Kitt

I took my dally and Wei once as they chased bunnies everyday on walks, but they had no interest in a plastic bag, they both took off to the long grass around the edge of the course and started bunny hunting :laugh:

Ha! I have a sneaking suspicion that my hound would stop and eat the grass. Like a cow. A weird, skinny cow.

Elsie was absolutely psychotic about lure coursing from the first time she saw it! It is her absolute favourite dog sport!

:)

Awesome! They look like they were having so much fun! Thanks for sharing. :)

Rosie was a flop! Haha. Whippet x Koolie, loves to run and run, is a big fan of catching low flying minah birds and toys, we were SURE she would love it, lo and behold she didn't know what was going on, then someone kindly offered to run her with theirs and see if she got it...she just wanted to play chase with the other dog!

Would love to try it again now she's a bit more confident and older, tempted to take the moron retriever too but I feel like he would end up in someone's lap rather than chasing the lure...

If it happens I will let you all know so you can watch for a laugh. Hahaha.

Aww, sounds like Rosie had a good time anyway!

Down at Kuraby, they don't have fun days, but every event is a fun day. If your dog doesn't run, he's one of many, that come and have a go, sometimes it takes a few goes for them to catch on. Sometimes it's just a great social event for you and your dogs as they're a fantastic group of people.

Thanks DobieMum. Sounds like it might be a fun thing to do even if we're just watching.

Letting them watch the others can help too.

Good idea, thanks Kirislin.

Well there's always plenty of laughing when a dog disappears off into the distance, but not derision.

Stopping to pee on cones or pylons is always good for a laugh too.

They're dogs, as long as they're having fun it's all good!

Thanks Sandra. Yeah, I can imagine that some dogs would just keep going!

Cassiel definitely sounds like a better bet! I didn't want to be a downer. It's just when we started, we really went in blind and Paige ended up at the vet as a result. I blame myself completely, and would hate to not say anything and have something go wrong.

Thank you - I appreciate the advice. :)

Cassiel definitely sounds like a better bet! I didn't want to be a downer. It's just when we started, we really went in blind and Paige ended up at the vet as a result. I blame myself completely, and would hate to not say anything and have something go wrong.

and a race fit greyhound ended up very sick and at the vets the day after the next fun day. Your dog needs to be very fit and healthy and even then they can suffer serious problems.

Thanks for the warning. I appreciate other people's knowledge and experiences.

One of mine decided he'd rather be in the car.

Oh, bless!

We've just started lure coursing in Sydney. My two female greys are having a wonderful time. However, lure coursing is actually more difficult and more intense than racing. For starters, the courses are generally longer than most races, with some tight cornering. If you're trialling, then the dogs will run twice in one day. Greys also don't switch off, so they will tend to run until they drop.

So, if you're going to do this, I'd strongly suggest that you have your dogs free running flat out several times a week and walking long distances the other days. Get them vet checked. A heart murmur in one of my dogs would mean that I wouldn't risk it. I'd also check for issues with joints and any old breaks. Arthritis would also mean a no.

The two I course never raced, and so are both completely sound. One still managed to tear a tricep her first day out and won't go back for another six weeks. She's been off for two months because she simply won't be fit or strong enough for her body to manage the excitement or intensity without injury of killing herself.

If your greys are middle aged, not race fit or approaching it, and carrying any old injuries, I would proceed only with extreme caution. If they love it, they'll LOVE it, but they'll run themselves into the ground if you let them. And vet bills are expensive!

Ok, sounds like it might not be the best idea for Lucy, who is 8 years old and has a minor heart murmur.

Cassiel, my nearly-4-year-old, might enjoy it, though.

Thanks everyone for the tips!

Neither Delta nor Charlie were that interested the first time. Someone suggested I run them together and by the end of that first run together I had created lure monsters LOL They have also been used to encourage friend's dogs to run that weren't keen to chase on their own. Running two together seems to make a big difference to some dogs.

That's interesting, DeltaCharlie. If I take mine, I'll see how they go alone. If they don't seem interested, running together might be an option. Thanks!

Hi Kitt. At Kuraby most dogs run separate. There is also a policy that only one dog on the enclosed field (unless you want the dogs running together). As for dogs not wanting to chase there is quite a few dogs that go every month that don't chase :). Also quite a few dogs that are hard to catch after running. It's all about having fun. Hope you can come along on the 5th August.

Thanks Pheenyx. I assumed that the dogs would run alone, but I thought mine still might be distracted by the general environment - i.e., other dogs and people nearby. But I suppose it's worth a try!

Yes, some dogs aren't interested in a chasing a bag.

If your dogs are off the track, I'd suggest you have them vet checked prior to running them. if they retired due to injury, you need to know if they will be fit enough to course - they will be asked to turn harder than they ever did racing.

Thanks Haredown. One of my hounds has a very mild heart murmur, so I'll check with the vet.

Greys should be muzzled for the run, racing greyhounds are muzzled during a race and they are only running with their own kind so the temptation may be too great with other breeds around them IMO.

Good point, thanks HazyWal.

Thanks Gallomph and Kirislin.

Gallomph, my boyfriend would come with me so he could hold one dog while the other ran, and I will definitely ensure that my hounds don't scare or chase other dogs. I will look out for "fun days" - thanks. :)

Kirislin, yeah, I was thinking that might be the case - different dogs like different kinds of chasing. It won't be a problem if my dogs don't like lure coursing. They are much loved pets. I like to ensure that they have a variety of fun activities to do, and thought that lure coursing might be something that they would enjoy. If they decide they don't want to run, no problem. We'll continue playing games in the back yard. :)

Thanks for your replies.

Hi all,

I've been thinking about taking my pet greyhounds to lure coursing. I've never been before, but am really keen to take my dogs to an event where they can really stretch their legs and have a good run.

I live in Brisbane, and I've checked out the Qld Lure Coursing Association website. I'm considering taking my dogs to a run in August, at Wally Tate Park in Kuraby.

My question is whether some dogs simply don't want to run, especially if they get distracted by other dogs and people at the event. Both my hounds have a moderate-high prey drive, but I'm wondering if they might get distracted and not chase the lure. Does that ever happen? If that happens, would we be laughed off the course?!

If there are any DOL members who regularly go to the Kuraby runs, I would love to hear about your experience of the event.

Thanks!

Kitt.

Thanks HazyWal. It seems like someone might have found him (safe). My Dad has gone to collect him.

So pleased, Kitt. Bless that someone!

Cassiel is now safe at my parents' house. A lovely guy doing a newspaper delivery run found Cassiel standing in the middle of the road, so took him home and phoned RSPCA. I was so grateful, crying on the phone, telling him he has no idea how thankful I am. I got my Dad to give the man $100. I've been in hospital for two weeks and will be here another week, so am not well. So I'm just so relieved to know that Cassiel is home safe.

Kitt are you on facebook or know someone who is? Post on this FB site it's Australia wide but run by a QLDer with a big QLD following.

I have everything crossed you find your boy

https://www.facebook.com/EveryGreyhound

Thanks HazyWal. It seems like someone might have found him (safe). My Dad has gone to collect him.

Hi all,

I'm writing in desperation to ask that people in the southern suburbs of Brisbane - Algester, Parkinson, Calamvale, Sunnybank Hills etc. - please look out for my red-fawn greyhound.

I've been in hospital for two weeks and my greyhound, Cassiel, is staying with my parents in Algester. He escaped last night. He is microchipped, but I think his details are still linked to his old owner.

He's very approachable and friendly with people, but not with small animals.

Thanks for any help.

Hi all. Well I wish I had better news for you than I do.

Today, Roo ran away from the Uni girls. I got a panicked message from them while I was miles away at a meeting. She's escaped, we still don't know how.

A mad dash home and she was found on the front step - she crossed four major busy road and many smaller ones. She spends all her time trying to escape home when left here, and trying to get back here when left elsewhere.

It's so weird, because I had all that anxiety before she first went to the girls that she was going to run away and get hit by a car - when I got the call I was sure that's what had happened.

I'm now in a very hard place - we haven't started the new meds yet (still waiting on script to be filled), neither training now meds will have any effect for weeks, I can't left her at people's houses, she's too crafty and too keen to escape and find me..

Dog daycare would be safe I know but I cannot afford 5 days per week of dog daycare. I called to ask for a discount on the basis of her being a 5 day per week ongoing proposition but they said the fees were the fees.

I have no idea where to from here. I feel like I have run out of options.

So sorry, Jellyblush. I was so hopeful about this situation, as I'm sure many others were.

You mention that food is her motivation. Have you tried using food toys for mental stimulation? E.g., not giving her a meal in a bowl, but instead putting it in food-dispensing toys so that she really has to work to get her food? Or could you hide portions of her meal around the yard - e.g., on a low tree branch, under a bucket, etc?

Awesome!! It would have been so difficult for the actors to keep a straight face during that!

I love the nicknames that you've all listed!

I often call my greyhound, Deanna, "Deanna Spanner". I didn't realise how often I did it, until a friend wrote a letter to Deanna (there's a story behind that) and addressed the letter to Deanna Spanner.

My gorgeous girl, Deanna.

Ooohh love Deanna Haven't seen pics of her for ages, how is she after her teeth removal Kitt?

Thanks for asking, Stan's Mum! It's nice to know that someone remembers her :-)

Deanna is doing fantastically well. She turned 14 two days ago. I made cupcakes, so she might get one tonight for supper. I'll post more in the greyhound thread, so I don't take over this thread.

Loving all the smiley pups!

My gorgeous girl, Deanna.

Nothing to add except a piece of info... it's called a brace lead.

Not a coupler.

Keep abusive replies to no more than ten lines please folks.

I'm curious - Why can it not be called a coupler?

It can be, and usually is. That person is not the epitome of all things language.

Ok thanks. I thought maybe there was a technical difference between the two types of leads.

Nothing to add except a piece of info... it's called a brace lead.

Not a coupler.

Keep abusive replies to no more than ten lines please folks.

I'm curious - Why can it not be called a coupler?

I can understand that if someone is talking about your dog's age in a negative manner, you may feel offended by this.

I tend to interpret comments about my dog's age differently, though. When people comment on how old my greyhound looks, I am always very PROUD to say "yes, she's nearly 14, and that is quite old for a greyhound." I am so pleased that my gorgeous hound is still healthy enough to come out for walks and I love telling that to anyone who'll listen. :)

Hi all, l have just posted a quick and slightly mad video of Dusty talking. Have a look he is very cute. Ella http://www.iggyrescue.com.au/dusty--phoenixs-blog.html :laugh:

Oh that's awesome! More videos!!

Oh wow - zoomies! That's absolutely awesome. I understand your excitement! It would have been awesome to see proper Whippet zoomies in a dog who has been so unwell.

I also love the photo of the post-park sleeping position. That is the strangest roaching I have ever seen!

Thanks for sharing the dogs' progress.