I'm actually considering setting up a facility for 40 pups in Bessiebelle Vic.

For the sake of $3 dollars a day, it seems like false economy to skimp on the most important part of a pup's life. Especially after investing thousands to buy the pups.

We paid $5/day 30 years ago for premium rearing. I paid $50k for my first house at the same time, it's worth 10+ times that now. Paying $15/day seems reasonable to me. The cheapest pet meat I've seen lately is $8.50/kg and dried dog food is $120/bag.

$80-$100 per week to pre-train isn't unreasonable to pay or charge either. You don't get prize money when pre-training and the kennel is filled by him/her.

you won't find too many people worth their salt charging $100 per week for pre training

From another more experienced and successful trainer.
At the moment, he's rearing for a mate, and the mate has plenty. He originally asked him to name his rearing price. The pups are worth about $10k each. The trainer hasn't reared for about seven years and not sure of rate so mate's rate is $65. The owner of expensive dogs told him nothing under $70-$80 per week. He settled on $70.

He used to charge $40 - $45 about 15 years ago, when he paid $2.75 per kg for beef. Beef is now between $5.50- $6 per kg. Kibble has doubled, chicken has had a much smaller price rise. Worming has sky rocketed. Even bones jumped by a $1 per kg 2 weeks ago $3.50 to $4.50 per kg. The rest is now dearer.

All these major prize money increases, have no direct effect on rearers.

He further stated that pre-training is getting harder because there are fewer tracks, less opportunity to trial, and NO half field trials for maidens anymore. Therefore, more travelling, increased trial costs, so you're forever paying for SOLO trials. Petrol prices have gone up as well.

So he thinks that $100 bucks is a minimum for pre-training PLUS trial costs! He gave pre-training the flick.

I once heard at least fifteen years ago, that a leading trainer in Victoria would assess your dog for six weeks at his cost and if dog was good enough, he would give it a go, if not home it went. He soon worked out which owners were good enough for his services. That's why they get the `pick of the crop'. That's good business, but that doesn't mean the rest of us have to short change ourselves and not try hard enough for themselves, the owners and industry with what they have asked for or been given.

As Dicky stated, owners don't want to skimp at the most important time of the greyhound's life. There are no set prices and I suppose the market sets the price with some favours in between.

What's your example from an owner's point of view or some other view?

I think this is singularly the biggest problem in the sport right now

The pre-racing services being provided to owners and trainers are rapidly diminishing

Rearing needs to be heavily focussed on educating young pups to chase something artificial in a pack virtually from the time they can walk to let them know they need to complete in the game

The days of just providing a paddock to run and throwing the food over the fence are gone.

Successful rearers need to be fully proactive with education from the first moment right through to break in, to produce successful racing greyhounds.

GWIC Inspectors need to get off their arses and ensure that the Code of Practice is being followed by rearers

The lack of facilities for trainers like public bull rings, sprint lanes, trial tracks etc etc are severely lacking
From what I have seen is that it is leading to under-prepared young dogs being placed in races to gain field experience , mainly in short course 300m races, presumably where they may do little damage to themselves and others

When I was on the GWIC Animal Welfare Committee it was during that time that GRNSW decided to pull PERFORMANCE TRIALS from the racing agenda

The AWC was not consulted on this matter as a matter of welfare and I was highly critical of this move , purely on the basis that young greyhounds were not getting the proper orientation to racing with other dogs in fields on circle tracks prior to racing

Many trainers used these PT's to educate their greyhounds as well as using them to qualify for racing

Why were they eliminated?

I know there were a vocal minority worried about giving away their dogs ability and not getting on a at a good price on the punt at their first start

Did GRNSW think it was a waste of time? Or did they just not care about the welfare of young greyhounds or did it just cost too much?

I asked the questions of the the former GRNSW Chief Vet Norm Blackman (who was on the AWC panel at the time) and GWIC Chief Vet, Michelle Ledger (who we consulted with at times) and no answers were given as to why this illogical decision was taken

From what I can see Racing WA is the only State now that still has maiden qualies and pups need to pass a time standard before racing

Its a good system as stewards can then turn pups back who are not chasing properly or have other bad habits to get further education before getting cleared for racing

This is where GRNSW and other racing jurisdictions need to pick up their act

My idea would be on rotation basis in each specified region in NSW to hold a series of special Maiden qualifying trials session, at night, so most trainers can get there, NOT ON RACEDAY, with Stewards present to over see the process and approve young pups for racing

Thoroughbred Racing have special barrier trial and jump out sessions for young horses to assist trainers to have their horses educated for race day.

These are provided by the clubs under the supervision of Racing NSW

GRNSW/GRV needs to get more professional in it approach to helping trainers and subsequently the owners who invest in the greyhounds to ensure they can be the best racing animal can be and present well for racing rather than some of the garbage that has been served up in maidens in the last 2 years

If GRNSW had any brains they would also incorporate 2 juvenile grades on top of maiden, like the GRV with Grade 7 & 6, and GRSA & Racing Qld/Racing WA with Juvenile/Novice races to spread the progression of these young dogs to open 5th grade

Just my own ideas, but I believe it can only lead to better and safer racing

How long has it been since a greyhound has pulled you around your suburb for half an hour for $7 a day?

Are there diminishing returns to scale with your investment?

Have you written to the CEO or Board about our issues? There are plenty of them. Perhaps, I should do the same.