LURE COURSING TYPE OF EVENTS
Chase Ability -- Sprinters -- FastCAT -- Coursing Ability
Traditionally Lure Coursing Events were a sport only for sighthounds. Given the widespread interest, lure coursing events were created by both the CKC and AKC that are open to all breeds. It is fast becoming one of the most popular dog sports. These events are especially enjoyed by those that love the thrill of the chase — our breeds, naturally, excels at this, and loves it!
In 2018 we discovered the wonderful sport of Lure Coursing for non-sight hounds. We experienced for ourselves just how much fun the dogs have. And, being CKC and AKC events, there are also official performance titles. We've always known the Welsh Terriers are natural born sprinters, but this sport allowed us to confirm, exactly, just how fast they really are. They are incredibly fast! A couple of ours have clocked 37 km/hr!
Next time you open a door, or gate, think about that for a moment.....
Here are some photos of our dogs at these events:
Video of Zora's qualifying run -- 600 meters / 2000 yards! This was her first weekend trying this sport.
My friend that breeds beautiful Min Pins, Meredith Riley, was the main reason I tried this. I saw her strong enthusiasm for the sport, going with her beautiful conformation dogs. If the Min Pins could do this, than so could my Welsh Terrier show dogs!
I must admit I was cautious. But, I was willing to try. Nervous, but willing to try.
For the 600 meter Chase Ability, the dogs run off-lead, in a big open, public park, following a plastic bag. What if they took off? What if I couldn't catch them? What if they didn't run after the bag? For the 100 meter Sprinter, the dogs are in a fenced in area.
I chose to bring one dog to that first event. A dog that has, pretty good (Ok?) recall. And, if she didn't come back, she'd be happy to see anyone with a treat or ball, and hopefully they would catch her (if I couldn't). I lined up a few people to help catch her (good to have a back-up plan). It helped that the local club (Western Gazehound Club) are full of outstanding people, willing to help, and eager to see dogs have success.
Zora did awesome at that first trial weekend! She ran at full speed, the full 600 meters! WOW! And, she let me leash her up at the finish line. She did that 4 times that weekend, running flat-out. She had SO MUCH FUN! She made me an immediate believer and, like my Min Pin friend, I became a vocal advocate for the sport of CHASE!
Zora easily got her first title that weekend for Chase Ability (CA). In the US with AKC, this is listed as Coursing Ability Test.
6 months later I attended another "CKC Chase Ability" trial weekend. This time I brought 3 Welsh Terriers, and one of my pet owners brought her WT girl. All of the dogs again had SO much fun! The people did too. I also got over my fear that weekend of having to run after my dogs to leash them up, that happened, it was all OK, and I am not too embarrassed about it because it happened to a few other people also.
Since then, I have attended a few "CKC Sprinter" trial weekends and an "AKC FastCAT" trial weekend. The Sprinter trials are a timed 100 meter dash. The US version (AKC FastCAT) is a timed 100 yard dash.
We now have a few Novice Sprinter titled Welsh Terriers, a BCAT (the FastCAT) titled Welsh Terrier and a few CKC Chase Ability (CA) titled Welsh Terriers. The first titled Welsh Terriers in Canada, and they are conformation champions also!
The bottom line....
Our breed LOVES this sport and they do very well! Interestingly, a couple of our Welsh Terriers consistently ran 36 and 37 km per hour (that's almost 23 miles per hour!). Unfortunately, the documented AKC FastCAT trial was done in an agriculture field with many holes in the ground, so on the AKC site, it doesn't show them this fast, but the CKC Sprinter speeds do! That is FAST! And, the dogs LOVE it!
Darwyn Welsh Terriers with Lure Coursing Type Event Titles (Nov/2019):
- Robbie (Can CH Darwyn's Trail Blazer; CA, NS): Chase Ability and Novice Sprinter and part way to FastCAT BCAT, running 37 km/hr in Sprinter!
- Ava (Can CH Darwyn's Avant Garde; CA, NS, BCAT): Chase Ability and Novice Sprinter and FastCAT BCAT; running 38 km/hr in Sprinter!
- Filly (Darwyn's Flying Filly, owned by Laurie in BC): Chase Ability and Novice Sprinter; running 31 km/hr in Sprinter!
- Zora (Can/Am CH Zora Darwyn vom Granitfelsen): Chase Ability and part way to Novice Sprinter; running 37 km/hr in Sprinter!
- Chanté (Am CH Darwyn's Enchanté; RATN, CGC, TKP, owned by Lisa in S. CA): Part way to FastCAT BCAT
- Kuri (Darwyn's Sakura, owned by Sylvi in BC): Part way to Novice Sprinter; running 32 km/hr in Sprinter
- Maya (Darwyn's Southern Charm; BCAT, owned by Annette in NC, USA). In 2019, Maya was recorded to average 22.31 MPH and was the 2nd fastest Welsh Terrier in the sport for the year.
- Morgana (American and Canadian CH Darwyn's Morgana le Fay): Part way to Chase Ability
OFFICIAL LINKS FOR CKC and AKC EVENTS:
CKC - CHASE ABILITY (600 meter Lure Chase for all-breeds in Canada)
Find an event (click here)CKC - SPRINTER (100 meter, timed, Lure Chase for all breeds in Canada)
Find an event (click here)AKC - FastCAT (100 yard, timed, Lure Chase for all breeds in USA)
AKC - COURSING ABILITY (600 yard Lure Chase for all-breeds in USA)
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