Greyhounds

There are additional requirements for owners of greyhounds under the Dog and Cat Management Act 1995.

Muzzles

Greyhounds are required, when in public, to have a muzzle securely fixed to their mouths.

Racing greyhounds being raced, trained or exercised on private land are exempt from having to wear a muzzle.

Exemptions from muzzling

Greyhounds As Pets (GAP)

Greyhounds retired from racing and adopted through Greyhounds As Pets (GAP) are exempt from wearing muzzles, once they have passed an accredited behavioural assessment and have a green collar to signify this exemption. The greyhound's Dogs and Cats Online profile will have a record indicating the greyhound is exempt from the muzzle requirement.

Dog and Cat Management Board

The Board has a policy for approving muzzle exemptions for greyhounds outside of Greyhounds As Pets (GAP).

If you have adopted a retired racing greyhound directly from its trainer, breeder or owner, it will be required to be muzzled in public. If you wish to apply for a muzzle exemption, your greyhound can undertake an accredited safety test with a Dog and Cat Management Board Approved Greyhound Assessor. If successful, you can apply to the Board for a muzzle exemption. Once granted, your greyhound's Dogs and Cats Online profile will be updated to show the greyhound is exempt from the muzzling requirement.

If a greyhound with a muzzle exemption initiates an attack or harassment, the registered owner must notify their council and the Dog and Cat Management Board immediately. The incident will be investigated to determine whether the muzzle exemption should be revoked.

Effective control by physical restraint

Greyhounds are required to be under effective control by a leash of no more than two (2) metres at all times when outside of the premises they are kept. Off-leash areas (such as dog parks) do not apply to greyhounds, unless the greyhound is attending a Board approved council greyhound off-leash event.