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Mythbuster: When greyhound racing ends, will the breed become extinct?We hear it at lot, but are happy to confirm that no, greyhounds won’t cease to exist if greyhound racing is made illegal, but their future would definitely shift in some important ways.
Greyhounds are one of the oldest known breeds of dog. The true origin of the greyhound is unsure, but drawings of findings from the Çatalhöyük site in Turkey from 6000 BC and the discovery of ancient skeletal remains of a dog identified as being of the greyhound/saluki form excavated at Tell Brak in modern Syria, and dated as being approximately 4,000 years old indicate that the greyhound is indeed one of the oldest breeds of dog. The Greyhound is also the only dog mentioned by name in the Bible, in Proverbs 30:29–31.
During the Middle Ages, greyhounds could only be owned by rulers and nobles, having long been associated with heraldic symbols of the ruling class in England, France, and the Czech lands. Until the early 20th century, Greyhounds were
principally bred and trained for hunting and coursing. It was only during the 1920s, that modern greyhound racing, featuring circular or oval tracks and a mechanical or artificial lure, was introduced into the United States, England (1926), Northern Ireland (1927), Scotland (1927), and the Republic of Ireland (1927). Betting has always been a key ingredient of greyhound racing, both through on-course bookmakers and the totalisator, first introduced in 1930. Greyhound racing enjoyed its highest United Kingdom attendances just after the Second World War—for example, attendances during 1946 were estimated to be around 75 million based on an annual totaliser turnover of £196,431,430. In the 1970s however, concerns began to arise regarding overbreeding and the inhumane treatment of greyhounds and the prominence and popularity of dog-racing has declined steeply across the globe.
According to official documentation, the greyhound racing industry in Australia kills up to 17,000 young dogs every year 1 . Thus, while greyhound racing continues to be legal in Australia, up to 17,000 dogs are killed EVERY YEAR. Once the industry is shutdown, this killing will immediately stop. If racing were banned, the commercial incentive to breed large numbers of greyhounds would also disappear, so the number being bred would drop significantly. But that’s not the same as them vanishing, you only need to look the vast array of herding, hunting and other working breeds that are now almost exclusively pets.A lot of dog breeds have outlived the tasks they were originally developed for. Bulldogs were bred for bull-baiting, which was banned a long time ago, and they’ve since found a new purpose as family pets. It is simply not true that a dog breed becomes extinct once it ceases to be used for work or profit. If that were true, we would have no pet St. Bernards, Labradors, terriers, Wolfhounds, Deerhounds, Collies, Boxers, Alsatians, Dobermans, Rottweilers…the list goes on.
Greyhounds have gained popularity as pets in recent years, and many people are drawn to their calm demeanour and relatively low exercise needs compared to other breeds. Responsible breeders and enthusiasts would still keep the breed alive, much like how other historical or working breeds have been preserved after their original purposes declined. Greyhounds also have a strong rescue and advocacy community. If racing ended, much of the focus would turn toward ensuring their ongoing well-being as pets and promoting ethical breeding.
So, greyhounds wouldn’t disappear — they’d just move from the racetrack to the couch. And for them, that’s a welcome and comfy upgrade.
Free The Hounds acknowledges the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognises their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay our respects to them and their cultures; and to elders both past and present.
We are committed to building an inclusive culture that celebrates the diversity represented in our community. We welcome all people regardless of age, gender identity, ethnicity, ability, sexuality, faith, religion, and all other identities represented in our community.