Annie Oakley Posted August 31, 2005 Share Posted August 31, 2005 I have just been looking at the pictures in Photos of the Melbourne Lure Coursing day and am curious how one gets involved and trains etc? Are there many huskies that do it? Are they a breed who want to do it? Am just thinking my pup especially loves to run and this might be easier than trying to get started with sledding..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Tess32 Posted August 31, 2005 Share Posted August 31, 2005 Just try it Trust me, you can't tell by breed or by the dog until you try it And sometimes, you have to go a few times before they suddenly 'get it'. There's no training - we all just go along to the days that the Rhodesian Ridgeback club throws ;) I'm not sure it's available everywhere. Nat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annie Oakley Posted August 31, 2005 Author Share Posted August 31, 2005 Tess32, can you PM me with some details, I know where KCC park is in Cranbourne (I think!) so I can bring my Ebony next time? Thanks!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purple Julie Posted August 31, 2005 Share Posted August 31, 2005 If your dog loves chasing things, there is a higher chance that she'll chase the lure at lure coursing. The RR club runs it just for fun, not competition, so you don't have to train or anything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ish Posted August 31, 2005 Share Posted August 31, 2005 I agree with Purple Julie - if your dog chases you're got a good chance! To 'train' Indi I just attached a plastic bag to the end of a rope and wizzed it around to see if she's chase it (which she did) and she's already really fit so we had no worries and she loved it. Al being an ex-racing greyhound didn't need much convincing!! Maybe above average fitness if you want your dog to have a few runs would be the go? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whatevah Posted August 31, 2005 Share Posted August 31, 2005 Josh did not know what to do at the start. He just stood there, then they got me to get him to watch the other dogs and have never looked back. I had a munsterlander that did it and my toller. I have found that puppy's pick it up quick because they like to chase. My dogs love to retrieve. Josh is chasing it for the sole purpose of trying to catch it to bring it back to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bant Posted August 31, 2005 Share Posted August 31, 2005 Hope you don't mind me asking a few more questions on your thread Ann21 but I'm also interested in Lure coursing from the pictures they showed. I own a Malamute and think she would love Lure Coursing. However there is some concerns... How fit do they have to be for one run? Above average, Codie is far from that. Is the grounds that they run the courses on secure? Codie doesn't have a reliable recall, would this make it hard? Are the waiting dogs away from the running dogs? I'd hate for Codie to get excited and nip another dog. She is sociable but I'm not sure how she is in times of extreme excitement and when the prey drive kicks in. Sounds like fun, might have to go check one out before I bring Codie to see how she might react. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ish Posted August 31, 2005 Share Posted August 31, 2005 I've only been once, just this last time, but I'll answer your q's and I'm sure if someone who knows more than me comes in here they'll answer too. The area they do the lure coursing in at KCC park is a large grassed paddock, with good fences. There are two gates, an in gate and an out gate. You buy your ticket, it has a number on it and the organiser lines people up around about 5 at a time to wait along the fence for their turn. You go in once the dog before you is on lead and moving out. You let your dog off as the lure comes past, when its finished the lure hides under some barrels and you catch your dog. My dogs don't have very good recalls and the two people in there running it were very helpful, and a lot of the dogs froze on the spot when the lure dissapeared so that made it easy to catch them. With waiting near other dogs, there was plenty of space to keep your dog away from others and when you're supposed to be lining up I'm sure if you told the organiser that you would wait over somewhere else it would be fine. My greyhound turned into a complete nutbag when his prey drive kicked in, too much so. Someone else might be able to help you with the fitness thing, I don't know how much work/fitness level of the other dogs that were there. My dogs have to be very fit for the GSD specialty shows, Indi is 9 months old and she did two runs and I think she could've easily done one or two more. It was a fantastic day- can't wait to do it again. Hope that helps Bant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2tollers Posted August 31, 2005 Share Posted August 31, 2005 Hi Bant, Sunday was my first time at lure coursing. My dog had his first run with 2 others and seemed totally lost. Toilet Duck suggested he went in on his own so he'd focus on the lure and he picked it up straight away. After that every time the gate opened he strained at his lead to get in. He ended up doing 4 or 5 runs. I don't think you'd have any problems at all unless your dog is really highly strung. The dogs that know what is coming are pretty excited but they don't all go yapping mad like they do at flyball. There's plenty of space if your worried about your dog being a bit unsure and it might do him good. When I think back on the day most of the dogs are alert but relaxed. Do your dog a favour and take him along. I'm sure you'll both love it. Sharon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chezzyr Posted August 31, 2005 Share Posted August 31, 2005 The RR club runs this "zig zag" course in the enclosed area of KCC Park as well as some pet expos and has these open to the public etc. It is managed very well and there are always newbies there who have never tried it. Is a good atmosphere so you dont have to feel worried if youve never done it. And yes all kinds of breeds try it. Some are naturals whereas others prefer to sniff and view the scenery If nothing else its a good chance to socialize the dog. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Casima Posted August 31, 2005 Share Posted August 31, 2005 Bant, I have taken my Mally lure courseing, and she loves it!! I would just be careful with the larger heavier breeds, because there are alot of tight turns and they tend to go at top speed, if they were unfit, or fat, they might hurt themselves. This is my girl coursing she is fairly small for a Mal, and is fairly lean, and has no troubles, she had 3 runs last time we went Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparty Posted August 31, 2005 Share Posted August 31, 2005 Ohhh Casima what a beautiful pic!!!! My Bodie was almost 10 months, he ended up doing 5 runs but he is an insane border collie, you can buy your tickets well apart if you want usually, 1 ticket per run, but u can have a few dogs in a run. Bodie did a run with Todd and Josh at first, while Todd didt get the idea Bodie tried to chase/herd josh, after watching a few times he went in again with Teela (puppy) and finally got the idea the operator will tease the dog with the lure bringing it back to them if they lose sight of it which really helps Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparty Posted August 31, 2005 Share Posted August 31, 2005 Ahh 2tollers they DO get yappy excited remember the Dalmation???? LOL and Iko while not overly loud was almost throttling herself to get in and have a go Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annie Oakley Posted August 31, 2005 Author Share Posted August 31, 2005 Guys this info is great, and everyone's input has made me decide I will definitely check it out next time! Ebony is only 10 months old and so if I only let her do a couple of runs we should be ok. She is well socialised and would love to be around other dogs even if she doesn't "get" the whole lure coursing thing! She is in good shape and I have been told by other husky owners who do sledding that she is one quick kid so it should be fun for her. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparty Posted September 1, 2005 Share Posted September 1, 2005 it was a great day, some dogs (like Miss Rosie) enjoyed it more after the lure coursing finished and they all had a off lead romp :cool: Bodie was very jealous!! but we had to get home Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poodlefan Posted September 1, 2005 Share Posted September 1, 2005 (edited) How fit do they have to be for one run? Above average, Codie is far from that. Word of caution: If you consider that your dog is overweight or unfit, then DO NOT take it coursing. Coursing places heavy demands on a dog's body. It requires an explosive start and tight turns over ground that can be uneven. If your dog is overweight or unfit, or if you do not warm your dog up and cool it down properly then you are ASKING for trouble. Ruptures to cruciate ligaments would be top of my list of concerns. The sport is not without risk. My vet advised against doing it too frequently with a young dog. The recall issue is important - but you can use any means you like to recall your dogs - eg. food, squeaky toys. If your dog is very difficult to catch or recall, then that is something you can resolve with training. If you have concerns that your dog may 'nip' another dog and they are based on any sort of previous incident then the safest thing to do IMHO would be to run your dog muzzled. This is nothing more than showing consideration for other attendees. For what its worth, it seems unlikely that a dog will transfer its prey drive onto another dog unless that dog resembles prey (eg. SWFs or similar) When I go coursing with the Afghan club, there are a couple of owners who ask me to crate the poodles as a precaution when their dogs run - and I'm happy to oblige. Coursing is great fun but do your dog a favour and make sure that its fit to participate before you go. Edited September 1, 2005 by poodlefan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparty Posted September 1, 2005 Share Posted September 1, 2005 good point poodlefan, but i have to say the operator on sunday was really good some of the runs were slow you could ask him to do a slow one and that your dog was a puppy or a beginner so it is not just a flat out option Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poodlefan Posted September 1, 2005 Share Posted September 1, 2005 (edited) Yep, the "huntmaster" (that's what he calls himself at Afghan Club) is good at using the speed and movement of the lure to encourage newbies, youngsters and littlies. I'd still not want to do much of it with a pup though. Towards the end of the day, they often get a couple of Afghan pups out for a play/go - great fun to watch! Edited September 1, 2005 by poodlefan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparty Posted September 1, 2005 Share Posted September 1, 2005 No sure what the set up with the afghan club is, but sunday the lure coursing was held in the off leash fenced area so only the dogs running were allowed in for the run lol the milling surge of dogs waiting in line was a little hectic tho :cool: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NaturallyWild Posted September 1, 2005 Share Posted September 1, 2005 The next lure coursing that the Rhosedian Ridgeback Club is doing will be at Nillumbik Pet Expo on October 23 10am -4pm. at Marngrook Oval Diamond Creek MELWAYS 11A6. Hope to see some of you there. Tim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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