How to get your whippet started in Lure Coursing

Paula Rickert - July 2002

What is lure coursing?

Lure coursing is a fun activity for both whippets and their owners. A lure, usually consisting of strips of plastic bags, is moved around a field by a motor, simulating the motion of a hare. Two or three sighthounds are released simultaneously to chase the lure, and their performances are judged on various factors including speed, agility, and endurance. Both AKC and ASFA (American Sighthound Field Association) sanction lure coursing field trials and award lure coursing titles such as Field Champion.

Training at home

You can test and develop your whippet's chase instinct at home, even with a puppy. Take a white rag, plastic bag, or piece of rabbit fur, and tease her with it. As she starts to show some interest in it, you may put it on a string or a lunge whip and drag it in front of her, encouraging her to follow it. Let her catch the lure as her reward for chasing, and always quit before your whippet loses interest. It is also important to work with one dog at a time so that she can focus on the lure. If she doesn't show interest, you might add a 'squawker' (noisemaker used in racing) or some stinky treats to your lure to make it more enticing.

A good recall (the "Come" command) is another important part of your home training. After the lure stops, you'll want to be able to retrieve your whippet quickly. Make sure that coming to you is always positive, frequently rewarded with treats, praise, petting, or a toy.

Conditioning

Just like humans, couch potato whippets are more likely to hurt themselves by going out and vigorously exercising than one that gets regular exercise. If possible, let your whippet have regular free running (in a safe fenced area, of course) as well as on-leash workouts to build up endurance and stamina. It's also a good idea to get him used to running on a variety of surfaces to prepare his pads for different conditions in lure coursing fields. If your whippet has any health conditions, consult with your veterinarian before running him in a lure course.

Practice runs

The next step is letting your whippet try some practice runs on an actual lure course. Unfortunately, because of a lack of available fields in Northern California, most lure coursing practice runs are held after trials, assuming that the weather and the equipment hold up. It's generally a good idea to contact the field trial secretary in advance to make sure that the club is planning to hold practice runs after their trial and to get an estimate on what time to show up. Most practices are $2/run, and you should plan on bringing shade and water with you. For puppies and new dogs, it's best to start with just a straight line and back (ask the lure operator for a 'puppy run'). After your whippet is fully grown and confidently running straights, start introducing her to turns and eventually work up to a full course. When you are confident that she is fully keen on the lure and will reliably run a full course, you may start practicing her with other, experienced whippets. Practice runs are also a great opportunity for you to learn how to operate a slip lead and to release your whippet (if you ask, most people will be happy to show you).

Entering trials

For AKC trials, your whippet must first earn his JC (Junior Courser) title by running and completing two courses by himself on two separate days, certified by two different judges. JC tests are often held on the same day as AKC trials, and you usually need to enter in advance (consult the premium list). You are not technically required to have practiced him with another dog before entering him in a trial, but it is highly advisable to do so. If your whippet interferes with other hounds during a course, he can be banned from future trials.

To enter ASFA trials, you must have your whippet certified by a judge as running clean with another hound. Certification runs are often held at the conclusion of ASFA trials and before practice runs, and the cost is typically $5. Ask your fellow NCWFA members or the trial secretary about finding a whippet to run with your dog. Fill out the certification form (found in the premium list), have it signed by the judge following a successful certification run, make a copy for yourself and send it in with your first trial entry. An uncertified hound may run by herself in the optional Singles stakes, but these runs will not count towards any titles.

Once you and your whippet have caught the lure coursing 'bug', you'll want to obtain some basic equipment - lure coursing jackets (a set of yellow, pink, and blue) and a coursing slip lead. Until you get these, you should be able to borrow from the club sponsoring the trial, or from fellow whippet owners.