Effects of Lure Type on Chase-Related Behaviour in Racing Greyhounds

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Contemporary racing greyhounds are bred chiefly to chase mechanical lures. In Australia, greyhounds are not commonly allowed access to the lure at the end of a race. It is unknown if, over time, this creates frustration that eventually reduces greyhounds’ willingness to chase a lure. A previous study found that greyhounds at race-meets often engage in behaviours, at the end of races, that may indicate frustration when the lure is still moving and audible but not accessible. Straight trial tracks have a quiet lure that stops much quicker than lures on racetracks. One straight trial track in New South Wales never allows greyhounds to access the lure while another track usually allows greyhounds to access the lure. This provides the opportunity to study behaviour in greyhounds before and after a chase where lures are accessible (straight track), not accessible and not detectable (straight track), and detectable but not accessible (racetrack). The results reveal that, compared with greyhounds at racetracks, those on straight tracks fixated more on the lure itself or where the lure was last seen. This suggests that the lure retains more salience if it is not associated with frustrating outcomes, such as protracted cues but no opportunity to chase. ABSTRACT: The willingness of racing greyhounds in Australia to chase a mechanical lure on racetracks will affect the longevity of its racing career. Racing greyhounds that fail to chase may be retired from racing at an early age and their fate becomes uncertain and may in some cases be euthanasia. At the end of races, greyhounds are diverted into a catching pen while the lure continues on. Racing greyhounds may also run on straight tracks for training purposes, where the lure comes to a stop either within the catching pen or just outside it, rather than continuing on. The purpose of the current study was to determine if these different track conditions and lure features affected greyhound behaviour before and after chasing the lure. Video cameras were used to record the behaviour of greyhounds immediately before chasing a lure either on one of two straight trial tracks (n = 89 greyhounds) or during race-meets on oval racetracks (n = 537), as well as at the end of the chase in the catching pen. The results were analysed with logistic regression mixed models and coefficients expressed as odds ratios. It was predicted there would be a higher frequency of behaviours indicating frustration in the catching pen at tracks where no chase objects were accessible. This pattern was present, but not significant. It was also predicted there would be a higher frequency of behaviours that may indicate high anticipation before chasing at tracks where chase objects were accessible in the catching pen. This pattern was not realised. Behaviours prior to chasing varied between track types and days, suggesting these behaviours are unlikely to be good indicators of anticipation or motivation to chase. This study shows that greyhounds behave differently in the catching pen depending on the track and lure features.