Can my dog participate?
Lure Coursing is open to all ANKC registered breeds, and to dogs that are registered on the Associate Register. Your dog must be registered with the ANKC (through your state canine body e.g. Dogs NSW) before it can participate in a trial.
What are the rules for Lure Coursing?
NSW Lure Coursing events are run under the ANKC rules, which are available at ANKC.org.au
What titles can my dog earn?
This depends on whether your dog is in the sighthound or the Coursing Ability Test (CAT) stream. If your dog is in the sighthound stream, you will start by earning your Junior Courser (JC) title and then have the option of entering 3 different events – single stakes, veteran stakes (if old enough) or open stakes. If your dog is not a sighthound, or is an associate registered dog (even if they are a recognisable sighthound or mix of sighthounds), you will also start by earning a Junior Courser title and then move on to compete in the Coursing Ability stream to earn Coursing Ability titles. For more detail, see the rules available on the ANKC website.
What breeds are included in the sighthound stream?
Breeds that are recognised as sighthounds in Australia include the Afghan Hound, Azawakh, Borzoi, Greyhound, Ibizan Hound, Irish Wolfhound, Pharaoh Hound, Saluki, Scottish Deerhound, Sloughi, Whippet, Italian Greyhound Basenji and Rhodesian Ridgeback.
Are there age limits?
Yes. Your dog must be 12 months old to run in the Junior Courser Tests and Coursing Ability Tests. It must be 18 months old to run in the other stakes.
How do I get started?
Got a dog? Is it fit and injury free? Is it confident enough to run around a paddock (up to 900 metres) and without you close by? Will it return to you?
The next step is to attend one of our events to see the sport in action. Ideally, come along to a try out day and see if your dog will run in a coursing situation. Not all dogs that like to chase things in the yard or park have the extra skills to course. If you can't attend a try out, come along to an event to observe and ask questions (leave the dog(s) at home for your first visit). Take the time to watch as many different dogs running as you can, and ask questions. You'll find that our committee and competitors are keen to help newcomers.
The next step is to attend one of our events to see the sport in action. Ideally, come along to a try out day and see if your dog will run in a coursing situation. Not all dogs that like to chase things in the yard or park have the extra skills to course. If you can't attend a try out, come along to an event to observe and ask questions (leave the dog(s) at home for your first visit). Take the time to watch as many different dogs running as you can, and ask questions. You'll find that our committee and competitors are keen to help newcomers.
Do I have to be a member of Dogs NSW?
If you live in NSW, yes. If you live in another state/territory and plan to travel in to our trials, you will need to be a member of your home state/territory canine association.
How do I get membership and registration sorted out?
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Do I need to buy special equipment?
Not unless your dog is in the Sighthound stream and you plan to run your dog in open stakes (i.e. with other dogs). If that is the case, when your dog has qualified as a Junior Courser you will need to purchase “blankets” (racing jackets) for your dog in the recognised colours of blue, yellow and pink.
Some people may choose to purchase slip leads but these are not compulsory. We can show you how to use an ordinary lead as a slip lead. Of course, if you like buying leads, go ahead! Please note that your dog cannot run in any kind of collar, harness or head halter.
Some people may choose to purchase slip leads but these are not compulsory. We can show you how to use an ordinary lead as a slip lead. Of course, if you like buying leads, go ahead! Please note that your dog cannot run in any kind of collar, harness or head halter.
Does my dog have to wear a muzzle?
Not unless it has been disqualified for interfering with another hound or for showing aggression to another hound in multi dog stakes. If you wish, you can choose to muzzle your dog.
How many runs does each dog do in a trial?
There are two runs held for a trial, with the second run usually a reversed course of the first run. Dogs who have scored a pass mark in the first run will be allowed to enter the second run. Obviously whether you allow your dog a second run will also depend on the dog’s fitness and the conditions on the day. On occasion, due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances, there may only be a single run held for the trial. In this case, the scoring from the first run may be doubled to generate the total score for the trial.
Is the field fenced?
Most of our venues are within fenced complexes but the fields themselves are not fenced and dogs may be able to escape the area if they try. Training an effective recall will help make your participation in the sport stress free.
Can I enter trials online?
Yes, entries are available on Easy Dog.
Can bitches in season compete?
No. Bitches in season are not permitted on the trial grounds.
Why don't you release the course map before a trial?
There are several reasons for this but the main reason is that it would be unfair to competitors who decided to enter/not enter a trial based on the course map if the course wasn't completely true to the published course map. Course layouts are often changed between designing the course and setting it up on the day and measurements are not always 100% accurate. Courses are often designed in programs like Google Earth and don't take current ground conditions into account when they're designed, both in terms of weather and landscape. Undulating grounds and changes in vegetation can mean that courses have to be drastically altered while they are being set up. There have also been special cases where courses have had to be changed due to gear malfunction, which has also affected course design.
Can I see my dog's scores on trial day?
During the day, competitors can access their dog's first and second run scores on the club's whiteboard. When the NSWLCA uses two judges, the score on this board is an average of both judges' scores, as it will be on your ANKC qualification certificate.
How long does a trial day go for?
Trials usually start at 9am, and you will need to be there before this time to check in any dogs you have entered. You can expect to be finished around 4pm, although this can vary based on how many dogs have entered, and how many have qualified for a second run on the day.