South Yorkshire Times, July 28th 1933

Rearing Greyhounds

 A Visit To A Wath “Farm”

In The Nursery

A Fascinating Hobby

If you were buying a greyhound, and wanted to be sure of having a good one, what are the points you would look for? The man with an expert eye can tell a good “grew” at glance, but the novice would require a little prompting. He could not do better than observe the rules embodied in this old maxim:

The head of a snake,

The neck of a drake,

A back like a beam,

The sides of a bream,

The feet of a cat,

The tail of a rat.

This reads something like the witches’ formula in “Macbeth.” But applied to greyhounds there is no questioning its aptness. The development of greyhound tracks has given a great fillip to the ‘fancy”, and the greyhound population of this country must have gone up enormously. So much so, that the breeding of this type of sporting dog has become something of an industry. Hitherto, a large proportion of greyhounds came from Ireland; now they are reared on a large scale in this country. There is a little greyhound “farm” at Wath, it is owned and operated by Mr. Clifford Waddington, “Scartholme,” Quarry Hills Road, with whom a reporter of the South Yorkshire Times” has had an interesting interview.

IDEAL KENNELS

Mr. Waddington explained that until the advent of the greyhound tracks the dog was bred for coursing, bat as the demand increased breeders of other types of dogs have taken up the cult. Thus, he took to breeding greyhounds some two years ago atter a lifelong experience with Airedales. if his experience is any criterion the breeding of greyhounds offers big attractions. At present Mr. Waddington has eighteen dogs (ten puppies) and a number of “boarders.” The  “boarders” are privately owned, and Mr. Waddington tends them in his kennels until they return to their tracks. Royal Tim (Hull owned), a dog worth £100, is at present in his hands. Mr. Waddington’s kennels are situated in an ideal spot, a sunny paddock of between one and two acres with a slight southern slope. There are separate quarters for the puppies and larger dogs, the latter being accommodated in four airy double kennels. Of all dogs, greyhounds are perhaps the most peaceable. They love to be talked to, but not fondled. Reclining luxuriously in comfortable bunks of straw, Mr. Waddington’s dogs made not the slightest commotion when our reporter called to look at them. The kennels are of stout timber adequately protected from draughts. The lower bunk, on which the dogs sleep is cosily lined with straw, and a higher bunk also contains straw to ward off the draught. Mr. Waddington explained that a greyhound’s hide is very thin and for that reason they require extra material to keep them warm. “A greyhound would die if left in an open kennel;” he said, “and when you have a dog like this one (he pointed to Royal Tim) worth nearly £100, you cannot be too careful.” Mr. Waddington’s kennels are built on exactly the same plan as those adjoining all the important race-tracks. Their careful, sturdy construction is indicative of the care Mr. Waddington takes over his “charges.”

The Nursery

While the older animals are at the north of the paddock, in a sheltered spot the puppies are kennelled at the southern end. They spend most of their time eating, sleeping and frolicking, theirs is indeed a carefree life.  They are all bred from Parleo (which was sold as a puppy for 200 guineas). Gainsborough Lass and Erins Onoway.  All give the appearance of becoming healthy and upstanding stock. Mr. Waddington pointed to a small brindled dog sleeping peacefully in the cropped grass.  “You wouldn’t like to give me £15 for that little fellow, would you? He’s worth ever penny of that. What about it Sam?” He addressed the pup which cocked one eye knowingly and went to sleep again. Mr Waddington said that before the puppies are eight weeks old they have to be registered with the Breeder’s Association but they can be “named” at any time within their first year. A charge is made if the name is changed.

Puppies are put into their own quarters when five weeks old. They are fed four times a day on a good rational diet. Rational feeding and freedom are two great factors in successful breeding. “Up in the morning” is Mr. Waddington’s motto. The first feed is of milk and is given at six o’clock. A second feed of broth is given at eleven. At four o’clock they get a little meat, and at nine o’clock in the evening brown bread and milk. Fish is given twice a week. At twelve weeks, three feeds a day are sufficient. Older greyhounds are fed twice, their main diet consisting of milk, brown bread and broth. The coat of feeding greyhounds will be appreciated when it is mentioned that Mr. Waddington’s puppies require between 50 and 60 gallons of milk a month. Greens and vegetables are good for young puppies. Potatoes are “taboo” because they are too starchy and bring out a rash. Special care has to be taken when giving a puppy bread. It must be bone dry. Moist bread has the same eflect as potatoes.

Education

The education of greyhound puppies begins at an early age. When three months old they are taken out “into the world,” to get used to roads, traffic, and people. Collars and leads are avoided before a puppy attains the age of six months. To a great extent the puppies exercise themselves by galloping up and down the paddock, but the older dogs “put away childish things.” Road exercise is then increased and a system of grooming is adopted. After the evening meal, free exercise in the paddock is allowed. When a puppy attains the age of twelve months it is known as a “sapling,” and until that time does not usually see a hare. Introducing a “sapling ” to the sport for which he is bred is an interesting process, demanding skill and patience. Mr. Waddington considers that when a dog is eighteen months old is the best time to start training him for the track. Before that he is too tender. His racing career lasts about four years. Every greyhound breeder has his own particular “fad.” Mr. Waddington is a believer in a long tail as a balancing factor. “A dog with a long tail is usually a good one,” he said. Sleek coat, straight back, hard feet and clear eyes are signs of fitness; in a greyhound. (There’s a tip for racegoers.) “The greyhound, above all dogs, ‘requires freedom,’ Waddington said. ‘His great activity makes constant movement essential. Once a dog is shut up he never makes much. He is a very peaceable dog and only a life of care-free activity, suits his temperament. But all the same he is an excellent house guard. He has a sense of proprietorship, bred of his long association with man and an uncanny gift for identification: He is an excellent companion and faithful to a degree. If looked after when his racing career is over, he will live long and happily.

Some Famous Hounds

Among Mr. Waddington% present ‘charges’ are Scart Hero, for which he has refused £50, Parleo (sired by Latta, winner of the Waterloo Cup), and Royal Tim. Mr. Waddington has doge running at Sheffield, Owlerton, and Mansfield, and intends shortly to submit dogs to Wombwell. He is a member of the Sheffield District Private Owners’ Association, and won their trophy this year at Owlerton with Scart Hero. He also won the “Black Swan” Challenge. Cup with Scart Hero at Mansfield in 1931.