Training fees
A regular fee covering kennelling, feeding, day-to-day care and preparation. [Price/details supplied following enquiry]
Ownership
Owning a greyhound with Ivanhoe Kennels
Ownership is a way to take part in the sport properly — and to take responsibility for a dog, from its first trial to the day it settles into a home for retirement.
Please read this first
Racing greyhound ownership should be entered into for the enjoyment, the involvement and the responsibility — not as a financial investment. Prize money rarely covers the cost of keeping a dog in training, results can never be promised, and a greyhound is a living animal rather than an asset.
What ownership does give you is a genuine part in the sport, a dog to follow and be proud of, and a duty of care that continues after racing ends. If that is what you are looking for, we would be glad to hear from you.
The reality
What ownership actually involves
No surprises. This is what you take on when a greyhound races in your name.
Veterinary costs
Routine and unexpected veterinary care is the owner's responsibility. We will always discuss anything significant with you before it is done, except in an emergency.
Race entries and travel
Entry arrangements and transport to meetings. [Price/details supplied following enquiry]
Prize money
Any prize money won is accounted for openly. It should be treated as a welcome bonus, not as income.
Retirement
Every owner is expected to support their dog's retirement, whether that means keeping the greyhound or helping us find the right home.
Time and interest
The best owners are the ones who ask questions, come to the track when they can, and want to know how their dog is in itself.
Ways to be involved
Ownership options
Sole ownership
Individual ownership
The greyhound races in your name alone. You make the decisions with us, you take the costs, and the race day is yours.
- Suits
- Owners who want a dog of their own
- Cost
- [Details on enquiry]
Shared
Partnerships
Two or three people sharing one greyhound — costs, decisions and race days divided between you. A common and very enjoyable way in.
- Suits
- Friends or family sharing a dog
- Cost
- [Details on enquiry]
To be confirmed
Syndicates
A larger group taking a share in a greyhound, with the costs spread more widely. [Confirm whether Ivanhoe Kennels offers syndicates, and on what terms, before this card is published.]
- Suits
- Newcomers wanting a smaller commitment
- Cost
- [Details on enquiry]
Photograph requiredRace-day action or owners at the track — landscape, 1600 × 900
Our side of it
What you can expect from us
- Regular, plain updates on how your greyhound is — not only when there is good news.
- A conversation before entries, trials or any change to your dog's programme.
- An honest opinion on your dog's ability, even when it is not what you hoped to hear.
- Prompt contact if your greyhound is injured or unwell, and a clear account of the veterinary advice.
- A welcome at the track on race night, and at the kennel by arrangement.
- Clear accounting of fees, expenses and any prize money.
- A retirement plan discussed well before your dog's racing career ends.
Step by step
From enquiry to owning a greyhound
Get in touch
Send an enquiry, or telephone. Tell us what appeals to you and what you would like to spend.
An honest conversation
We talk through the options, the real costs and the commitment, and answer anything you want to ask.
Visit the kennel
By arrangement, come and see where the dogs live and meet the greyhounds and the team.
Finding your dog
We look for a greyhound that suits your budget and hopes, whether from the current string or a new purchase.
Registration
Ownership is registered properly and everything is put in writing before your dog runs in your name.
Trials and first run
Your greyhound is prepared, trialled and entered when it is ready — not before.
Racing and updates
Regular contact, race nights, results, and honest reviews of how the dog is progressing.
Retirement
Planned together, in good time, with your greyhound's future settled before racing ends.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Do I need any experience to own a greyhound?
Not at all. A good many owners start with no background in the sport whatsoever. We will explain anything you want to know, including the things people feel awkward asking, and there is no such thing as a silly question about your own dog.
How much does it cost?
Costs depend on how you own — outright, in a partnership or in a syndicate — and on the dog itself. [Price/details supplied following enquiry] We will always set out the full picture in writing before you commit to anything.
Will I make money from owning a racing greyhound?
You should not expect to. Prize money seldom covers the cost of keeping a greyhound in training, and no trainer can promise how a dog will perform. Ownership is worth doing for the involvement and the enjoyment, and we would rather say so plainly than let anyone expect otherwise.
How often will I hear from you?
Regularly, and always before anything important is decided. Most owners hear from us by telephone or message whenever there is something to report, and we would far rather over-communicate than leave you wondering.
Can I visit my greyhound?
Yes, by arrangement.
Can I come to race nights?
We hope you will. Watching your own dog parade is much of the pleasure of ownership, and we will let you know as soon as an entry is confirmed so you can plan.
What happens if my greyhound is injured?
You are contacted straight away. The dog is seen by a vet, we pass on the advice in full, and nothing significant is decided without you unless it is an emergency and delay would be against the dog's interests.
What happens when my greyhound retires?
Retirement is planned in advance rather than dealt with at the last minute. Some owners keep their greyhound themselves; others ask us to help find the right home. Either way, no dog leaves this kennel until we are satisfied with where it is going. You can read more on our welfare and retirement page.
Can I choose the racing name?
Where a greyhound has not already been registered and named, owners are usually able to choose, subject to the naming rules of the governing body. It is one of the nicer parts of taking a dog on.
Get in touch
Ownership enquiry
Tell us a little about what you are looking for and we will come back to you personally. Nothing is committed by asking.
Prefer to talk? Telephone Telephone, or email Email.
What happens next
We read every enquiry ourselves. You will usually hear back within a few days, and the first conversation is simply about what you would like and whether we are the right kennel for you.