Lure coursing

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Lure coursing is a sport for dogs that involves chasing a mechanically operated lure. Competition is usually limited to dogs of purebred sighthound breeds.

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[edit] Lure course

Irish Wolfhounds Coursing in North America at an IWCC Lure Trial
Irish Wolfhounds Coursing in North America at an IWCC Lure Trial

In lure coursing, dogs chase an artificial lure across a field, following a pattern that is meant to simulate live coursing. A typical lure course is between 600 and 1000 yards (548 to 914 meters) long. In Europe the course length can be over 1000 meters, and may incorporate some obstacles or jumps. The course must have a minimum number of turns in order to simulate prey (the jack-rabbit or hare) changing direction in a chase. The fields can be fenced or not. If a dog is lure focused they will typically follow the lure from start to finish and not run off course. Dogs with some considerable lure experience, termed "lure-wise", may try to anticipate or "cheat" by attempting to cut off the lure instead of trying to capture the lure using follow, speed and agility. Sighthounds generally have no need to be trained or enticed to chase the lure since the desire to chase is instinctual. However some breeds may require lure play at a very early age to encourage them to follow an artificial object with enthusiasm.

[edit] Qualifying to compete

In American Sighthound Field Association (ASFA) competitions, a dog must be Certified in order to compete in the Open category of the breed. To certify, a dog must run clean (not interfere with the other hound and pursue the lure) with another dog of similar running style and be certified by a qualified ASFA judge. Dogs used for certification do not have to be certified themselves, nor do they have to be a sighthound, and judges can certify two or three hounds at the same time. In American Kennel Club (AKC) coursing, currently the dog must qualify to compete by running a minimum of 600 yards (548 meters) with four turns twice, in two separate trials, under two different qualified AKC judges. The dogs run alone, and once they complete both runs, they earn a Junior Courser (JC) title. In Europe competing dogs need a coursing licence or racing licence for official national and international lure coursing trials, obtained through a racing or coursing club, and are principally run in braces only of the same breed, or run solo.

[edit] Levels of competition

Dogs are coursed by breed in braces (two) or trios (three), based on the number of dogs available for the run. Dogs can run alone if there are no other dogs of the same breed entered, however their scores will not qualify towards a title unless they defeat a hound in the Best of Breed run. Running order is detemined by a random draw, and is not based on size or comparable ability. Dogs can compete in open stake, field champion stake (for dogs who have earned the requisite points) or veteran stake (dogs over the age of six years except Irish Wolfhounds (5 years) and Whippets (7 years)). Each dog runs twice during the trial. The first run is the "preliminary". After all preliminaries have been run, the course is reversed for the second run, called "finals". Once all preliminaries and finals have been run, Best of Breed is determined for each breed by stakes run-off or by forfeit. All placements must be determined by total score (preliminary + final), run-off or forfeit. After the Best of Breed runs, the top dogs from each breed may compete for Best in Field to determine the best hound for the trial. Some clubs opt to provide a Best in Event which brings Best of Breed dogs from multiple days to run off. In AKC trials, Italian Greyhounds are not permitted to compete for Best In Field. This is because Italian Greyhounds might be mistaken as prey by the larger sighthound breeds.

[edit] Judging

[edit] ASFA

In ASFA trials, hounds receive a numerical score based on speed (25), agility (25), endurance (20), enthusiasm (15), and follow (15) for a maximum score of 100 points. "Follow" means in pursuit of the lure, not the other dogs. Judges will deduct a pre-slip penalty of up to 10 points for the early release of a hound in a course. Judges can also assess up to 10 points penalty for a course delay. Judges can excuse a hound from competition for failing to run, being unfit, coursing another hound instead of the lure, hound or handler interference or excessive course delay. Hounds may be dismissed for interfering with another hound. Hounds may be disqualified for being the agressor in a fight on the field.

[edit] AKC

In AKC trials hounds are judged for overall ability (10), follow (10), speed (10), agility (10), and endurance (10) for a maximum score of 50 points.

[edit] FCI

In international lure coursing trials in Europe, dogs are judged according to the F.C.I. Regulations for international lure coursing competitions. Lure coursing judges judge the performance of the dogs on the basis of the following five criteria: Speed, Enthusiasm, Intelligence, Agility, Endurance. The maximum amount of points to be given for each criterion is 20.

Some European countries (for example France and Germany) have their own judging systems. Using these systems in international trials is also allowed, as long as the qualifiying criteria are within the general FCI framework of rules.

[edit] Titles

[edit] ASFA

Once an Open hound receives 100 title points plus either two first placements or one first and two second placements, they earn a Field Champion title (FCh). A hound earns a Lure Courser of Merit title (LCM) each time it earns 300 points and four first placements.

[edit] AKC

Once a dog has achieved four qualifying runs (50 point runs) they earn a Senior Courser title. Once a dog has received 15 AKC lure coursing points, which must include two majors (3 to 5 point at one trial), it will have earned a Field Champion title.

[edit] FCI

At international lure coursing trials, the CACIL (Certificat d'Aptitude au Championnat International des Courses de Lévriers) is given to the first placed sighthound of each breed and sex, provided that it has achieved at least two thirds of the possible total points. If there are less than six dogs per sex entered, only one CACIL is provided; if there are less than six starters per breed, the CACIL is not given. Sighthounds which did not get at least 50% of the points in the first round, will not be allowed to take part in the second round. The title of an "International Lure Coursing Champion" is given to dogs with complete pedigree, which have gained at least two CACIL within more than 12 months in two different countries, and which have earned at least the qualification "Very Good" at two International FCI dog shows.

Since 2002, the FCI holds an annual European Lure Coursing Championship trial. In 2005, the European Championships were held in Germany and 2006 in Finland. In 2007, they will be held in Switzerland, in 2008 in Sweden and 2009 in the Czech Republic.

Many European countries also have their own National Lure Coursing Championships, and National Lure Coursing Cup competitions.

[edit] Sanctioning organizations

In the U.S., the ASFA and AKC are the two main sanctioning bodies. Participation is limited to purebred sighthounds. This group includes:

Other sighthounds that are allowed to compete together in ASFA Limited Stakes are:

Only AKC-recognized breeds can compete in AKC trials.

For ASFA, hounds must be registered with an ASFA approved registry (American Kennel Club, National Greyhound Association, the Federation Cynologique Internationale, an ASFA-recognized foreign registry or, in the case of Salukis, a critique registration number from the Society for the Perpetuation of Desert Bred Salukis).

In Canada, lure coursing is sanctioned by the Canadian Kennel Club (CKC). In Canada, the officially eligible breeds do not include the Sloughi, Rhodesian Ridgeback; or the Italian Greyhound, which as of 2005, is still considered a toy breed by the CKC. There is an effort currently to get the Rhodesian Ridgeback and IG included in Canadian lure coursing.

In Europe, international lure coursing trials are held under the auspices of the Commission for Sighthound Sport of the F.C.I.. Trials are organised by local lure coursing clubs, which are either directely affiliated with the national member organisation of the F.C.I. or with a national sighthound club, which again is affiliated with the national FCI member club.

Eligible breeds include all breeds of FCI group 10 (Sighthounds):

The following breeds of FCI group 5 (primitive type) are also allowed to participate; they can gain most national titles and can also take part in the European Lure Coursing Championship trial. However, they can currently not get the CACIL:

Basenji, Podengo Português and Rhodesian Ridgeback may participate on national level in some European countries, but they are currently not eligible for FCI international lure coursing trials.

[edit] External links

For more information or to find a lure course event or judge:

[edit] Recommended reading

  • Lure Coursing Arthur S. Beaman
  • Hounds Hares & Other Creatures, The Complete Book of Coursing by Steve Copold
  • Sighthounds Afield by Denise Como
  • Gazehounds & Coursing by Dutch Salmon
  • Canines & Coyotes by Leon V. Almirall
  • Field Advisory News (F.A.N.), official publication for ASFA


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