WINDROCK

Lure coursing

Many sighthound owners participate in lure coursing with their dogs. This sport simulates the dogs' original hunting purpose but uses plastic garbage bags dragged along via a string as the lure instead of the pursuit of live animals. Lure coursing satisfies the dogs' urge to run and provides a certain amount of competition and reward. Here in the United States, The American Sighthound Field Association (ASFA) and the American Kennel Club offer titles for several breeds of Sighthounds. The UKC has recently organized a lure coursing program.

A lure course is best set up on a large tract of gently rolling land. Courses are generally 700 to 800 yards, but longer and shorter distances are used. The lure is mechanically operated; it runs along a string on a course laid out and defined with pullies.  Speed is controlled by a hand-held remote unit. A skilled lure operator is in strong demand!  The lure can be quickly be stopped and restarted if the dogs lose concentration and veer off course.

The course has a specified number of turns depending on the level at which the dogs are working. The lure operator starts the plastic bags  at the  Huntmaster's annoucement of "Tally Ho!", and the dogs are released on this command. Two or three dogs may run together, just as they would if coursing game in the field. The finish line is a few feet from the starting line; if the dog stays on course, he returns to his handler as the lure comes to the end of the line.

The dogs are scored on their speed, agility, and tenacity on the course and their ability to work with other dogs.