Lure Coursing with Your Pharaoh Hound
Lure Coursing is a humane sport which attempts to simulate the chasing of a rabbit (hare, jack-rabbit) by sighthounds but without the live prey. In lure coursing, the hounds chase an artificial lure which consists of 3 plastic bags tied to a continuous-loop line that is moved through a series of pulleys by a small motor across a very large field. A typical lure course is between 600 and 1000 yards long and must have a minimum number of turns in order to simulate the rabbit zigzagging in the chase. The purpose of non-competitive lure coursing tests is to offer sighthound breed owners a standardized gauge to measure their hounds' coursing instinct. The purpose of the competitive lure coursing trial programs are to preserve and develop the coursing skills inherent in the sighthounds and to demonstrate that they can perform the functions for which they were originally bred. All hounds must be a minimum of 1 year of age to be entered in a test or trial. Bitches in heat and lame dogs are prohibited from running.
At a trial competition, hounds of the same breed run in braces (2) or trios (3) wearing one of three colored blankets (yellow, pink or blue). Hounds may run alone if they are the only hound of that breed. The hounds are judged and given points based on several criteria like speed, endurance, enthusiasm, agility, and follow. "Follow" means the ability to follow the lure, not the other dogs. Judges can deduct points for the early release of a hound in a course or for a course delay. Judges may excuse a hound from competition for failing to run, being unfit, coursing another hound instead of the lure, hound or handler interference or excessive course delay. Hounds may be dismissed for interfering with another hound. Hounds may be disqualified for being the aggressor in a fight on the field.
All hounds who run cleanly, run a minimum of twice at trial. The first run is called the "preliminary" run and the second run is called the "final" run. The hounds initially run only against hounds of the same breed. Within each breed the hounds may be divided into 3 groups (or 3 stakes). The Open stake is composed of hounds that have not earned their Field Championship title. The Field Champion stake has only those hounds that have earned their Field Championship title. The Veteran stake is for those hounds greater than six years (except Irish Wolfhounds (5 years) and Whippets (7 years)) and these can be either non-field champions or field champions. The running order within each stake is determined by a random draw, and is not based on size or comparable ability of the hound. The hounds first compete within their stake (open, FCh or veteran) running the preliminary course and then the final course. Placements within each stake are determined by the hounds total score (preliminary + final run score). The hound with the highest score from each stake then runs the course against the winners of the other stakes within its breed. The hound who earns the highest score in this course is deemed the Best of Breed (BOB) winner. At some trials a Best in Field (BIF) may be offered. This is where the BOB winners may choose to run against the other BOB winners. This is the only course where hounds of different sighthound breeds may run against each other. Points toward Field Champion titles (or beyond) maybe earned by stake winners, BOB winners and sometimes BIF winners.
At a trial competition, hounds of the same breed run in braces (2) or trios (3) wearing one of three colored blankets (yellow, pink or blue). Hounds may run alone if they are the only hound of that breed. The hounds are judged and given points based on several criteria like speed, endurance, enthusiasm, agility, and follow. "Follow" means the ability to follow the lure, not the other dogs. Judges can deduct points for the early release of a hound in a course or for a course delay. Judges may excuse a hound from competition for failing to run, being unfit, coursing another hound instead of the lure, hound or handler interference or excessive course delay. Hounds may be dismissed for interfering with another hound. Hounds may be disqualified for being the aggressor in a fight on the field.
All hounds who run cleanly, run a minimum of twice at trial. The first run is called the "preliminary" run and the second run is called the "final" run. The hounds initially run only against hounds of the same breed. Within each breed the hounds may be divided into 3 groups (or 3 stakes). The Open stake is composed of hounds that have not earned their Field Championship title. The Field Champion stake has only those hounds that have earned their Field Championship title. The Veteran stake is for those hounds greater than six years (except Irish Wolfhounds (5 years) and Whippets (7 years)) and these can be either non-field champions or field champions. The running order within each stake is determined by a random draw, and is not based on size or comparable ability of the hound. The hounds first compete within their stake (open, FCh or veteran) running the preliminary course and then the final course. Placements within each stake are determined by the hounds total score (preliminary + final run score). The hound with the highest score from each stake then runs the course against the winners of the other stakes within its breed. The hound who earns the highest score in this course is deemed the Best of Breed (BOB) winner. At some trials a Best in Field (BIF) may be offered. This is where the BOB winners may choose to run against the other BOB winners. This is the only course where hounds of different sighthound breeds may run against each other. Points toward Field Champion titles (or beyond) maybe earned by stake winners, BOB winners and sometimes BIF winners.