Shamrock Farms Inc.: Dog Sports: Lure Coursing

Cola CAA driving to the line - she is always rarin’ to go!

Cola has high prey drive. All dogs show leanings in their drives: food drive, play drive, prey drive. Understanding what motivates helps us to be the best trainers we can be. Many activities, especially
several newer titling events, are focused on natural drives and abilities of dogs, such as scentwork and barn hunt. Sighthound breeds have been known for legendary Coursing abilities and styles - chasing “prey” (plastic baggies) as a lure along a course. Greyhounds raced an oval track, and the use of pulleys and a line pulled by a motor allow changing turns and variable speed.

Cola Is a Coursing fanatic!

AKC developed the Coursing Ability Test, or CAT, to allow all breeds to enjoy the fun and thrill of individually Coursing a lure. Levels achieved are based on number of “passing” field runs,
CA, CAA, and CAX are the “Coursing Ability” titles granted by AKC.

Here are some photos showing the pulleys and lure on a line...usually three plastic bags!

It is probably easier to show Coursing than to describe it, so here is a short video of Cola running. Many excited Dogs waiting their turn are vocal! Once the “Tally Ho” is given, you release your hound from a quick-release Coursing slip leash and off they go! The equivalent of running several football fields, turning on a dime, and maintaining speed is tremendous fun. Some dogs learn to “cheat” and predict the direction of the lure, cutting corners. Others have habits of grabbing the bags. It is important to run a sound, conditioned dog and do warm-up, stretch, and cool-out as they are athletes. Some dogs give Coursing a try and think it is cool. Others, notsomuch. Cola has wicked prey drive. Phaser thinks the first loop of 50 yards or so was neat, but isn’t it time to come back to Mom and get a cookie? He prefers other work. The fun of CAT is you see all breeds give it a try.

As I mentioned, CAT is run individually. Coursing hounds run in pairs and groups with their breed and other sighthound. Our old Dalmatian buddy Cloud was wanting to try it out and got a little encouragement from Cola. He had the hang of it in no time!