Dan Roberts and Tayla Duley, caring for racing greyhounds

What is a kennel hand? First off, the job title is Kiwi modesty at its finest, because a kennel hand is far more than just lending a hand around a racing kennel. Kennel hands take care of pretty much every aspect of a racing greyhound’s life, such as nutrition, recovery, hygiene, grooming, and much more. But most important of all, kennel hands bond with the dogs, making sure they all feel happy and loved. Dan and Tayla both train greyhounds and do kennel hand duties.

They’re very modest about what they do, but the unfiltered love in the eyes of Thor while he got a bath reveals how much they really do for these dogs. Thor won a big race just before filming, and it was clear to see why: happy greyhounds win races.

This video is part of our ongoing series featuring the real people inside New Zealand’s greyhound community and how they live, work and play with this incredible breed. New Zealand’s greyhound sector is on notice, and greyhound people deserve a fair go to show how dedicated they are to ensuring their dogs’ quality of life. Help us by sharing these real stories so we can educate Kiwis on how greyhounds in New Zealand live today.