Responsible pet greyhound ownership is no different to that of any pet. It involves caring for your pet as well as understanding and complying with your legal responsibilities around microchipping, registration and maintaining effective control of your dog while in public.
Just like all breeds of dogs in NSW, pet greyhounds are required to be on a leash while in public at all times, unless they are in a council designated off-leash area. If a greyhound rushes at, chases or attacks a person or other animal, the same penalties that apply for any breed of dog, may apply.
Enquiries relating to racing greyhounds should be directed to Greyhound Racing NSW.
Enquiries relating to the welfare of racing and ex-racing greyhounds should be directed to the Greyhound Welfare and Integrity Commission (GWIC).
Key resources.
Key Information
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Greyhound microchipping and registration
All greyhounds whelped in Australia after 1 January 2011 must be microchipped.
The Greyhound Welfare and Integrity Commission (GWIC) maintains its own register of racing greyhounds. Ex-racing greyhounds rehomed as a pet outside the industry must be registered on the NSW Pet Registry like any other pet dog.”
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Greyhound muzzling
To promote the welfare of greyhounds and encourage the adoption of ex-racing greyhounds, pet greyhounds registered on the NSW Companion Animals Register are no longer required to wear a muzzle while in public.
However, only greyhounds that have passed an approved re-training program can go muzzle-free in council-designated off-leash areas, as long as they are wearing the identifiable green collar or the person responsible for the dog is carrying an approved proof of completion card from the re-training program. The muzzle exemption process is administered by Greyhound Racing NSW (GRNSW) as part of its Greenhounds program.
Pet greyhounds should only be let off their lead in off-leash areas once owners are confident with how the dog socialises in different settings.
The Office of Local Government recommends that owners muzzle their pet greyhound for at least eight weeks after adopting a new animal. This provides time to settle the dog within its new environment and to monitor and assess the dog’s behaviour. Greyhound owners can choose to continue to muzzle their dogs based on their assessment.
A pet greyhound that is declared dangerous must be muzzled when outside its enclosure like all other dogs declared dangerous. A pet greyhound that is declared menacing must be muzzled when in public like all other dogs declared menacing.