From military dogs to winning greyhounds for Wielander

By Jordan Gerrans

Fledgling greyhound conditioner Elias Wielander is drawing on his background working with military dogs to instil discipline in his growing kennel of chasers in the Sunshine State.

The Austrian native has lived in Australia for the last 18 months and has always had an interest in greyhounds, describing them as "remarkable".

Through his passion for the breed, Wielander recently obtained his trainer's licence and has started a career as a greyhound conditioner with an unexpected bang.

He took just two chasers to The Q last week in his first race meeting as a trainer and walked away with a winning double as Onyx Flame and Swift Lady Luna both scored over 352 metres on the Q1 Lakeside circuit.

Wielander is based at Toogoolawah and, while he was thrilled with the early success of his training venture, he believes there is much more to caring for his beloved animals than getting their noses in front first at the post.

“For me, true success is not measured only by winning races,” Wielander said.

“A healthy, well-cared-for greyhound is not only more capable of racing successfully, but also enjoys a better quality of life.

“The best result is seeing a greyhound that enjoys training, looks forward to competition and runs with confidence and enthusiasm.

“When a dog is happy, relaxed and eager to perform, I believe you have achieved something truly worthwhile.

“Everything is done in a structured and disciplined way.

“I believe this routine gives the dogs a sense of safety, trust, and confidence, allowing them to perform at their best while maintaining excellent welfare.”

Onyx Flame and Swift Lady Luna are litter sisters from an Orson Allen and Then Came You mating.

The bitches are yet to tick past their second birthdays with Wielander noting they were picked up as giveaway dogs for him to kick-start his training journey.

The 63-year-old Wielander carries the title of Doctor after extensive studies away from his interest in greyhound racing.

He notes that he is coming into his training venture with a completely different viewpoint to most within the industry.

Wielander worked closely with Belgian Malinois for military purposes during his days in the French Foreign Legion.

“I have always loved greyhounds and have admired this remarkable breed,” he said.

“I have always found great satisfaction in working with dogs and helping them develop their full potential.

“One of the most important lessons I have learned is the value of discipline.

“In my experience, discipline is not only essential for dogs, but also a foundation for success in life.

“Dogs thrive when they have structure, consistency and clear routines and I have found this to be especially true with greyhounds.

“My background has taught me that there is no single training method that suits every dog.

“Taking the time to understand each individual greyhound builds trust, develops confidence and helps the dog reach its full potential.”

The greyhound enthusiast is long retired from his days in the military.

He ventured to Mali in Africa during a peacekeeping mission with the French Foreign Legion.

Onyx Flame and Swift Lady Luna both won by big margins in their debut performances last Wednesday.

From the red alley, Swift Lady Luna posted the better time of the two, stopping the clock in 19.97 seconds.

The litter sisters are both back at the races on Wednesday at the Q1 Lakeside track and they are pitted in the same event.

This time around, Onyx Flame has drawn the one starting position, while Swift Lady Luna is in the three.

Wielander has Onyx Flame and Swift Lady Luna in his kennel as well as a few pups who are coming through the ranks.

At the core of Wielander’s training regime is a structure of discipline and care for his animals.

“From my experience, it is better to have only a few dogs and give each one your full care, attention and love,” he said.

“This allows you to truly understand each dog's personality, habits, behaviour, strengths and individual needs.

“Above all, the welfare of the greyhound must always come first.

“A greyhound, like every dog, is not a machine but a living creature with its own personality, emotions and needs.

“That is why I continually try to understand my dogs better.

“The more we understand them, the better we can care for them, train them and help them enjoy a healthy and fulfilling life.

“For a racing greyhound, care and health are always the highest priorities.

“Without excellent health and proper care, there can be no lasting performance.

“I believe our first responsibility as trainers is to protect the welfare of our dogs and to ensure they are treated with respect, kindness, and compassion throughout their lives.

“Greyhounds are wonderful athletes and loyal companions, and it is a privilege to work with such an intelligent and graceful breed.”