plumcrazy

Forgive me if this has been shared already - but I'm sort of excited!! It sounds like fun! We took Meau to a lure coursing fun run a couple of years ago and it was a blast!! Here's the news:

American Kennel Club Launches New Coursing Ability Test [Thursday, February 03, 2011]
-- New Test Allows All Dogs the Chance to Experience the Fun and Excitement of Lure Coursing --
The American Kennel Club® (AKC®) is pleased to announce the launch of a new titling event – the Coursing Ability Test – on February 24, 2011 in Calhoun, GA. Open to all dogs, the Coursing Ability Test is an introductory event fashioned after the sport of lure coursing and meant to be a fun, healthy activity for dogs and their owners. Coursing Ability Tests may be held by all licensed lure coursing clubs.
Eligible dogs must be at least 12 months of age and individually registered/listed with the AKC (registered purebred, Foundation Stock Service (FSS), Purebred Alternative Listing (PAL) or AKC Canine Partner). In order to pass the test, a dog running alone must pursue a lure, completing the course with enthusiasm and without interruption within a given time.
"The Coursing Ability Test can provide a wonderful community outreach opportunity, an enjoyable experience for dogs and owners and a way to expose a wider audience to the sport," said AVP Performance Events Doug Ljungren. "Most dogs will chase a lure and have fun in the process."
Dogs that pass the Coursing Ability Test three times will earn a Coursing Ability (CA) title. Ten passes and a dog earns a Coursing Ability Advanced (CAA) title and 25 passes results in a Coursing Ability Excellent (CAX) title.
Upcoming events include:
• Bluegrass Coursing Club, Feb. 24-25, Calhoun, GA
• Greyhound Association of North Georgia, Feb. 26-27, Calhoun, GA
• Alamo Area Whippet Club, Mar. 5-6, Hutto, TX
• Northwest Arkansas Kennel Club, Mar. 19-20, Rogers, AR
• Mid-Atlantic Hound Association of Central North Carolina, May 21-22, Rocky Mount, NC
These Coursing Ability Tests are being held in conjunction with the Club’s normal Lure Coursing trial. Coursing Ability Tests may be held with a trial or as stand-alone events.
A summary description of the test, the regulations governing the event and a Coursing Ability Test application form, as well as a list of upcoming events can be found on the AKC website at American Kennel Club - Performance Events. Click on "Coursing Ability Test" on the left side of the page.
If your club is interested in holding a Coursing Ability Test, please complete the application form and submit to the Performance Events Department. If you have questions, please contact Bob Mason at RAM@akc.org or (405) 826-2929 or Lisa Carroll, Manager of Performance Events at LAC@akc.org or (919) 816-3900.

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amerique2

Sounds like a lot of fun for both dog and owner. May have to check out the event in Rogers, AR next month. Definitely will have to read up more on lure coursing. Thanks for letting us know!

fjm

Sounds great fun - anyone know if there is a UK equivalent?

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To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden,
where doing nothing was not boring- it was peace.

~ Milan Kundera

ArreauStandardPoodle

Wow Barbie! Another awesome thing for dogs and their humans to bond together doing! Great idea and good exercise for the dogs.

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cbrand

While I support all activities that owners want to get involved with, this is not something I would pursue with my Poodle. I personally do not want to encourage my Poodles to chase because I think it can end up being a distraction from the other work I want my Poodles to do: Obedience, Agility, Tracking, Hunt off-leash hiking etc.

Remember, Sight Hounds can never be considered reliable off-leash (also... note thread below about chasing deer).

ArreauStandardPoodle

Well...it totally depends on the sighthound. I trust Iris implicitly off leash. She is focused on Mom first when we are outside. Everything else is secondary.

I would not encourage anyone to get into this until they had pursued all the other things they wish to do with their dog. I think if you are doing one thing, stick with it until you tire of it or have gone all the way, then pursue something new.

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cbrand

So you can take her off leash out in public, say hiking or to the beach, and she is completely reliable?

cavon

the UKC has this event and it looks like a lot of fun for the dogs, but my Finnegan chases my cats enough already, so I don't want to encourage the behaviour!!! LOL!!

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plumcrazy

When we took Meau to the lure coursing event a while back, the atmosphere and energy in the place was so different than that of any (for example) rally event we've been to with the dogs. I think Meau could feel that excitement and energy and behaved accordingly (not crazy, just heightened anticipation). When the runs were completed and we were walking back to the car, she was the same old Meau - it wasn't something that stuck with her much past the doors to the facility where we ran...

We don't have long term experience with this event, but it was defintely something fun that I'd love to try again... The equipment they use to get the dogs to chase the lure is very specific and the runs are closely monitored (and maybe there are people on this forum who would like to participate in this event with their non-poodles, too!)

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There is no rule requiring that you attend every argument to which you're invited...

ArreauStandardPoodle

I can have her off leash wandering around the property and she is completely reliable and comes toward me the moment I speak to her. She is much more reliable than Holly or Thinker.

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