German Shepherd dog

So there we were....standing amongst the greyhounds, whippets, and pharaohs. I probably don't need to say what peculiar looks Ireceived....and more than one person came up and told me that herding was taking place elsewhere(as if I were confused by the lack of sheep). I politely thanked them and told them I had a Coursing Shepherd. They laughed because they thought I was joking. Lure Coursing is a laid back event I discovered. There seemed to be none of the stress of conformation or obedience. Not only that, but of all the events I compete in......this one seemed the least stressful on the human who accompanies the dog. It seemed to me, the only thing the human did was let the dog go at the start and calmly collect them at the finish line.....wow...my kind of event!

Admittedly, I knew nothing of the terminology of the event or how things progressed. Lucky for me there was a former Shepherd owner/lover in the group who took pity on me and kept me informed of the progress of the days events. All I really wanted to know was when my turn was. Oh, I must add in here for those that don't know....I can not compete for an official title because AKC says it is only for officially recognized Sight Hounds....but we were going to be allowed in the Match. 

Anticipation built as the day went on. With every round, Suzie Q was dancing around shaking with anticipation. About an hour before her official turn, she somehow did an amazing, flipping, twisting, airborne, air flip that I am sure would have qualified her for Barnum and Bailey's Circus, and the next thing I know I am holding an empty collar and she is on the field. Sooo...events got put on hold as I ran after her. She didn't go far, just to where the lure was. Someone in the crowd said to the others.... "don't go out there, that's a shepherd, it might attack?!"  Talk about profiling! I did catch her once one of the guys in charge grabbed the lure and started walking with it...Suzie followed it and I made a dive for her. It cost us a $5.00 fine and disapproving looks. I felt a little bad but one of the other competitors, bless her heart said loud enough for me and the rest of the crowd to hear, that she was glad that I didn't ruin her title of "longest dog loose on the field" Everyone laughed and everyone was relaxed again.

Finally...our moment was upon us. The girl in charge calls out, "German Shepherd" and since I was the only one I move forward.....she tells me that we are right after the Basenji. Then it was our turn. I am instructed on how to line her up at the starting line. The call goes out to "hold your hounds...and your Shepherd" (This command means that they are about to get the lure in place to start the run). I literally wrap my whole body around Suzie Q to prevent a false start because she is READY to go! I am further instructed that when they say "Tally Ho", this is the signal to release the dog on the course for the official start. So, the call goes out and I let go. Off she speeds like a silver...or rather a black and tan, bullet. It took a minute for the guy running the lure to realize that he better speed it up or Suzie Q was going to have it. I am watching her go and it is a thing of beauty. It is an official 900 yard course, over several acres of land. I heard someone behind me say "Hey, LOOK at the Shepherd!" and then I heard silence...followed by whispers of amazement. Then I started hearing comments in lure lingo that translated into how GOOD she was doing! Those running the course got real into it when they realized she was for real. I was told where to stand for the end and the la