Research & Education
This evidence underpins our welfare and integrity policies and is shared with racing, veterinary and welfare charity partners to support the health and wellbeing of greyhounds in the UK and internationally.
Several research programmes have recently been completed or are currently underway as part of our long-term welfare strategy. You can explore these in more detail below.
GBGB is also pleased to deliver an ongoing education programme for licence holders, developed in collaboration with nationally and internationally recognised experts in animal welfare, behaviour and veterinary science. In 2024, stakeholders across the sport - including trainers, kennelhands and veterinary surgeons - completed 582 hours of free CPD through a mix of in-person and online events.
Kennelhand training
GBGB offers a fully funded training course for licensed kennelhands, designed to enhance professional skills and promote the highest standards of greyhound welfare. As part of the programme, participants can achieve a Level 2 Certificate of Technical Competence in Animal Health, Husbandry and Handling.
This nationally recognised, transferable qualification is valued across the animal care sector and is accredited by City & Guilds, a leading awarding body for vocational qualifications.
To enrol, contact GBGB’s Education Manager, Meriel France, at meriel.france@gbgb.org.uk.
Current research programmes
The following research projects form part of the ‘research’ strand of GBGB’s long-term welfare strategy, A Good Life for Every Greyhound. GBGB believes that welfare policymaking should be based on scientific evidence and that, where a relevant lack of evidence is identified, research should be undertaken to provide it.
Greyhound nutrition
A working group of external experts, led by Dr Teresa Hollands from the University of Surrey, is currently reviewing greyhound nutrition to make optimum nutrition recommendations at every stage of a greyhound’s life
As part of this work, Dr Hollands has led several free training opportunities for GBGB-licence holders and affiliated homing centres to ensure that greyhounds are fed the very best diet across all life stages.
Breeding for resilience
GBGB commissioned Professor Emmeline Hill (University College Dublin/Zinto Labs) to map inbreeding levels and understand the impact of inbreeding on health and welfare traits and longevity in greyhounds. The study entitled ‘Genomic Diversity and Selection in the Racing Greyhound of Great Britain’ examined genetic diversity, inbreeding, and selection signals in racing greyhounds using high-density genomic data.
The first phase of this research was presented at the International Conference of Racing Analysts and Veterinarians (Melbourne, 2026) and published in the peer-reviewed journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. This research provides crucial evidence to help safeguard long-term health and welfare while supporting sustainable performance. You can read more about the study here.
Early detection and prevention of injuries
GBGB, in partnership with Premier Greyhound Racing, has commissioned an ongoing research project at the University of Nottingham on how the adoption of new technologies could be used to detect sub-clinical injuries.
In 2026, Dr Richard Payne, Associate Professor of Veterinary Anatomy, School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, published the following paper on modelling speed and inter-race intervals to assess post-race recovery in racing greyhounds: The Veterinary Journal, Volume 315, February 2026, 106555: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2026.106555.
Future track design, surfacing and maintenance
Ongoing research, led by GBGB’s Track Liaison Officer, directed by and reported to the Track Sub-Committee, and run in conjunction with STRI, assesses the effects of various factors on track condition and safety.
Supporting the homing process
A research project based at the Royal Veterinary College aimed at identifying the common health problems in greyhounds being presented for homing and investigating possible correlations with management in earlier life, e.g. nutrition and preventative health care.
GBGB has worked with Dr Sarah Heath FRCVS, an RCVS and European Veterinary Specialist in Behavioural Medicine, who has provided educational opportunities to help support greyhounds’ transition from racing to retirement as a pet. In most cases, greyhounds retiring from the sport can transition successfully from a kennel environment to life in a domestic setting. The ease of this transition can be enhanced by early familiarisation with domestic environments. To further this work, Dr Heath is developing a standardised emotional and behavioural evaluation for racing greyhounds to ensure that the small minority that struggle with this transition are given the correct support.