Hoping To Start Lure Coursing Next Year

[Rae]

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Hiya,

I'm hoping to start lure coursing next year with my lot. I think Leia would be excellent at it. (We hoped to start this year but with the stick injuries and ill family members we couldn't make the dates )

Stupid questions follow..... :clown: Would really appreciate your help.

I've contacted the BFSA - and noticed on their website that 'KC reg sighthounds can race' so Star is OK, and 'lurchers owned by owners of registerd sighthounds'....so does this mean Leia & Vader can race because we have Star?

I understand that they can do as many trials as they want before we go into a a proper competiton race, until we are sure they have got it right. Can they be disqualified from trials though? (I would be sooooo embarassed) What I'm worried about is that when they run loose together they all play fight with each other, and obviously I don't want them to do this on the field, but don't want to stop them doing it now. It is too much to expect that they will behave differently at a lure coursing event?

Is there much lure coursing down here in Somerset (or Devon as we are right onthe border)?

I think Vader could behave himself, but at 7 is he too old to start?

Also - do all hounds chase - 3 of mine do have a good chase instinct.... :- " o but I'm not sure if Star would go off chasing on her own, ie without Leia to hold her hand/paw. :wacko:

Lastly - are they more likely to get injured doing lure coursing than just runing about like the lunatics they are as normal? :unsure:

Thanks, Rae

 

[Terry & Sheila Smith]

Lastly - are they more likely to get injured doing lure coursing than  just runing about like the lunatics they are as normal?  :unsure:
Thanks, Rae

The BSFA use a continuous loop system which means it can get through a lot of runs in the space of a day. This system is more risky than drag IMO although running dogs always run the risk of injury, ours have suffered more injuries just running about than at any organised sport. On the plus side the BSFA put some of the most enjoyable events on in the dog world. I have never seen any of the sulks & tantrums you get at other events & you don't get the same strutting & preening off the winners. The BSFA seem to concentrate their meets around the home counties they do come north once a year but don't think they do anything in the west country. However if you look in countrymans weekly i'm sure you'll find some events put on by other organisations in your area.

Terry Smith

 

[BeeJay]

I think that the closest BSFA meeting to you Rae will be Westonburt in Gloucestershire.

Lots of people run their lurchers so there will be no problem with you running yours.

I can't see why you'd be disqualified when trialling. After all you are doing to so that the dogs can learn.

Re interferring some dogs do and some dogs don't. As for dogs not chasing ............... well I did have a very embarassing time slipping someone elses dog last time that I went. :lol: She focused on the noise that the line made rather than the silly old plastic bag.

BSFA lure coursing is very laid back. It's good fun because some of us never know what our dogs are going to do. ie cut corners and catch the lure, run the wrong way and lose the lure. Run so far, stop and come back to the start to wait for the lure to catch up and then get it at the end. Oh and stop and have a poo in the field. :b

BTW I think that they have lure coursing at SW Whippet fun day. (Ask Joe for details) and also West Somerset WRC are thinking of putting something on at the Taunton Polo Ground next year to celebrate their anniversary.

 

[Rae]

BSFA lure coursing is very laid back.  It's good fun because some of us never know what our dogs are going to do.  ie cut corners and catch the lure, run the wrong way and lose the lure.  Run so far, stop and come back to the start to wait for the lure to catch up and then get it at the end.  Oh and stop and have a poo in the field.  :b

Thanks

Stopping to have a poo - I bet thier owner was so proud! :lol: That would have been very impressive if the dog had time for a 'comfort break' and still caught the lure!

I'm determined to do something with them next year, as they are both over 12 months now, and I think they would love it.

Taunton Polo ground would be excellent for us as we are a whole 2 miles away from it!

 

[Mark Roberts]

The West Sommerset Whippet Racing Club also race at the Polo ground in Taunton, if you want contact details for the racing club let me know.

 

[BeeJay]

>Stopping to have a poo - I bet thier owner was so proud!

Can't remember being proud. :b

>That would have been very impressive if the dog had time for a 'comfort break' and still caught the lure!

Nope it was Tally deerhound who runs only in straight lines. Which would be okay except he only runs from the start to the first turn. :- " Then thinks that's an odd thing. Then ambles off and has a poo. :b

He won't go around a bend on a race track either. :b

He also runs away from other deerhounds and on the one occasion that he was slipped with one and all he had to do was run in a straight line. He ambled along behind the other dog looking most surprised. He had been down at the slips and had to be woken up and dragged to his feet in order to go into the slips. :b

 

[Rae]

Well BeeJay - let me know when Tally is next racing as I will simply have to come and watch :lol:

Bless him :wub: Nothing if not a character, and an idividual :b

Thanks for the offer Mark - I don't just want to race Star though, I want to get Leia involved too and I don't think she will be able to join in, being of unknown origin and parentage!?

(Unless it would help Star to do better in lure coursing getting used to chasing ?)

I also know, from seeing Star run with other whippets, that she is like a carthose compared to them. :b and I just know she would be last each time :clown: (Like the last kid on sports day - always feel so sorry for them )

 

[Strike Whippets]

We let "different types" trial at South Cotswolds :thumbsup: ........Lure coursing is great fun and is a really laid back, enjoyable day .......Your dogs will love it

 

[Rae]

We let "different types" trial at South Cotswolds  :thumbsup: ........Lure coursing is great fun and is a really laid back, enjoyable day .......Your dogs will love it 

Excellent

Worth it to see how they get on ...possibly :b ...possibly (w00t) ..probably :lol:

When / where Hannah?

 

[John E Greenwood]

Best of luck........and have fun, Rae, the dogs will LOVE it

 

[Billy blue eyes]

"After what happened at the first event this year I'm wondering where the season will start next year ,where ever it is then it would be good for you to come and watch. SWWC do run the lure course but it is strictly fun and lots of dogs have a go . I have been there for the last 2 years with my wife and we love the event so do the dogs. Keep an eye on the BSFA web site for the first event which should be around March if this year is anything to go by and see you there..

Posted a photo of some just after the start there are some more on another thread."

 

[BeeJay]

Rae it would be a good idea to pay a visit to West Som WRC as it's so close to you. That way you can get the dogs on the lure before going racing. They close for the winter and won't be open again until March or maybe even April. Well only mad people go whippet racing in the winter. :wacko:

Margaret and Steve are really nice and friendly. They've always let me trial Fern (Lurcher) and Tally (deerhound) there. There also used to be a wonderful and very naughty IG who used to go mental to run. Naughty 'cause she wouldn't be caught and you try catching one of them. :sweating:

If however you fancy a go in the depth's of winter and don't mind travelling the South Cots folks will give you a big welcome. :cheers:

Hopefully we'll bump into one another whatever you decide to do.

 

[Scott Frodsham]

Well only mad people go whippet racing in the winter.  :wacko:

We're barking up north! :b

 

[Mark Roberts]

Well only mad people go whippet racing in the winter.

ummm so where does that leave me :wacko:

 

[Rae]

If however you fancy a go in the depth's of winter and don't mind travelling the South Cots folks will give you a big welcome.  :cheers:

Depths of winter is no problem to us

Would love to come along. When & where do we turn up?

I'll be with one with the mad leaping lurcher (who thinks she is a lion) and the 'roo rooing' whoppet :b :lol:

Soooooo exciting

 

[dessie]

As for dogs not chasing ...............  well I did have a very embarassing time slipping someone elses dog last time that I went. :lol:   She focused on the noise that the line made rather than the silly old plastic bag.

[SIZE=21pt]NO!!![/SIZE] (w00t) (w00t) (w00t)

Whose dog was that then Beejay??? :b I hope it didn't try and pull the pulleys up!! o

 

[Billy blue eyes]

Was it the one I posted a photo of :lol:

 

[dessie]

Was it  the one I posted a photo of :lol:

If you mean the picture in this thread then NO!! that's my best boy, Ronan, and his daughter, Bertha. He would never dream of doing anything naughty and she is too clue-less (that was her first time competing so she hasn't got in to cheating yet!!)

 

[JAX]

The first time I went Lure coursing was at Makeney ( Derbyshire ) with the BSFA and just trialed` Simon ` , He chased the lure to the first bend and as it turned right he lost it ,there was a large tree nearby and he ran up to the tree and looked sky wards , Why you ask ? Well , the only quarry `Simon ` had ever chased before were squirrels and they always went up trees !! So really he was quite clever , but he never did get the hang of it :b

I took the `gang` several times , and they really loved it , they went absoulutly mental ,but on seeing a dog badly break his leg Im afraid I withdrew all my dogs and havnt been back since .

Yes ,I know only too well that dogs can break legs just running ( as Badger did ) but the extra effort they put into chasing the lure and the undulating ground they run on for me was just too much .

And I have worked with and had racing Greyhounds but Whippets are sooo much keener that Greys , believe me . I think too much of my dogs to risk it , Round a track or in a straight line I would have no problems , but Lure coursing ,, sorry no way .

 

[dessie]

Well, that's a shame Jax because in all the years I have been going lure coursing (and I am a founder member) and go to most meetings, I can only remember two dogs injuring themselves badly and I think both of those would have done so wherever they had been running, or what I am trying to say is that it was not the act of lure coursing that caused the injury.

If a dog is fit and used to free running it should not matter that the ground is not flat and straight. I am sure racing dogs get as many, if not more injuries, because they put even more effort into a shorter burst and they are also competing against one another. In lure coursing the lure is run at the speed of the leading dog and only just in front of them so I would disagree that lure coursing takes more effort than any other competitive activity. Also I have heard/read of coursing dogs fatally injuring themselves far more often than any dog who has ever been lure coursing.

The safety of the dogs at lure coursing is of paramount importance and no ground would be run on if it is was considered unsafe. Competitors are welcome to walk the course beforehand and if you had any concerns your comments would be welcomed. I have far more misgivings about whether my dogs are going to come back whole when they go off after deer than I ever do at the start of a course. In fact, I don't think it even crosses my mind.

My dogs enjoy it so much that I feel it is the least I can do for them as, after all, they oblige me when I keep dragging them off to shows and lure coursing is a good day out.