Doug the Greyhound - or Stanga- Doug as he is known on the track- is a trophy- winning racer born and bred right here in Collie.
Although Doug is an award winning racer, off the track his life is very different to other racing greyhounds.
He was raised differently to other champion racers, living his life as a family pet for the first 16 months of his life before beginning his training in Mandurah.
Doug is owned by and lives with Brad and Sue Barrett, and their three children; Emily, Jessica, and Billy.
Doug stays in Mandurah when he is training for races. Mrs Barrett said the family always misses him when he goes away, but when he returns home the family more than make up for his time away, by spoiling him rotten.
“People questioned whether a greyhound, who sits, shakes hands and plays with the children on the weekend would make a good racing dog,” Mrs Barrett said.
He proved his critics wrong winning 10 races from his 32 starts, coming second eight times and placing in the remainder of his meets, proving that his pampered life is probably helping his racing abilities and not hindering it.
The two-and-a-half-year-old has been with the Barretts since he was a puppy and began racing less than a year ago.
Doug and his non-genetic brothers, whippets Charlie and Sniper , live the pampered life, sleeping by the fire in the cooler months, and when outside, living in the child size cubby house which has been converted in to a dog house.
Like any winning athlete, Doug must watch his strict diet carefully when he is home from training, consuming wholemeal bread and milk for breakfast and first grade mincemeat for dinner.
People may think Doug would have a strict exercise routine when he is home, but it is the opposite.
Doug’s owners can’t walk him on roads or footpaths because of the delicate pads on his feet which are accustomed to the soft conditions of the track.
Doug has raced at Mandurah, Northam and trialled at Cannington, although his most wins have come from his races in Mandurah.
He was bred by local Greyhound breeder Jason Marley, who has bred other champion greyhounds.
Mrs Barrett said Doug is a fantastic family pet, and has a very placid nature.
“Greyhounds make wonderful pets, they have such a gentle nature and are great with the kids,” she said.
