Lure Coursing
Lure coursing is a dog sport where mechanical lures (usually plastic bags) are set in motion via a motorized pulley system in a large field. The lures move and turn very fast as the dogs chase them. The dogs are judged on speed and their ability to closely follow the lure. While only recognized sighthounds can compete for titles, any breed of dog is eligible for practice. Since it is instinctual behavior, there is no training involved for most dogs.
Lure Coursing allows the dogs to do what they were bred to do by chasing down simulated prey at high speed. The lures, usually three plastic bags, are powered by a small motor and remote controlled so that speed and turns can be varied. The course is between 600 and 1000 yards with a minimum of four turns. The dogs are judged on overall ability, speed, endurance and agility.
Popular Luring Breeds
- Afghan Hound
- American Staghound
- Azawakh
- Borzoi
- Polish Greyhound
- Spanish Greyhound
- Greyhound
- Irish Wolfhound
- Italian Greyhound
- Hungarian Greyhound
- Saluki
- Scottish Deerhound
- Sloughi
- Whippet
Suggested Exercises
- Stretching: encourage your dog to stand up on their rear legs and stretch their front legs upward against your chest to massage the muscles of their backs.
- Conditioning walk: be sure to travel different types of terrain.
- Running/Jogging
- Swimming
- Agility training: create an obstacle course that includes the narrow board of the dog walk, climbing, descend the A-frame, balance on the teeter, crawl through the tunnel, jump obstacles, and maneuver the weave poles.
