters, animal rescue groups, county/municipal animal control officials or the local news. These are the people who will let you know if there is an outbreak in your community. Should an outbreak of dog flu occur, keep your pet away from other dogs and dog parks until the number of reported cases falls. This is especially important for those people who live in the areas where there are the highest concentration of cases.

If you are traveling with your dog, and exposure to other animals will increase, confirm that dog flu has not been prevalent where you are visiting. Note the appearance of other dogs before letting them go nose to nose with your dog. Ask their owners if the dog is well and social before easing up on your leash.

Even these common sense precautions may not prevent your pet from catching dog flu, but your attention to your pet will certainly insure that will get the care that they need should they become infected.

What is the treatment should my dog get canine influenza?

You will want to have your veterinarian confirm that your pet is infected. The best treatment is to be supportive of your pet's condition. Make sure your dog has plenty of water to drink, and don't over exercise them during this time. Your vet may prescribe antibiotics if they suspect a secondary infection.

At this time, there are no reported cases of canine influenza in humans or other animals aside from horses. However, as humans are extremely sensitive to new viruses, of which they have little immunity, the H3N8 canine influenza virus is being watched very carefully.

Greyhound Dog Racing.

Can You Win At The Dog Track Dont Bet On It Unless You Have An Angle

Greyhound Dog Racing Tips.

Do you think that it's possible to predict the winner of a dog race? Well, a lot of people think so. In spite of the fact that dog track attendance has been declining, thousands of people still fill the stands every day, almost all of them trying to make money by picking winners.

Most of the bettors lose, mainly because they play lucky numbers or just pick a dog at random, because they like its name or its post position. The only people who make money at the track are the people who know the secret of picking winners.

It's not rocket science. All you have to do is work at it. That's exactly what most people aren't willing to do, which is why greyhound handicappers like me do better than the crowd. You can do it too. Anybody can learn the basic handicapping steps that can help you find winners on any program.

The thing is that most people are lazy. They want someone to tell them which dog is going to win in every race. So they buy "automatic" handicapping software and systems and tip sheets. What a waste of money! If most tip sheets really picked winners, everyone who bought them would have them and they wouldn't pay anything.

As for automatic systems and software... There's nothing that will automatically pick winners with no effort or time on the part of the user. Remember that computers are fast, but they're only as smart as the people who program them. Therefore, they're no better at picking dogs than a good handicapper is.

The secret to picking winners is the same as it's always been. Class, speed, post position, running style, pace and the ability to see how the race will play out are all factors. Then there are angles - little insider tricks that tell you that a dog is more likely to win than another dog.

That's not the kind of thing a computer program or a tip sheet can tell you. That's something you have to learn from someone who figured it out from years of hard work, research and analysis. It's also something that you can figure out the same way - through years of effort and time.

Greyhound Dog Racing.

Can You Win at the Dog Track by Betting on Favorites

Greyhound Dog Racing Tips.

At the dog track, favorites win about 30% of their races. That sounds pretty good, but studies show that they pay poorly, so they only pay back about 84 cents of each dollar you bet on them to win over time. This is NOT the way to win at the dog track, is it?

On the other hand, if you bet only longshots, you'll lose even more money. They only pay about 70 cents out of the dollar you bet on them to win. Obviously, betting only longshots or only favorites is a losing proposition. This is why 90% of the people who bet on dog races lose.

So, what does the other 10% do differently that makes them winners? Well, they probably have a pretty good handicapping system, for one thing. One that takes many factors into consideration instead of just betting the odds on the toteboard.

Also, they don't bet with the crowd on favorites or against the crowd on longshots. They bet on what THEY think will come in, no matter what the odds are on the dog. (Except in some rare cases when they know the dog won't pay off if it comes in because it's at such low odds.)

Dogs don't come in because the crowd likes them. Dogs come in because they're better than the other dogs they're racing against. Many times, the crowd notices only some of the factors that affect how the race is run and give that factor too much significance.

For instance, many times the favorite is a dog with early speed. Early speed is good, but it takes more than that to win a race. If the dog fades or another dog is a great closer, early speed can get lost in the dust. That's why the ten percent of the crowd who win go past looking for early speed and look for the other factors that tell them what to bet on.

Greyhound Dog Racing.

Can You Make Money With Greyhound Handicapping Systems

Greyhound Dog Racing Tips.

There's an old saying, "Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach." That may be true in some areas, but it shortchanges teachers, some of whom are very dedicated to teaching other people what they know.

Some people teach because they love to share their knowledge with other people. These are the people who get talking about their favorite subject and don't know when to stop, even when other people get that glazed look in their eyes.

For me, dog racing is an exciting, challenging, very interesting way to make money, while having a good time. I've never been big on working my fingers to the bone helping someone else get rich. I like working for myself and being my own boss. I also like greyhounds, so finding a money-making hobby was a no-brainer.

The problem was finding a reliable way to pick winners, quinielas and trifectas. The way I solved it was by learning the craft of greyhound handicapping over many years. This is how I came up with the two systems that have consistently made me money at the greyhound track for thirty years.

I know, without a doubt, that I wouldn't have made half the money if I hadn't developed a system early on in my handicapping. I don't see how anyone can go to the dog track and just pick winners without a system to guide them.

Unless they have an old pro to help them ferret out the inside information that good systems help you find, they're going to be just like the other 90% of bettors who lose on every program. Me, I'd rather be one of the 10% who win at the dog track. That's why I use a good greyhound handicapping system every time I go.

If you're young and intelligent and work for the dogmen, like I did when I started learning handicapping, you can probably figure out your own system over a few years. If you'd rather not do it yourself, the best thing to do is find a reasonably priced system, written by someone who has been handicapping for a long time. Use it on paper first until you're comfortable with it and then use it to make money at your local dog track.

Greyhound Dog Racing.

Can You Bet on Both Horses and Dogs and Make Money

Greyhound Dog Racing Tips.

Harness racing and dog racing might seem a lot alike, unless you're a fan of either. For some reason, a lot of dog players shun the harness races and vice versa. I used to think that I'd never bet on anything that had a rider or driver, but I changed my mind one day not long ago.

A friend of mine named Bill took me to a local harness track and showed me how he bets on the harness races. With his guidance, over the course of a couple of programs, I learned how to handicap well enough to make a little profit.

You could have knocked me over with a feather. (Well, a pretty big feather. I'm no lightweight.) I would never in a million years have thought that I'd be betting on animals that are controlled by humans, rather than dogs who are running of their own free will. But I was and I was enjoying it.

I realized after a couple of races that the drivers have good reason to want to win, just as much as the greyhounds want to win. Many of them own and train their own horses and need the purse money to stay afloat financially.

I used to think that the harness races were mostly fixed, and years ago that might have been true in a lot of places. Nowadays though, many of the tracks have big casinos subsidizing the purses and it's more rewarding to win than it is to cheat.

So, if you've been avoiding the harness races because you think that they're too hard to handicap or because you think they're as crooked as a dog's hind leg, you might just want to reconsider and give it a try. Whether you start from scratch with a program, use a tip sheet or a free handicapping system or buy one, the harness races are fun to handicap.

What's even better, they pay pretty well and are remarkably consistent as far as post position and driver stats go. All the information you need is in the program or reasonably priced data sheets from information brokers like Trackmaster. Don't wait thirty years like I did, find out what you've been missing and pick some winners at the harness track.

Greyhound Dog Racing.

Betting on the Dogs at Derby Lane

Greyhound Dog Racing Tips.

When T.L. Weaver sold a piece of scrub land to local businessmen in 1925, he had no idea that he'd be getting into the greyhound racing business. When the businessmen couldn't pay their mortgage, he got the land back, but now it had a dog track on it: Derby Lane, the oldest track in the US. The Weaver family is still running it and it's going strong.

With ponds and greenery surrounding it, Derby Lane is where I sometimes have trouble keeping my mind on the races, because I get distracted watching the wildlife. However, the racing is well worth watching, because they have some of - if not the best - dogs in the country.

This is the track where the legendary Keefer won the first 4 stakes races of the 1986 season in front of 12,779 fans.

It's also the track where business was so slow in the early years that Weaver staged all kinds of other sporting events including an exhibition football game with the also-legendary Jim Thorpe. He even tried auto races! It wasn't long though, as greyhound racing gained in popularity, before people like Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig were coming to watch the dogs run.

Admission is free and kids are admitted with adult supervision. There's a good restaurant, a couple of lounges and a sports bar. Lots of large-screen TVs make it easy to watch the races or replays. Of course, it's air conditioned, but you can sit out on the terrace during the cooler months if you like. I really enjoy sitting there and going over my program or writing postcards to my New England friends who are freezing their patoots off.

Don't miss Vera's News really nice blog authored by Vera Filipelli, who has been involved with greyhound racing for thirty years in several states including WV, WI and now Florida. Not only does Vera write, but she's also participated in film and video projects, contributed to the National Greyhound Review and co-hosted major events in the greyhound world. Her blog will let you know what's happening at Derby Lane.

And here's something to note for future reference: Her last post mentioned a certain winning greyhound's pups who are going to be making their debut soon at Derby Lane. I'll give you a hint... Their daddy is one of the "Dream" dogs and their momma is a "Doll". They should be fun to watch and, who knows, maybe one or more will be a champion like their famous dad.

Greyhound Dog Racing.

Betting on Dogs - Balance

Greyhound Dog Racing Tips.

I love handicapping greyhounds. I could do it 24/7 if there were tracks running all day and all night. There have been times in my life when I've driven to a track in the morning and didn't get home until the next morning, because I stayed to play the tracks in the southwest.

There were also times when I went to the track when I should have been working or doing chores or spending time with the family. Luckily, I have a very significant other who doesn't put up with that kind of neglect and I soon realized that this kind of thing wasn't going to fly.

It's been a long time since I let the dogs take over too much of my life. Now, greyhound handicapping is just one of the things I do. I balance it with family, friends, hobbies and the stuff I have to do like chores and making money.

If you've been hearing a lot lately at home about how often you're gone, maybe it's time to take a look at whether your life is getting out of balance. Neglecting your family or friends or getting obsessed with gambling is easy to do without realizing it.

You go to the track a couple times a week to begin with and then without even realizing it, it's a daily thing. It becomes the focus of your life and everything revolves around getting that program, handicapping it and taking it to the track.

If you find yourself "borrowing" money from the household account to float your bets, trust me, you're on a very slippery slope. Ask yourself how you'd feel if your spouse did the same thing to cover casino bets or credit card bills from shopping at the mall.

If this is happening to you, pull back and lay off for awhile. Get reconnected with your spouse and kids and the friends who don't go to the track with you. I'm not saying you can't go to the dog track. But you need to make sure that it isn't taking over your life.

If you're losing too much, get a system and use it to make a few good, sensible bets and stop betting wild. Find something to do that doesn't involve gambling like playing board games or card games with your kids for a change. Get back into balance and you'll even enjoy dog racing more.

Greyhound Dog Racing.

Best Dog Track in Florida

Greyhound Dog Racing Tips.

Daytona Beach is a great place to visit in the winter. The sun is shining, the ocean is beautiful and there's the Daytona 500 track and information center to visit. And right next to the Daytona 500, actually in the parking lot, there used to be a little old dog track.

It was nice, but I always thought it was kind of a strange place to put a greyhound track. Someone else must have thought so too, because they tore it down and built a new facility about 3 miles up the road on Williamson Blvd.

I was pretty excited when I heard about it, but even more interested when I read that it was going to be the first certified LEED greyhound park in the world. To be certified by LEED, you have to build so as to reduce your impact on the environment, which is a very good idea in Florida.

Well, not only did they do that to the point where the toilets in the rest rooms give you a choice of how much water to flush with, but they've made a place that makes "going to the dogs" a great experience, and a very comfortable one.

Inside, there are plenty of large screen TV's showing the live racing and the simulcasts from the best greyhound and horse tracks around the country. I was there on Breeder's Cup Day and there was a big crowd, but I still saw every minute of the races.

There are seats for the live racing inside and also a nice area for dining and watching the races. If you just want to bet on simulcasts, there's even a separate room with many, many screens and betting machines and also totes.

Also outside - and this is my favorite way to watch the races - there are Adirondack chairs so you can sit back and really relax with two cupholders on each chair for your drink. And the arms are nice and big and flat, so you can go over your program on it.

Unfortunately, on the day I went, there were way too many "T" races. I'd rather see races where the dogs are picked by draw, rather than by the racing secretary, but they were good races nonetheless.

I was able to bet without getting shut out and even got a hot dog and a drink without standing in line for more than a couple of minutes and the people who work there seem to be very friendly and helpful. I went there on a Saturday and there was a mix of family groups and serious bettors.

If you get a chance, visit Daytona Beach Kennel Club and don't forget to recycle your program in the bins they have for it there. Also, on the way out, check out the gift shop where you can buy items and have the money benefit retired greyhounds. They deserve it after all the pleasure they've given us with their racing efforts.

Greyhound Dog Racing.

Beginners Guide to Australian Greyhound Racing

Greyhound Dog Racing Tips.

Greyhound racing is popular not only in Australia but also in other countries such as the United States, Great Britain, Ireland and New Zealand. These are actually the five main large-scale greyhound-racing countries in the world. Some of the small-scale greyhound racers on the other hand are Argentina, Brazil, Mexico and a whole lot more.

In this sport, the greyhounds race by chasing an artificial hare or rabbit, also known as the lure, around a track until they reach the finish line. Whichever crosses the finish line first is of course the winner of the race. This type of racing has extensively become part of the gambling business, which is why the sport has such a stronghold in the aforementioned countries despite expressed concerns of people regarding the health and well being of the dogs.

The history of this racing can be traced back in the 1870s when an experimental greyhound racing was conducted on a straight track at Hendon, beside the Welsh Harp reservoir. The sport didn't develop though until year 1912 when Owen Patrick Smith introduced the use of oval tracks for the race and an artificial hare as a lure to campaign for a halt in the killing of jackrabbits. Greyhound race betting then started in the 1920s when the certificates system was developed.

In Australia, the Australian Greyhound Racing Association or AGRA is the governing body that regulates greyhound welfare and living conditions. The said association is further divided into various state governing bodies to help facilitate greyhound welfare regulation. One of their responsibilities is to check the greyhounds for parasites, malnourishment or any medical condition, or basically just an overall examination that will assure that the dogs are healthy and in good condition before they actually compete.

The sport is extremely popular to male working-class audiences, especially when it comes to the art of betting. If you are new to the world of betting for this sport, you should first do your homework of researching for reliable greyhound racing tips before you finally place your bet. Greyhound racing tips actually emphasize that race betting is not really a game of chance but a game of analysis and careful scrutiny.

One of the top greyhound racing tips you'd most likely find helpful is to study the dogs. This is important when placing a bet. You don't just place your bet on any dog without considering its qualities and racing capabilities. Although you can't know all the dogs too well right away, it would help if you try to find out first the greyhound's age and track record. In the event that you do win, it is a sound decision to not immediately replay your winnings. Although winning a bet gives you that incredible feeling and assumption that luck is on your side, getting too carried away might just reverse the table. Keeping your winnings with you after a bet instead of betting again immediately will decrease the chances of eventually losing all your winnings.

Greyhound Dog Racing.

Basic Greyhound Handicapping Secrets

Greyhound Dog Racing Tips.

I admit it. I'm slow. But even I caught on to the secret of winning at the greyhound track. True, it was only because I overheard someone else say it, but still. When I heard it, I had the sense to stop and listen and think about it.

The secret? It's simple: Pick the best dog in the race and bet on it. Now, before you click away from this page in disgust, thinking that I'm playing games, read a little further. Notice that I didn't say, pick the two best dogs or the five best dogs or the dog that looks like it might win.

I said that you need to find the best dog and bet on it. So, what about all the articles where I tell you to eliminate at least half of the dogs until you get down to four or fewer likely contenders? Well, that's only the first step.

After you eliminate at least four dogs, you have to rank the other four dogs until you've found the dog that is better than the others. You want the dog that has something going for him that the other dogs don't have. Whether it's speed, class, post position or whatever, find something that makes a dog stand out from the rest.

Then, bet on it. And the trick to betting on it, is betting it the right way. Do you have another dog that you're sure is in the running for 2nd? Then bet your dog with it in a quiniela. Are you REALLY sure your dog will win? Then a tri key might be the way to go, if you have the bankroll for it.

There are really only two steps to winning at the dog track. Take both of them, one by one, and you'll go home a winner.

Greyhound Dog Racing.

Avoid This Losing Strategy at the Dog Track

Greyhound Dog Racing Tips.

So many times when we're handicapping dog races, it seems to come down to two dogs, doesn't it? Or at least, that's how it seems. You weigh up the factors of all the dogs and find that two of them are almost even for one or more factors.

What you do in this situation can mean the difference between going home broke or with a nice little bonus in your pocket. A lot of handicappers get bogged down at this point and spin their wheels going over and over each dog's lines. This is a trap that you must avoid if you want to win at the greyhound track.

First of all, there's no such thing as a "2-dog race" no matter how good those two dogs look. They'll be running the race with 6 other dogs, and you'd better handicap those dogs, as well. Second of all, there's no such thing as a "sure thing" in racing or in life.

One or both of those dogs may not be as likely to win, if you take into consideration the running styles, post positions and form of the other dogs. Dogs don't run in a vacuum. Even with the best dogs, the way they run in one race can be markedly different from how they run in another race, depending on conditions.

So, when you look at a race, instead of narrowing it down to one or two dogs right away, handicap ALL the dogs, even the ones who don't look so good at first. Look at their post position, where they'll run on the track, their recent form and their times.

Once you have a good idea of the general makeup of the race, then go on to eliminate dogs whose post position, running style or times indicate that they're not up to the current race's standards. After you do this, and not before, is the time to look at those two "standout" dogs, if they're still standouts after you really look at the other dogs.

Using this strategy will insure that you don't handicap so quickly, just looking for dogs that stand out from the rest, that you miss some good solid contenders, who aren't quite so flashy at first look. This broad method of handicapping the big picture is much better than narrowing in on small parts of the race picture.

Greyhound Dog Racing.

Automatic Greyhound Handicapping System - Put it to Work For You

Greyhound Dog Racing Tips.

Unless you're one of the 10% of bettors who go home winners from the dog track, you know that picking winners is hard work. Wouldn't it be nice if you could find a way of picking them automatically, based on a method that doesn't take all day to use?

Well, you can. All you have to do is develop one and use it consistently. Or, alternatively, you can buy one and learn to use it so well that picking dogs that run in the money is second nature to you. And, before you shake your head and tell me I'm nuts let me tell you how you can do this.

Even someone who loses consistently picks a winner once in awhile. So when you bet a dog that comes in, go back and look at why you picked that particular runner. Was it because it had moved to a post position that it favors?

Or did you pick it because it had almost won its last race or because it had closed a couple of lengths on the leaders in its last race? Unless you used one of the "lucky" methods like picking a dog by name or because it just "looked good", make a note of why you pick dogs when you pick them.

After a while, you'll have several factors that you can use to find more dogs that are likely contenders, using what's worked for you in the past. After all, this is how systems are written. It's all the factors that influence the outcome of races - things to look for when you're handicapping.

At first, looking for these factors is hard work and takes time and effort. But after you've been using whatever method you come up with for awhile, you'll find that it's automatic. You'll look at a program and the factors that make up your handicapping system will almost "jump off the page" at you.

And that's all there is to it. The hard part is finding the factors that matter in the first place. But once you've found them, handicapping greyhound races is just like putting together a jigsaw puzzle or doing a word search. Only, unlike the other puzzles, figuring out the outcome of a dog race is much more rewarding financially.

Greyhound Dog Racing.

Automatic Greyhound Handicapping System - Fact Or Fiction

Greyhound Dog Racing Tips.

I've been handicapping greyhounds for almost 4 decades now. One thing that bothers me about greyhound handicapping is how some system sellers take advantage of how gullible and desperate people are to make money at the dog track.

There are many greyhound handicapping systems available on the Net, with most of them selling for over $100. Some sell for much more - into the thousands of dollars. You'd have to cash a heck of a lot of tickets to get your money back from these "sure-things", that's for sure.

I'm a realist. I know that most people who go to the dog track lose money. From many years of watching people lose money, I know WHY they lose. I've seen it all from people who bet on names, numbers, whether the dog has its tail up, its ears up, or on a license plate that they saw on the way in.

None of this works, except by coincidence, and you can't depend on coincidence to favor you every time you go to the track. Then there are the people who grouse that nothing works, so why bother even trying to beat your bad luck? (I always wonder what people like this are doing betting on races at all, but that's between them and their shrinks, I guess.)

Let's be honest. What works at the track is what works in most areas of life. You get back what you put in. If you have at least average intelligence and you put in enough time and effort, you can learn to pick more winners than losers.

The reason 90% of the people who go to the track lose is because they want the result without the work. They figure they'll buy a system and pay someone big bucks to pick dogs for them. It doesn't work that way.

Even with a good system, you still have to do some basic handicapping, pay attention to your track's particular quirks and keep track of your results to make money. In other words, you still have to put in some time and effort to make a system pay off.

That's why I sell my systems for much less than others do. It's also why I don't promise that you'll get rich with them. Maybe, if you have a flair for handicapping and work hard it, you'll get rich. But it's much more likely that you'll get to where I am.

I'm not rich, but I make money consistently on handicapping greyhounds and seldom have a losing day unless I ignore my own advice and don't stick with a system. I know that there's no such thing as a sure thing. I don't get upset if I lose from time to time. It's part of the process of becoming a better handicapper. I enjoy posting tips and articles and selling systems that help other people enjoy my favorite sport.

Greyhound Dog Racing.

Arizona Dog Adoption

Greyhound Dog Racing Tips.

Arizona is seeking to help find a home for the greyhound dogs bred for dog racing. Because the dog racing tracks are losing money, they do not have a choice but to close down early. The problem is, can they survive in business for much longer? Business will always evolve and the race track can be used as a venue for another venture. Everything is flexible, so no worries there - but what about the dogs? What will happen to them when they are no longer profitable as a talent? They aren't seen as pets, they are talents much like athletes that profit the track owners.

One local dog track was scheduled to end their meet in September, but as early as June, was forced to cease operation because of financial reasons. Arizona has seen 150 dogs got lost on their way to adoption centers, and the state does not want a repeat of that incident. What people are most afraid of is that the dogs could be transferred to Juarez, Mexico where conditions are much worse. People are petitioning to help save these beautiful greyhounds.

The Arizona dog adoption centers will gladly welcome those willing to take responsibility for one of these dogs and finding them a good home. Getting these dogs would be no more different than adopting a stray dog. They are well-behaved dogs and deserve to have a home - not just tossed aside because they are no longer good for business. Some families may be hesitant to adopt a grown dog, but there are a lot of advantages. The available staff at the Arizona shelters can help you with all your questions. The dogs will be medically checked to ensure the health of the dog.

There are a number of adoption centers in Arizona that take care of a lot of pets while they are searching for a home. We salute the efforts of these people and appreciate all their concern for our four-legged friends. And we must help in their endeavor - finding the perfect family for these dogs is important for their health and quality of life. Let us not leave them homeless, and help these dogs find a family than can treat them the way they deserve to be treated.

Greyhound Dog Racing.

Are You Missing Something at the Dog Track

Greyhound Dog Racing Tips.

I usually sit in the same place when I go to my local dog track. Very often there's a guy who sits near me and we shoot the breeze from time to time. After I'd talked to him a couple of times, it dawned on me that he hardly ever watches a race, even though he bets on almost every one.

Andy looks at his program. He looks at the odds board. He looks at his laptop. He does some calculations on the laptop's spreadsheet program and then switches to another window that has a handicapping program on it. Then he looks back at the odds board and so on and so forth until the race is over. Then he looks at the odds board one last time to see if he won. The man might as well be listening to the race on the radio.

Me, I look at the dogs as they're led to the boxes. Sometimes, I even go down and watch them as they're weighed in and checked before the program starts. It's not that I'm expecting to discover some hot clue as to who's going to win. It's just that I love greyhounds and never get tired of watching them.

I don't see them as a bunch of statistics or money on the hoof - or paw, I should say. I see them as professional athletes who happen to be dogs. I know that they love what they're doing - like the best athletes always do. I know they'll run their hearts out, no matter whether people bet on them or not. And I know that they're intelligent, gentle, friendly animals, who get along well with other animals and people. Most of all, I know that they're individuals.

To Andy, they're just numbers. While they're parading down to the boxes, he's crunching numbers and figuring out if the 1 box is still the best box for winning percentage. While they're listening to the lure squeal around the rail toward them, he's looking for that last flip that the odds board does that tells him whether his bet was a good choice based on past statistics.

While they're rounding the first curve and the rest of us are holding our breath, hoping our dog won't get bumped or blocked, Andy is doing a "what if" scenario to see what the 7 will pay over the 3 and vice versa, because the spreadsheet told him to bet both of those combinations in a complicated tri wheel with four other dogs.

And when they get to the finish line and everyone is asking their neighbor whether it was the 7 or the 6 in front or did the 3 get in there, Andy is running calculations on the next race, completely oblivious to what's going on around him. He'll just wait until they put the dogs up on the board and then he'll know if he won. It doesn't really matter to him what happened during the race. All he cares about is whether he can cash his tickets.

I can't understand how anyone can go to the dog track and not watch the races. To me, people like Andy might as well buy lottery tickets or play the slots or some other mechanical betting deal. What in the world is the point of betting on dogs if you don't watch them? Where's the connection with what you're trying to figure out i.e. who's going to win the race?

I guess people like Andy would say that it's best if you keep your feelings out of betting. To them, handicapping is a scientific, mathematical operation that has no room for emotions. Well, I beg to differ. I think handicapping is more than numbers, statistics and percentages. I don't think you can predict what greyhounds will do in any given race using only mechanical formulas and odds board calculations.

Sure, you have to use intelligence and good judgment and you have to bet sensibly. But I don't believe that there's any way to consistently predict the results of dog races based on statistics and spreadsheets without watching how the race plays out. I think people who bury their heads in this stuff and pay little or no attention to the races miss the best part of going to the dog track - the dogs.

I also think that the best handicappers are the ones who have a deep connection to the greyhounds they bet on and would watch dog races even if you couldn't bet on them. I go to watch and win.

Greyhound Dog Racing.

All About the Greyhound

Greyhound Dog Racing Tips.

Greyhounds make excellent pets as they are very intelligent and sensitive dogs. They are easy going with dogs as well as humans and make loyal companions. They are highly trainable and can quickly understand what is required of them. Greyhounds are ideal for households with children as they are extremely gentle dogs that get along well with children. If you're looking for a loving and elegant dog, the greyhound might be the dog for you.

Greyhounds are a very ancient breed and carvings in Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs depict a very similar looking dog. It is thought they are descendants of the Arabian Slough and that they were introduced to England around 900 AD. They were brought to America in the 1500s by Spanish explorers and were among the first breed of dog to be shown in dog shows.

Greyhounds are the fastest animal after the cheetah and they can reach speeds of 70 kilometers per hour. They are used in racing as well as hunting and despite the fact that they are amazing athletes; these dogs don't require a lot of exercise, making them the ideal indoor dog. That being said, greyhounds love running and they are happiest when given the opportunity for a free run. Their liquid gait is striking and it is a joy to watch these dogs in action. Greyhounds run unlike any other dog and they are off the ground twice in their running stride - this is known as a double suspension gallop.

Greyhounds tend to be timid dogs, especially with strangers and they respond to gentle handling. If they are treated harshly they can become fearful and shy, even of their owners. They aren't prone to excessive barking and are quiet, gentle dogs.

They have a short haired coat and you can find all sorts of amazing color combination's such as white, black, blue, brindle, fallow, fawn and gray. Due to the fact that they have short hair, many people who are generally allergic to dogs don't suffer as much with these dogs. They don't shed much and don't require much grooming. Combing a greyhound twice a week is sufficient.

Greyhounds are prone to bloat and should be fed 2-3 small meals spread throughout the day to avoid this deadly condition from developing. They are also very sensitive to chemicals and require a special anesthetic when undergoing surgery. Due to their hypersensitivity they can't wear flea and tick collars.

Greyhounds need to be kept warm in cold weather climates and should wear a coat when out on a walk.

They shouldn't be kept off leash unless they are in a safe, contained area as they are prone to chasing small animals such as rabbits.

If you are thinking about getting a greyhound as a pet you should consider adopting a retired racing greyhound. Racing dogs are retired at 4 years of age and they make excellent pets due to their good training and gentle manner. Retired racing greyhounds are already crate trained and are easy to house train.

Greyhound Dog Racing.

Adopt A Retired Racing Greyhound

Greyhound Dog Racing Tips.

If you are looking for your next dog, you might consider adopting a retired racing Greyhound. Contrary to popular belief, they do not require huge amounts of exercise - in fact, they sleep away most of the day. They do have special needs but they are loving, calm, and gentle and they make a great pet for the right family.

Greyhounds are very low maintenance dogs, they rarely need grooming (but they do enjoy a good brushing) and only need to be bathed a few times per year. Because they don't produce the same skin oils as other breeds of dogs, they rarely smell "doggy". Many people who find themselves allergic to dogs can adopt Greyhounds because they don't shed as much as other breeds of dogs and they do not produce the same dander that other breeds produce.

Greyhounds typically weigh 60-75 lbs and should not be allowed to carry extra weight. Because of the low percentage of body fat, Greyhounds cannot regulate their body temperature as efficiently as other breeds and should not be allowed to live outside.

Greyhounds should never be allowed offleash in an unfenced area. Because they are sighthounds, if they lose sight of "home" they are unlikely to find their way back to you. Because their necks are larger than their heads (they are affectionatly called "needle noses") they must wear a Martingale Collar, which is also called a Humane Choke collar. This type of collar prevents them from slipping out of their collar and escaping.

Greyhounds require less exercise than other large breed dogs - because they are sprinting animals, their energy is spent all at once and they often will sleep the rest of the day. If you do not have a fenced in yard, they will need to be walked for exercise.

If you are interested in finding more about Greyhound Adoption, visit www.adopt-a-greyhound.org [Http://www.adopt-a-greyhound.org] to find an adoption group in your area.

Greyhound Dog Racing.

Adopt a Greyhound! They Are Docile and Great With Children!

Greyhound Dog Racing Tips.

Did you know that Greyhounds are the only canine mentioned in the Holy Scriptures? (Proverbs 30:29-31).

This breed dates back to ancient history for Pharaohs rated Greyhounds first amongst all animals, both as pets and hunters. Paintings of dogs similar to today's Greyhound existed over 4,000 years ago.

History indicates that the breed arrived in England over 3,500 years ago and Greyhound's link with nobility was recorded at around 1014 when king Canute enacted the Forest Laws which stated only noblemen could own and hunt with Greyhounds.

The Greyhound was imported to America around late 1800s to assist farmers in the Jackrabbit control, which was the culprit for destruction of crops.

Originally hunting dogs and later racing dogs. The first circular racing track opened in 1919 in Emeryville, California and the racing industry in America was on its way...

A Greyhounds life begins after a 60 day gestation period. About two months after birth the litter, which ranges from 5 to 9 pups, is ready to to begin exercising their legs. At 3 months old, these pups are given an identifying tattoo and owners must register them with the National Greyhound Association, in Abilene, Kansas.

Typically at 14-16 months of age, adequate training has been completed and a Greyhound is placed at a racing kennel to begin their racing career. Pups are generally kept together in litters til about the age of one year, at which time they are transferred to a training kennel, where they establish a running pattern, fast or slow-breaker, pacesetter etc...

Although I do not agree with racing of Greyhounds, it is a reality, and I am glad that humane organizations such as the Greyhound Pets of America look after these animals after their retirement and look for loving homes where they can be placed and live the rest of their retired lives.

I was a Greyhound owner and wish I had many acres of land and a big house, so I could adopt dozens of Greyhounds and give them the love they deserve. Unfortunately I am not able to, so I encourage you, if you are thinking about adopting a dog, to stop by your local GPA chapter and see for yourself how docile, intelligent, loving this breed is. They make great pets for children!

Many vets often say Greyhounds make the best patients and I often laugh when I think of the saying that Greyhounds are a 45m/h couch potato! :O)

If not ready to adopt, pass this on to someone who may be thinking about it and if you can, make a donation to the GPA. They are committed to placing every dog, they are never put to sleep and their volunteers are a very dedicated group.

My little Ally is no longer with us. She lived a long 13 years, raced for 3 years or so, had two litters and lived the rest of her retired days happy and loved.

Adopt a Greyhound! They are GREYT!

Greyhound Dog Racing.

Abuse of the Greyhound

Greyhound Dog Racing Tips.

When I was asked to write about the abuse of the Greyhound I didn't really know how to begin. Not because I couldn't think of anything to say, there is an abundance of things to say about the way that these poor dogs are mistreated. It was more like a feeling of, "well, doesn't everyone know already?" Then I realized that most people don't know at all. They have no idea what goes on in the Greyhound racing industry. That's what it is, an industry. The dogs are no more than money generating machines to be used to create wealth for their owners, and when they are no longer winning and making a profit they are discarded like a worn out machine, and a new one is obtained.

Having spent the last 20 years or more in dog welfare generally, and Greyhound welfare specifically, I tended to think that everyone must have seen all the things that I have seen. Things like the pair of beautiful brindle Greyhound bitches that we found tied to a tree with a hole through their chests courtesy of their "caring" owner and his 12-gauge shotgun. Or the mystery of the Greyhound lying on a seclude part of the beach with a 2ft by 2ft paving slab tied to her neck. She had been drowned but the sand where she lay was dry. Then we realized that she had been left there, unable to move until the tide came in and killed her. We have found dogs with their ears severed and left to bleed to death. Racing Greyhounds have tattoo marks in their ears to identify them and whom they belong to, so their owner had cut off their ears so that he could not be identified.

Why do they do this? you ask. They do it because a shotgun shell is cheaper than the £30 or so that the vet would charge to euthanase the no longer wanted dogs, and that's all that matters to these men... money! A handy paving slab costs nothing and a sharp knife little more. There is a wealth of information available on the internet on websites like my own.

You will probably say, "oh, he must be exaggerating, surely not all the Greyhound racing fraternity treat their dogs like that." No, not all of them do. There is a minority that actually keep their retired Greys for the rest of their life, but they are indeed a very small minority. A Greyhound is at the end of his racing "career" at about four years old, some even younger. A Greyhound can live to be 15 years old with ease. We have one at home and she is 17 years old, and looks set for a while yet. That's a long time to keep a business asset that is not producing isn't it? Now do you see why it is only a minority who keep their retired dogs as pets?

When I first became interested in the sorry plight of these adorable dogs I thought that the answer was to donate money to the rescue charities who are trying their hardest to find homes for the Greys that they hear about, and to start up more home finding schemes etc. They do a wonderful job and I don't mean to be-little their work in any way whatsoever, but I didn't realize the size of the problem and the numbers involved. It is estimated by reliable sources that about 30,000 Greyhound puppies are born each year, mainly in Ireland, to replace the racing stock at the tracks in England and Ireland. About a third of these are killed within weeks because it becomes clear that they will not be suitable for racing. Thousands more fail their racing trials later on and are subsequently killed, or if they are almost but not quite good enough, they may end up in spain where the requirements are not as high. These poor souls really have drawn the short straw. The animal welfare policies in spain are almost non-existent. My word processor program keeps trying to correct my spelling of the word spain by inserting a capital S, but it is not a mistake on my part and I intend it to stay the way it is spelled.

Now can you see why the only answer, and the only way we can help these dogs is a complete ban on Greyhound racing. In the meantime, the rescue charities are doing their very best and we would be even worse off without them. I am a member and supporter of several of them myself, but they can barely scratch the surface of this massive problem that is based on and fed by the greed of man. My wife and I have 6 Greyhounds and an old Lurcher here at home with us, (used to be 11) and I can tell you from first hand experience that they are the most loving, devoted and grateful breed of dog you could ever have the privilege of caring for. They are the best dogs in the world.---The magnificent Greyhound.

Greyhound Dog Racing.

A Simple Winning Greyhound Laying System For Betfair

Greyhound Dog Racing Tips.

Can you really make money laying greyhounds on Betfair? There are many systems out there for laying horses but greyhound racing is a less popular form of laying to make money. With a simple logical system for laying greyhounds it is possible to make money from this more ignored form of gambling.

Just as with horse racing, there is a lot of freely available information about greyhound racing and each dog's form. We can use this as a basis for a system to make money laying greyhounds if applied with discipline and some simple rules. With any betting strategy I like to have a very sound and logical basis as the foundation. For example, which team is more likely to win in a football match? The one which will statistically score the most goals! Which greyhound will more than likely win a race? The one which can run the fastest! Don't dismiss this approach as it really is possible to use such obvious common sense to build a winning laying system for greyhound racing.

Here's what I do in practise. We can find recent race performance from many sources on the internet telling us about any dog's recent race performance. A great starting point is to look at the time each dog ran its last race over. From this it's very easy to find which were the slowest. We also need to check that the race we're looking at is the same grade as the previous. If the dog is moving up to more competitive higher grade race this simple strategy won't work. To make the system more sophisticated we can look at the average time over the dog's last 2 or 3 races. We now start to have a really good basis for a greyhound laying system!

To ensure maximum profits we do need to add some further rules. A key rule is to limit your exposure and protect your betting bank. For example, if we find a dog running in a race which is clearly running much slower than it's competitors but has odds of 12-1 I would not bet. Slim as it's chances are if the dog does make it first to the line we are going to suffer a bad hit.

Combining simple logical rules like this we can develop a simple greyhound laying system to supplement horse racing and other gambling systems.

Greyhound Dog Racing.

A Greyhound Handicapping System Saves You Money

Greyhound Dog Racing Tips.

When you use a greyhound handicapping system to pick dogs at the greyhound track, you're limiting yourself. This might sound like a bad thing, but it's not. Betting without a system doesn't limit you to anything, and that's a bad thing at times.

For instance, if you go to the track and just pick dogs that you think look good, without a systematic plan, you're not giving yourself the best chance of winning. If you bet on a couple of dogs in each race or wheel a dog in exotic bets, you're liable to fail miserably.

The reason for this is because you're not eliminating the dogs that aren't worth betting on. A good handicapping method ranks the dogs by factors that count. This automatically gets rid of some of the dogs, which means you spend less per race.

No matter what the criteria is that your systems uses, any good method will help you narrow down your choices. Fewer choices mean fewer bets. Fewer bets mean less money spent on losing tickets. The best way to minimize your chances of losing and maximize your chances of winning is by making each bet count.

If you make fewer bets, but they're bets on dogs that have a better chance of winning, you've just upped your odds of making a profit by a lot. The bottom line is how much you walk out of the track with, compared to what you walked in with. A good system helps you walk out with more, but keeps you from betting more than you should.

Greyhound Dog Racing.

A Few Vital Greyhound Betting Tips

Greyhound Dog Racing Tips.

Greyhound racing, like horseracing, can be both an entertaining social event as well as a profitable way to earn money if you know what you are doing. If you are an avid frequenter of the greyhound tracks or are simply looking at starting betting for the first time, consider a few of these tips to help you along the way:

-Beyond simply a good winning streak, a dog's age is an important factor in determining whether or not it can continue running a solid race. Most male race dogs usually hit their peak race age at around two years old, while female racers hit their peak at around three. Bear this in mind that dogs that are either too young or too old may not be the best ones to bet on.

-Pay attention to the track draw when gathering information on winners. Dogs that regularly perform well in the number one slot may not perform as well if they are positioned in a higher ranking slot (such as slot 5 or 6).

-Be selective in your bets. Long shots may occasionally win and have high payouts; however, the likelihood of you being able to profit from one of these is very slim. Be careful when weighing out the likelihood of you being able to profit from the race as you can easily balance the risk to return ratio in your favor.

-Don't be afraid to use the book. Every racetrack in the country should have a race book that lists each race, the runners and their histories, as well as the odds. By referencing this book before each race and getting a comprehensive overview of both the runners and their tendencies, you can make a better informed decision when deciding which dog to bet on in each run.

-If a dog is heavily backed a few minutes before a race and its odds are sharply reduced at that time, this may be a good indicator that this is a dog you should place your bets on. As cliche as it may sound, another gambler may have inside information on the race's outcome and is placing their money on the dog for a particular purpose. If this is so, try to get in on the dog yourself as it might pay off.

-When deciding which dog to bet on, always give your preference to those that race regularly. Dogs that show long periods off the track may be doing so due to injury or some other condition that could affect their racing ability. Bear this in mind when making decisions about what dog you place your bets on, as dogs that have raced recently and show favorable odds are more likely to win than others.

-Finally, do not be too anxious to replay the winnings. While it may be tempting to try to increase your winning margin by even more, it is also important to control your spending at the track and field and take some money home at the end of the day. After all, what is the point in winning hundreds of dollars if you come home in the negative?

Greyhound Dog Racing.

A Beginners Guide to Greyhound Dogs

Greyhound Dog Racing Tips.

Training your dog is always recommended, regardless of the breed, in order to have a healthy and content pet. If you are contemplating about an athletic breed like a Greyhound dog, then you'll need to look in to the appropriate training and their profile.

Greyhound dog training is no different than training another other dog but you might like to keep in mind their personality traits and general behavior to achieve the required training result. These dogs are widely known as racing dogs, and not a boisterous dog. They do not need excessive amounts of exercise but generally walks and to near by parks will do fine to keep your dog healthy and in tip top shape.

They are generally a quiet, gentle and loving dog and respond well to positive training methods. Punishment based training is not recommended especially with this breed. Greyhounds can be easily startled and tend to bolt off without stopping when they are frightened. When you are outdoors with your dog it is highly recommended that you keep them on a leash or a fenced boundary when off leash for this very reason.

Avoid frightening situations if at all possible; take training one step at a time by adding new tricks or things slowly. Training should be a fun and positive experience with a few challenges for mental stimulation. Always reward your dog with treats and praise at the end of their training session or whatever they find enjoyable.

Discipline your with positive actions. If your dog was to urinate on the carpet inside, it is pointless trying to punish them once the deed is already done. The key is to catch them in the act and with a firm grunt of noise to get their attention, proceed to relocate them to an appropriate spot where they can finish. Then reward your dog for finishing in the correct location. This will avoid compounding any problems and will eventually teach them the correct place to go.

To get your Greyhound dog excited about going to training, sessions should be enjoyable, short, and challenging for them. Do not expect your dog to grasp the tasks quickly; they will get it eventually with positive training. If your dog is having some difficulty return to a simpler task they can comply with then move on to another task to avoid boredom.

Greyhound Dog Racing.

7 Top Tips For Successful Greyhound Betting

Greyhound Dog Racing Tips.

Betting on greyhounds can be a very rewarding pastime for those who are willing to stick to some simple rules. Use my 7 top tips for successful greyhound betting to make your punting on greyhound racing more profitable and more enjoyable.

Discipline - Arguably the most important thing with regard to betting on greyhound and any betting for that matter is being disciplined. Only bet what you can afford, never chase your losses and don't bet for the sake of it.

Knowledge is King - Get to know the sport of greyhound racing inside out. Watch it, read it, live it and breathe it. If you're serious about making money on the dogs, immerse yourself in greyhound racing and rewards will follow.

Build a Bank - Start your greyhound betting career with a betting bank behind you. Divide it into 50 or 100 and there you have your unit stake. Stick to this strategy and you'll be sure never to dip into personal funds you shouldn't.

Keep Records - It may be boring and time consuming but keeping records of your greyhound betting activity is crucial.  You'll know exactly where you stand from a profit and loss point of view and it will also pinpoint the types of bets that work best and worst for you.

Lose the Emotion - Emotional bets are normally losing bets. Just because a dog you backed last time was unlucky in running doesn't mean it will win next time. Avoid all previous emotional ties and only back the greyhounds on their merits.

Know the Form - Understanding the form of greyhound racing is a basic prerequisite but one that is surprisingly often overlooked. Punters around the country are betting on the dogs without really understanding what the form figures mean. Use the wealth of information freely available on the web to gain a full understanding of greyhound racing form before dipping your toe in the punting waters.

Visit the Track - While videos and race results can give you an idea of how your greyhound has performed, there is nothing quite like seeing them run in the flesh. Make sure you visit your local track as often as possible and you will develop an eye for what to look out for when betting on greyhound racing.

Greyhound Dog Racing.

5 Ways to Pick Winners at the Dog Track

Greyhound Dog Racing Tips.

Every greyhound handicapper has a method for picking dogs that they develop over the years. Sometimes it's on purpose and sometimes it just evolves into what works the best for them. My method took decades and I still find ways to make it better all the time.

While there are many approaches to picking dogs, here are 5 of the most popular ones and a few observations on their success rate.

1. Look for the dog with the fastest time in its last race. This method isn't one I'd recommend, because - as Professor Einstein said - Time is relative. How fast a dog runs in a race depends on what was going on in that particular race. There's no telling how fast the dog will run in the race he's running today.

2. Look for the dog who has the most wins. Hmm, unless you can tell that all those wins were in the grade it's running in today and that the dog ALWAYS wins at this grade AND that all the dogs have run exactly the same number of races to compare it against, I wouldn't recommend this approach.

3. Look for the dog who has the highest win percentage. This is better than looking at the number of wins, but it's still only one factor. Even if you look at every race the dog ran where it won, this race today is a whole 'nother situation with many factors that can affect whether it wins or not.

4. Look for the dog who gets out first AND gets to the first turn first. Well, how do you find that dog? Sure, you can see if a dog did that in previous races, but that was with different dogs under different circumstances. Can you see where I'm going with this constant harping on "different" here?

5. Consider all the factors: class, post position, running style, past performance at this grade and the probable interaction of all the dogs in this race. Take enough time to figure out what's likely to happen in this race, given each dog's running style, post position and speed profile i.e. early or late speed.

Yes, this last method is much more time consuming than just going down the page and picking the dog with the fastest time, most wins, highest win percentage or early speed. However, if a quick method doesn't pick winners, it's a waste of time and money. I'd rather take a little more time and win a lot more money with method number 5.

Greyhound Dog Racing.

5 Ways to Improve Your Odds of Winning at the Dog Track

Greyhound Dog Racing Tips.

If you've been going to the dog track for awhile, you've probably fallen into a routine. That's not a bad thing, because routines sometimes free our minds to be more creative. But if your routine has become a rut and you're not winning as often as you'd like, here are five things you can do to get out of your slump.

1. Take a break from the track for a weekend or a couple of days. Do something you used to do more of before the track started taking up so much of your time. Go fishing or do some yard work or take your wife out to dinner and a movie.

2. Go to a different track or at least play a different one via simulcast. It's nice to be so used to a track that you know all the dogs by name, but sometimes that can be a disadvantage too. Our minds perk up when we learn new things and go to different places. Give your brain a break with new places and dogs.

3. Make fewer bets, but put more money on each bet. Instead of betting a $6 quiniela box, bet a $12 box and sit out the next 3 races. Mix things up with your bets, but don't go over the limit you've set for yourself.

4. Sit in a different place at the track and strike up a conversation with someone you don't know. If they're willing to talk, ask them how they handicap the greyhounds. You might learn something new and make a friend at the same time.

5. Get yourself a good system and learn to use it.

Greyhound Dog Racing.

5 Secrets to Win at the Dog Track in the Winter

Greyhound Dog Racing Tips.

As I write this, it's 4 degrees outside with a stiff wind. I know I'm going to have a hard time getting myself out to the car to go to the track, but I'll do it. I've gone over my program and there are a few good bets on it worth braving the cold for.

When I took MY dog out this morning, she took as little time as possible to do what needed to be done and then raced back in to lie in front of the wood stove. That got me thinking about how winter weather has an effect on the dogs I bet on.

1. Like me, dogs have a harder time getting started when it's cold. Dogs who break may not break as fast. Cold muscles aren't as quick to react as ones that have been warmed up.

2. Dogs who close may not close as well. Like the dogs who break, the closers are handicapped by muscles that are fighting the cold as well as fatigue at the end of the race.

3. The wind can have a big effect. If the wind is blowing toward the dogs, it can slow them down. If it's blowing with them, it can help them. So if you know that the wind blows against the dogs in the stretch at your track, expect closers to be a little slower. If it blows with the dogs at the start of the race, breakers should get some help from it.

4. Wind creates noise. It blows things around like papers and other debris. Because greyhounds are sight hounds, they can be distracted by these things. A piece of white paper or a bouncing foam coffee cup blowing across the track can look like prey and take their mind off the lure for a second. Sometimes, this is enough to make the difference between winning and losing.

5. Extreme cold can aggravate old injuries, blow dirt into greyhound's eyes and chill them due to their lack of body fat. Greyhounds are like any other athlete. They'll give it their all, but it's harder to make the effort when it's extremely cold and they're uncomfortable.

So, what can you do with this information? Should you stay home from the track for the winter? Bet on Florida tracks until spring comes to your part of the country? Not necessarily.

I still use Graded Greyhound Handicapping to pick dogs in the winter, but I keep an eye on the weather too. I know that cold weather can have an effect on the dogs' performance, so I take that into consideration when I bet on breakers or closers.

If I think they're in top condition, I bet them as usual. If I have any reason to think that they'll be affected by the weather, because of something else that's going on with them, I pass. I also tend to lean toward younger dogs when it's a toss-up between two dogs. Like me, the older dogs are more likely to be affected by the cold.

Greyhound Dog Racing.

5 Reasons to Use a Greyhound Handicapping System to Win at the Dog Races

Greyhound Dog Racing Tips.

What's your reason for not using a greyhound handicapping system? Unless you're able to handicap well enough to win consistently, you probably don't have a good reason. Maybe you think they're too costly. Maybe you think they're all scams. But, maybe you should take another look and here's why.

1. It's much easier to handicap a program when you know exactly what you're looking for. A method that lays that out is the kind you want.

2. A system gives you a framework to build your skills on. You don't have to start from square one every time with a good method for picking dogs.

3. It does some of the work for you. While no method can actually "mechanically" pick winners. a good one will narrow down the choices and make it a lot easier to compare dogs.

4. Using the same method every time you handicap, helps you figure out whether what you're doing is working. And when you find out what's working, you can keep using that factor to pick winners over and over again.

5. It helps you figure out how to bet with the least amount of money and the biggest chance of hitting your bet. This is one of the most important parts of going home a winner on a regular basis. If you can pick dogs, but don't know how to bet them, you'll never get ahead at the track.

There are many more reasons to let a greyhound handicapping system help you increase your odds of winning. You might want to take a few minute and consider whether this method of choosing contenders could work for you.

Greyhound Dog Racing.

5 Factors That Win at the Dog Track

Greyhound Dog Racing Tips.

It IS possible to come up with your own system for handicapping greyhounds. Several people have done it that you've heard of, and I'm sure several more that you haven't heard of have done it.

Of course, it takes time and some basic skills, but the facts and figures are all right in front of you in the program. Plus, you can watch the live races, watch the replays and even download them so that you can replay them and watch them again.

True, it takes a certain level of skill and probably some inborn talent that some of us have and some of us don't. After all, no one is good at everything. I'm good at handicapping dog races, but my kids know not to ask me to help them with Algebra, because I'm lousy at it.

These are the factors that matter when you're trying to write a greyhound handicapping system:

*First of all, becoming a good handicapper means having a very good memory. If you can't remember things from one minute to the next, forget about writing a handicapping system.

*Next, you need to understand dogs and how they interact with each other. We're not talking German Shepherds or Poodles here either. We're talking about how greyhounds interact as they chase the lure around the track.

*Third, you need to be able to read a program and compare the various factors that determine which dogs are contenders in each race. If you don't know which factors matter and which don't, forget about picking winners.

*Fourth, you have to have patience and be able to sit out races. You have to be willing to sit by yourself somewhere quiet, and go over old programs and results for hours at a time until you figure out where you went wrong and what to do to fix it.

*Fifth, you have to be a good money manager who takes care of the bills and other obligations before bankrolling any bets. And you have to be able to keep your credit cards in your wallet, no matter how tempted you are to use them for betting. That's a big mistake and a slippery slope no real greyhound handicapper would consider for a minute.

Be honest with yourself. Check to see if this sounds like you. If it does, start researching and writing. If it doesn't, consider investing in a system and use your talents for other things that you're good at.

Greyhound Dog Racing.

5 Factors That Matter Most in Greyhound Handicapping

Greyhound Dog Racing Tips.

If you want to start an argument at the dog track, just tell someone how you pick winners. Tell them what you look for when you go over your program and they'll probably tell you that at least one of those things is all wrong.

While we all get the same program and watch the same races, few of us agree on which of the many points of greyhound handicapping are the most important ones. Here's my take on it, but remember, your mileage - and handicapping approach - may vary.

1. Class. To me, class is defined very simply as the level at which a dog "should" be running. In other words, it's where he can win at least often enough to stay in that grade and compete with the other dogs on a regular basis.

2. Consistency. This is a biggie. As you go up the grade ladder, the dogs get more consistent until you get to the top where they consistently stay in A. Those are the best dogs. The inconsistent dogs are at the other end of the ladder.

3. Post Position. I've said it before and I'll say it again, to some dogs, post position is everything. But to every dog, it's something to consider when you go over the race. Even dogs who are flexible have post positions that they do much better from.

4. Running Style. For this, I ask myself if the dog's running style is favored or hampered by the running style of the other dogs in the race. For instance, if the dog breaks to the inside and is in the 8 box, is there a dog that will break with it and cut it off?

5. Makeup of the race as a whole. This is the toughest factor, because it's mainly a judgment call. This is where watching hundreds of races at the same track pays off.

So, there you have it. Those are the factors that I consider the most important when I handicap a greyhound race.

Greyhound Dog Racing.

3 Good Reasons to Buy a Greyhound Handicapping System Today

Greyhound Dog Racing Tips.

Longtime greyhound players usually have a system that helps them pick dogs. Some of them come up with these methods themselves. Other bettors buy books or e-books over the years. Some people just use one. Most people have two or three that they've combined to form something that works for them.

Of course, the true test of a system is whether or not it makes money for you. Whether it's helpful at picking winners, quinielas or trifectas, the test is whether you make more money with it than without it. But do you really need one? Here are 3 reasons why some people need one.

Reason #1 - You can handicap a race, but you still end up with too many dogs to bet. If you can't get your picks down to four or fewer dogs, you need a method that helps you narrow it down further.

Reason #2 - You can pick dogs, but don't bet them the right way and end up winning bets, but losing money. This is a common problem and a good method can help you fix it.

Reason #3 - You can't really figure out the most important factors that indicate that a dog is ready to win. You handicap for so many things that you can hardly read your program for the marks on it, but you still lose money.

A good handicapping system can take care of all these problems. So, if you see yourself in any of these reasons, consider whether it might be a good idea to stop trying to do it all on your own.

Greyhound Dog Racing.

2 Dogs You Should Never Bet at the Dog Track

Greyhound Dog Racing Tips.

When you look at a greyhound race, there are so many factors that it's hard to know which one is most important. Post position, class, percentage of wins, quinielas and trifecta percentages. And, of course, you have to consider each dog's running style and how it relates to the other dogs' running style in this race.

Wouldn't it be nice if there was a shortcut or two that would make it easier to pick dogs that are real contenders? Or, even better, wouldn't it be great if you could throw out some non-contenders before you really got down to a closer look at the dogs who have a shot in this race?

Well, in my experience over 30 years of greyhound handicapping, in some races, there are a couple of shortcuts that almost always work to weed out dogs who really don't have a chance. First of all, find a dog who's moving up in grade.

Look at the dog's last two races. If the dog moved up in grade and hasn't done better than third place, I'd leave that dog out of my bets. Why? I figure that the dog isn't ready - for what ever reason - for the competition he's facing in this grade. Maybe he's a young dog, just moving up for the first time and he needs more experience or just more races to find his feet.

Maybe he's an older dog who's slowing down and needs to be at a lower grade to come in. Or maybe he's just not the caliber to run with the grade he's in today and never will be. It really doesn't matter, in this race, why he doesn't have it. What matters is that you don't want to bet on dogs that aren't likely to come in.

The other dog I won't bet on is the kind of dog that somehow manages to stay in a grade by just winning or running in the money often enough so that it doesn't drop down. This kind of dog can drive you nuts, because every once in awhile, it WILL come in and you won't have it and you'll curse me for telling you not to bet on it.

But keep in mind, that if you bet it every time it runs, you'd lose money. Sure, it comes in, but very inconsistently. You really don't want to bet this dog when it's just won, because it's not likely to win back-to-back races, believe me.

There are other dogs that I never bet on, but these two are at the top of my list.

Greyhound Dog Racing.

2 Dog Racing Tips to Win With Greyhounds

Greyhound Dog Racing Tips.

Dog racing tips are a dime a dozen. Bet on favorites. Don't bet on favorites. Bet heavy dogs when it rains. Don't bet heavy dogs when the track is wet. Small females win more route races than large males. Large males have more stamina than little females, so they're better in long races. Who can you believe?

It's important when you're given dog racing tips to consider the source. Since 90% of the people at the track lose, is it really a good idea to take advice from most of the people around you? I don't think so. Now, if it's a trainer, talking about his dog, that's something else. But the run of the mill guy in the crowd? No. Someone who's been handicapping greyhounds for thirty years, like me? I like to think so.

One tip that has made me more money than probably any other is this one: handicap backwards. No, that doesn't mean you should stand on your head or handicap the last race first. It means that it's easier to pick winners if you eliminate the losers first. When you handicap, instead of trying to pick the dog that's most likely to win, find the dogs who are least likely to win. Cross them off until you have at least 4.

Then, bet the other dogs in a four dog quiniela box, a key trifecta or quiniela bet, or however you think you'll have the best chance of winning with the least amount of money spent. If you can't eliminate at least 4 dogs, don't bet the race. Put your money and your effort into another race that's easier to handicap.

The second tip is also a money-maker. Always consider the 3 inside boxes in long races, even if the dogs don't look particularly good. At almost any track, in almost every long race, one of the inside dogs gets in there. Check it out for yourself. It's often the dog that gets out the fastest, which isn't something that people pay a lot of attention to in long races. A lot of people just look for closers in route races, but getting out good still matters.

So, there you have it. Two tips that could help you win today or tomorrow or whenever you go to the dog track the next time. Keep them in mind. Try them out. See if they work at your greyhound track. If they do, add them to your handicapping system.

Greyhound Dog Racing.

#1 Reason Why Handicapping Greyhounds The Old Way Doesnt Work

Greyhound Dog Racing Tips.

Change is hard, especially for greyhound handicappers. We get into a rut, take things for granted and stop looking for new approaches. After all, if the old ways work, why change?

I used to think like that until I realized that I was just blindly accepting what everyone kept telling me: There's nothing new in greyhound handicapping. I figured that as long as I won more than I lost, I was doing great.

Then, one day, while talking to another parent at our sons' basketball game, I realized something that knocked me for a loop and changed the way I handicap forever. I had been handicapping all wrong for years and so has everyone else I've ever read about.

We were talking about the odds of his kid's team beating my kid's team when it hit me. I was handicapping the basketball game, not for real money, but just for fun. Yet I was doing it in a totally different way from the way I handicap dog races.

True, kids aren't greyhounds. But there was another, much more important reason that I was handicapping that game differently. I can't even tell you who won that day, because I was so anxious to get home and apply what I'd learned to greyhound handicapping.

That was three years ago and I refined and tweaked that system until it worked better than anything I'd ever used to win at the dog track. I spent another year writing it down and now I use it every time I go to the track.

So, obviously, change is a good thing if it leads to a better way of doing things. At the greyhound track, and in life, we all need to stay open to new ideas and not just stick with what we're used to just because it's all we know.

Don't be afraid to try something new - a new system of doing things and looking at things. Life is just a series of systems and we need to update our systems every once in awhile. Just like computers, we need a new version of our "software" from time to time.

Greyhound Dog Racing.