I have been told by an Inspector from the RSPCA there is a local bylaw stating Greyhounds must be muzzled when in a public place.

Has anyone else heard this or have further info about it?

This is definitely the case in some parts of Ireland but I didn't know it was in Sheffield, or indeed England.

When I was the Animal Welfare and control officer for our Local Authority, it certainly wasn't law that they had to wear one in public on the lead, just highly advised. They dont come under those listed in the DDA who are required to wear one by law in public but apart from the four breeds listed, the Act includes any dog that appears to be "bred for fighting or to have the characteristics of a type bred for that purpose".

It is important to remember that Greyhounds have been developed primarily for racing and hunting and have been primarily bred to chase rabbits and hares. However, they will often transfer this drive to other small animals (such as small dogs and cats). Once this trait has been learned little can be done to unlearn it do have a strong desire to be predatory.

We always advised that a greyhound was muzzled when off the lead as it is naturally probably going to chase a smaller animal. Muzzling minimises the risk of a bite occurring at the end of an accidental chase as well as giving you, the owner, peace of mind.

Whether since I left this employment the law relating to muzzling has changed I dont know, but I certainly had only known it to be advisory.

Muzzling is not law in england, and usually not needed unless the dog has a strong prey drive and is running free.

This sounds like a difficult law to police. I haven't heard that greyhounds need muzzling and know a couple that really don't. Maybe with retired greyhounds (i.e. ex racing chasing dogs) becoming more common pets, problems are occurring and action has had to be taken.

well in all the time ive been involved with greyhound rescue ive not heard this, i know its law in parts of ireland but not here, i have 2 ex racers one i never muzzle when out walking( she doeant go off lead) the other is muzzled at all times so if we meet other dogs he an be introduced safely as he has a high prey drive at the moment. anna.x.

I think he must have been having a bad day and wanted to pick on some one
as far as i know its only a dog that comes under the dangerous dog law or has been put on it for some reson

HMMM, but no law relating to my breed, who have an equally strong prey drive and far better hunting skills???? (and why ours are never off lead)

I don't know about the law, but if a greyhound has a strong urge to chase small animals then it would be better to muzzle it in public areas. I have a small fluffy dog (half shihtzu, half pomeranian) and several years ago she was badly mauled by a greyhound which broke its leash in order to get at her. If that dog had been muzzled a lot of pain and expensive vets bills could have been saved.

I don't know about the law, but if a greyhound has a strong urge to chase small animals then it would be better to muzzle it in public areas. I have a small fluffy dog (half shihtzu, half pomeranian) and several years ago she was badly mauled by a greyhound which broke its leash in order to get at her. If that dog had been muzzled a lot of pain and expensive vets bills could have been saved.

Oh your poor dog hennypenny so glad she is ok now, unfortunately these things can happen and it pays a greyhound owner to "know their own dog" but unfortunately when a dog is new you don't know how it will react in all circumstances, how awful that it took that to happen to find out.

It would be such a shame for the truly lovely and sweet retired greyhounds that I know to have to be muzzled. One of Bailey's favourite playmates is a retired racing greyhound- she plays the most lovely games with him and even slows down so that he can catch her (his little legs can't really keep up with her otherwise).

If they had demonstrated an untrustworthy streak that's a different matter, but in her (and lots of other dog's) case it would only stop her from interacting and learning the proper way to play with other dogs.

Surely they could still play even if muzzled though, and as hennypenny says, better safe than sorry.

This sounds like a difficult law to police. I haven't heard that greyhounds need muzzling and know a couple that really don't. Maybe with retired greyhounds (i.e. ex racing chasing dogs) becoming more common pets, problems are occurring and action has had to be taken.

like the law against owning banned breeds of dog.

If a greyhound is still racing, then it has to be muzzled if exercised in a public place - a trainer can lose his/her licence if this doesn't happen. I don't think it's actually a law, but a condition of having a trainers licence.

Surely they could still play even if muzzled though, and as hennypenny says, better safe than sorry.

Dogs do use their mouths in rough and tumble play though- and in using rope pull toys, fetching and lots of other things.

Surely they could still play even if muzzled though, and as hennypenny says, better safe than sorry.

But if they are playing it isn't a problem and no need for the muzzle, the problem lies where they are not playing but they are chasing that is when the damage is done, if they chase then they really must be muzzled or even better not let free where other dogs/animals are around.
Its all down to socialisation really a greyhound brought up in a pet home will know that other dogs are dogs, but a retired racer may not know this and may have only ever seen other greyhounds so simply does not see other types of dogs as a dog, they are encouraged to chase so they see a little dog running around they chase it, many greyhounds make fantastic pets, live with cats even but do need to learn the new rules and some are so keen they just cannot change, it comes down to being realistic and knowing your own dog, facing up to things and taking precautions if you need to.

This is a difficult one- I hate to see dogs muzzled and I think greyhounds are gorgeous dogs- but I've also experienced first hand a racing greyhound ripping my cat to pieces in front of me, so I have mixed views on whether some dogs should be muzzled or not in public.

If it is genuinely likely to be a danger to other animals, then it ought to be muzzled. I fully appreciate ex racers can be integrated into family life and even learn to live with cats and small pets and knowing that, I would love to rehome one some day, but only if I could be sure the dog was safe with my cats - I would hate to relive the horrible experience again...

This is a difficult one- I hate to see dogs muzzled and I think greyhounds are gorgeous dogs- but I've also experienced first hand a racing greyhound ripping my cat to pieces in front of me, so I have mixed views on whether some dogs should be muzzled or not in public.

If it is genuinely likely to be a danger to other animals, then it ought to be muzzled. I fully appreciate ex racers can be integrated into family life and even learn to live with cats and small pets and knowing that, I would love to rehome one some day, but only if I could be sure the dog was safe with my cats - I would hate to relive the horrible experience again...

Thats awful katkin i would be so heartbroken if that happened to my cat, and i agree with you absolutely if there is a doubt on the safety of the dog it should be muzzled.

Greyhounds are my favourite breed and I would love to have one one day :love:

I have also experienced two Greyhounds ripping a cat to peices one on each end. The cat was not mine, but lived in the office at Thornberry and was very close to all the staff. The Greyhounds were out walking with two ladies, who in their wisdom removed the muzzles whilst out walking and walked into reception. The dogs saw the cat and the ladies could not hold them back and let go of the leads. No-one blamed the dogs, you cant blame them for following an instict, the ladies were to blame.

It was a terrible, sad and upsetting thing to happen and could have been avoided.

I've got a retired greyhound; she retired about 14 months ago now. We don't muzzle her, but then we also, sadly, don't let her off the lead. I think that having had 4 years of intensive "run after the fluffy thing and ignore everything else" training, I can't guarantee that she would be safe to other animals if I let her off the lead. I'm also pretty sure she wouldn't come back. She gets a good run in enclosed spaces, but even then if a squirrel or something hopped in I would panic.

I think with the intensive, professional training that these dogs obviously have, I'm not sure I could ever override that training. Having said that, they are just the most lovely dogs and I can't wait to get my second one

Greyhounds are my favourite breed and I would love to have one one day :love:

I have also experienced two Greyhounds ripping a cat to peices one on each end. The cat was not mine, but lived in the office at Thornberry and was very close to all the staff. The Greyhounds were out walking with two ladies, who in their wisdom removed the muzzles whilst out walking and walked into reception. The dogs saw the cat and the ladies could not hold them back and let go of the leads. No-one blamed the dogs, you cant blame them for following an instict, the ladies were to blame.

It was a terrible, sad and upsetting thing to happen and could have been avoided.

OMG that gives me nightmares just thinking about it. How awful! You cant blame the dogs at all, its only instinct, but what a dreadful thing to witness- and that poor cat.

Seeing any animal get harmed is a horrible experience, but it's not only greyhounds that can (and do) commit such acts. My sister's cat was torn to pieces by two GSDs who had wandered off from their home and happened to pass my sister's house one morning. Poor Ethel was doing nothing more than having her morning constitutional in the back garden- so I don't believe that you can say that this is an issue only for greyhounds.

ANY dog which has shown that it has that sort of temperament should be kept on a lead or muzzled- but I don't believe that all greyhounds should automatically be labelled or muzzled in this way.

Are you having a laugh here?
Come on Beadle you can jump out now and tell me this topic is a wind up.
when words like the dangerous dogs act come into play for Greyhounds i know we are all going mad, i got mine about a year ago he has been patted by everybody from 5 to 85 the only time i tell people to watch out is if they have food in thier hands as he will enjoy nicking it but i have seen so many Greys walking and at shows etc and never even a hint of needing a muzzle on any of them, that being said if you arn't sure of your dog yes muzzle him but i would guess that number would be minimal.
If your going to start muzzling Greyhounds you would have to make a case for muzzling all dogs in public all the time as any dog can turn though the chances are very slim.
Lets start with breeds like Jack Russels

Are you having a laugh here?
Come on Beadle you can jump out now and tell me this topic is a wind up.
when words like the dangerous dogs act come into play for Greyhounds i know we are all going mad, i got mine about a year ago he has been patted by everybody from 5 to 85 the only time i tell people to watch out is if they have food in thier hands as he will enjoy nicking it but i have seen so many Greys walking and at shows etc and never even a hint of needing a muzzle on any of them, that being said if you arn't sure of your dog yes muzzle him but i would guess that number would be minimal.
If your going to start muzzling Greyhounds you would have to make a case for muzzling all dogs in public all the time as any dog can turn though the chances are very slim.
Lets start with breeds like Jack Russels

I don't think anyone is saying there is a problem with people at all its just sometimes a problem with other animals.