Episode 5 - Recorded September 7, 2020

"There is a growing community of responsible hobbyist Greyhound breeders … [who will] be of increasing importance as both sources for pets and amateur sporting Greyhounds and for the preservation of the American racing bloodlines."John Parker

Show Notes

In 2021, fewer than five Greyhound race tracks will remain open in the United States. Even as the population of available former racers dwindles, the interest in Greyhounds as pets and sporting dogs remains high. The result can be long wait times or even outright disappointment for potential adopters.

Enter the hobbyist Greyhound breeder. Located throughout the country, these individuals and the puppies they breed from racing and coursing bloodlines are increasingly important as former racing Greyhounds become scarce. It’s a chance for the breed — especially American racing bloodlines — to continue to prosper as the American racing industry declines.

What drives someone to start breeding Greyhounds? Are the puppies destined to be pets or amateur racers? Does color matter? What’s expected of a potential buyer? Are you the right person for this puppy? Are you willing to build a relationship with the breeder?

In Greyhound Nation's first roundtable discussion episode, host John Parker welcomes three hobbyist breeders to the show — Melissa Schmidt, Audrey Hsia and Diana Pickering — to explore these questions and more. John also shares with listeners his own experiences as a hobbyist breeder.

Links

Stout Hearted Hounds, Audrey HsiaHarvest Moon Greyhounds, Melissa Schmidt (Facebook)Pacific Greyhound Kennel, Diana Pickering

Episode 5 - Recorded September 7, 2020

"There is a growing community of responsible hobbyist Greyhound breeders … [who will] be of increasing importance as both sources for pets and amateur sporting Greyhounds and for the preservation of the American racing bloodlines."John Parker

Show Notes

In 2021, fewer than five Greyhound race tracks will remain open in the United States. Even as the population of available former racers dwindles, the interest in Greyhounds as pets and sporting dogs remains high. The result can be long wait times or even outright disappointment for potential adopters.

Enter the hobbyist Greyhound breeder. Located throughout the country, these individuals and the puppies they breed from racing and coursing bloodlines are increasingly important as former racing Greyhounds become scarce. It’s a chance for the breed — especially American racing bloodlines — to continue to prosper as the American racing industry declines.

What drives someone to start breeding Greyhounds? Are the puppies destined to be pets or amateur racers? Does color matter? What’s expected of a potential buyer? Are you the right person for this puppy? Are you willing to build a relationship with the breeder?

In Greyhound Nation's first roundtable discussion episode, host John Parker welcomes three hobbyist breeders to the show — Melissa Schmidt, Audrey Hsia and Diana Pickering — to explore these questions and more. John also shares with listeners his own experiences as a hobbyist breeder.

Links

Stout Hearted Hounds, Audrey HsiaHarvest Moon Greyhounds, Melissa Schmidt (Facebook)Pacific Greyhound Kennel, Diana Pickering

Episode 4 - Recorded August 28, 2020

"If you wanted to have a great life in Greyhounds, you couldn't do much better than what Charlie has done…"John Parker

Show Notes

Charlie Blanning has, indeed, lived the Greyhound enthusiast’s life. His father and grandfather bred, raced and coursed Greyhounds. Charlie spent his childhood years playing with Greyhound puppies and attending races and coursing meetings.

Charlie would funnel that experience into a Greyhound sport writing career, contributing to various sport publications as a coursing correspondent, starting in the 1970s. He’s spent over 40 years writing on Greyhound sport, and currently writes a monthly column for The Sporting Press, the Irish Greyhound publication. For many years, he was secretary of the National Coursing Club and keeper of the Greyhound Stud Book of England.

His magnum opus on the Greyhound breed and its history — The Greyhound and the Hare — was published in 2018. His next book — Please Mister: The Golden Age of Greyhound Racing — will be published in December 2020.

In this episode's interview, host John Parker and Charlie discuss the history of Greyhound coursing through the ages -- from the sport of Elizabethan nobles to the more accessible and widely popular Waterloo Cup of the 19th century. Charlie also shares some anecdotes from a childhood spent with Greyhounds.

Links

The Greyhound and the Hare (Facebook)

Episode 4 - Recorded August 28, 2020

"If you wanted to have a great life in Greyhounds, you couldn't do much better than what Charlie has done…"John Parker

Show Notes

Charlie Blanning has, indeed, lived the Greyhound enthusiast’s life. His father and grandfather bred, raced and coursed Greyhounds. Charlie spent his childhood years playing with Greyhound puppies and attending races and coursing meetings.

Charlie would funnel that experience into a Greyhound sport writing career, contributing to various sport publications as a coursing correspondent, starting in the 1970s. He’s spent over 40 years writing on Greyhound sport, and currently writes a monthly column for The Sporting Press, the Irish Greyhound publication. For many years, he was secretary of the National Coursing Club and keeper of the Greyhound Stud Book of England.

His magnum opus on the Greyhound breed and its history — The Greyhound and the Hare — was published in 2018. His next book — Please Mister: The Golden Age of Greyhound Racing — will be published in December 2020.

In this episode's interview, host John Parker and Charlie discuss the history of Greyhound coursing through the ages -- from the sport of Elizabethan nobles to the more accessible and widely popular Waterloo Cup of the 19th century. Charlie also shares some anecdotes from a childhood spent with Greyhounds.

Links

The Greyhound and the Hare (Facebook)

Episode 3 - Recorded July 14, 2020

"Who's going to see the entertainment value of our dogs going at 45mph at peak performance and seeing that excitement?"Laird Morgan

Show Notes

Laird Morgan -- Texas attorney and advocate for the breed -- is always thinking about the possibilities for the American Greyhound racing sport.

He acquired his first pet Greyhound through a racing kennel in 2007 rather than the traditional adoption group. Hooked by the racing and track experience, he co-founded United Greyhound Racing in 2011.

Through his organization, Laird serves as an advocate for the racing industry, lure coursing and Greyhound adoption. Initiatives include the Greyhound Racing National Championship and connecting racing trainers with adopters.

Greyhound Nation host, John Parker, and Laird discuss the current state of Greyhound racing in the United States, the future of the sport, and Laird's involvement with the Texas Greyhound Association.

Links

United Greyhound Racing (Facebook)Texas Greyhound Association

Episode 3 - Recorded July 14, 2020

"Who's going to see the entertainment value of our dogs going at 45mph at peak performance and seeing that excitement?"Laird Morgan

Show Notes

Laird Morgan -- Texas attorney and advocate for the breed -- is always thinking about the possibilities for the American Greyhound racing sport.

He acquired his first pet Greyhound through a racing kennel in 2007 rather than the traditional adoption group. Hooked by the racing and track experience, he co-founded United Greyhound Racing in 2011.

Through his organization, Laird serves as an advocate for the racing industry, lure coursing and Greyhound adoption. Initiatives include the Greyhound Racing National Championship and connecting racing trainers with adopters.

Greyhound Nation host, John Parker, and Laird discuss the current state of Greyhound racing in the United States, the future of the sport, and Laird's involvement with the Texas Greyhound Association.

Links

United Greyhound Racing (Facebook)Texas Greyhound Association

Episode 2 - Recorded July 16, 2020

"I get there early, 'cause I want a good parking spot."Jennifer Bachelor

Show Notes

That's the mindset of Jennifer Bachelor, trainer of champion agility Greyhounds -- get settled and get focused. It's all part of her plan of action when she brings one of her many Greyhounds to an agility competition.

Jennifer's trained both former racing Greyhounds and Greyhound puppies for agility, winning multiple Master Agility Championship Titles (MACH). Her knowledge runs the gamut -- from prospecting for potential hounds to rehabilitating injured athletes back to competition status.

Join Jennifer and Greyhound Nation host, John Parker, as they discuss a day in the life of an agility competitor, finding and training just the right agility Greyhound, and that one hound that made it to the big screen.

This episode is dedicated to Jennifer's late husband, Stephen. Stephen was a friend to Greyhounds, the Southeastern Greyhound Club, and John.

Links

Never Say Never Greyhounds (blog)Never Say Never Greyhounds (Facebook)American Kennel Club AgilityThe North American Dog Agility CouncilUnited States Dog Agility Association, Inc.

Episode 2 - Recorded July 16, 2020

"I get there early, 'cause I want a good parking spot."Jennifer Bachelor

Show Notes

That's the mindset of Jennifer Bachelor, trainer of champion agility Greyhounds -- get settled and get focused. It's all part of her plan of action when she brings one of her many Greyhounds to an agility competition.

Jennifer's trained both former racing Greyhounds and Greyhound puppies for agility, winning multiple Master Agility Championship Titles (MACH). Her knowledge runs the gamut -- from prospecting for potential hounds to rehabilitating injured athletes back to competition status.

Join Jennifer and Greyhound Nation host, John Parker, as they discuss a day in the life of an agility competitor, finding and training just the right agility Greyhound, and that one hound that made it to the big screen.

This episode is dedicated to Jennifer's late husband, Stephen. Stephen was a friend to Greyhounds, the Southeastern Greyhound Club, and John.

Links

Never Say Never Greyhounds (blog)Never Say Never Greyhounds (Facebook)American Kennel Club AgilityThe North American Dog Agility CouncilUnited States Dog Agility Association, Inc.

Episode 1 - Recorded July 7 and 25, 2020

"[In this area] the Greyhounds were as well known as the baseball players and the football players...and you could start up a discussion with anybody in the store about who was running at Taunton or Raynham that night."Dennis McKeon

Show Notes

In this inagural episode of Greyhound Nation, host John Parker and producer Michael Burns introduce themselves and share their aspirations for the podcast. They are joined later in the episode by former Greyhound trainer and "prose laureate" for the breed, Dennis McKeon.

Dennis McKeon saw his first Greyhound around the age of 13. He would grow up during the "golden age" of New England-area Greyhound racing in the 1960s. Back then, Greyhound racing was an active spectator sport at such venues as Raynham/Taunton Greyhound Park and Wonderland Greyhound Park.

John and Dennis enjoy a wide ranging conversation covering Dennis' career as a trainer, his important mentors in racing, and his involvement in early Greyhound adoption initiatives. They also discuss the early days of Greyhound social media and discussion forums, as well as Dennis' inspiration for his essays on all aspects of the Greyhound breed.

Greyhound Nation welcomes you for this -- the first of many episodes.

Links

Dennis McKeon on FacebookThe Greyhound Facebook community

Episode 1 - Recorded July 7 and 25, 2020

"[In this area] the Greyhounds were as well known as the baseball players and the football players...and you could start up a discussion with anybody in the store about who was running at Taunton or Raynham that night."Dennis McKeon

Show Notes

In this inagural episode of Greyhound Nation, host John Parker and producer Michael Burns introduce themselves and share their aspirations for the podcast. They are joined later in the episode by former Greyhound trainer and "prose laureate" for the breed, Dennis McKeon.

Dennis McKeon saw his first Greyhound around the age of 13. He would grow up during the "golden age" of New England-area Greyhound racing in the 1960s. Back then, Greyhound racing was an active spectator sport at such venues as Raynham/Taunton Greyhound Park and Wonderland Greyhound Park.

John and Dennis enjoy a wide ranging conversation covering Dennis' career as a trainer, his important mentors in racing, and his involvement in early Greyhound adoption initiatives. They also discuss the early days of Greyhound social media and discussion forums, as well as Dennis' inspiration for his essays on all aspects of the Greyhound breed.

Greyhound Nation welcomes you for this -- the first of many episodes.

Links

Dennis McKeon on FacebookThe Greyhound Facebook community