Lure Coursing Shepherd - Page 1

This weekend in Perry, GA was awesome. One of my girls, Suzie Q thinks she is a Greyhound. We had looked forward to Perry because they have Lure Coursing every year and this would be her moment on a real official course, going a real official distance.

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

Sorry, this didn't fit into one post...here's the ending...

Those running got real into it when they realized she was for real. I was told where to stand for the end and the lady on the field yelled something to the guy running the lure. When the lure stopped at the finish line and I caught her, the crowd erupted in cheering and clapping. All of a sudden I was surrounded by people praising my dog and suddenly very into her. I guess she lost her "killer" profile with invites to more of their events and exclamations of it's too bad she can't compete for an official title. I really wanted her to go another round but I decided to end on a high note. I was not sure that my smart shepherd would succumb to being caught so easily next time.

We've got some pictures that I will attach in a seperate post. The ones attached are the one's that came out clear...Notice exactly where her front legs are in the first picture....also notice that she is completely in the air on the second one. It is safe to say that we are looking into building a course of our own on our 6.5 acres....                 

Thanks for letting me share

Anita and Suzie Q the Lure Coursing Shepherd 

The king of the dogs strikes again!  Congratulations, although I have no idea about this type of competition, your story sure did read well.  Thanks for sharing and continued success....

A friend used to lure course with her Boxer and that dog routinely whooped the hounds .  Keep up the good work and show the dog world that the GSD can do it all  and do it well!!!

That's great! When I was a kid, a lure coursing match was held on a field my dad owned. My cocker spaniel wanted to run so bad--so at the end, they let him do a short loop. He loved it! But his short legs didn't let him run that fast or that far. Still, it was very fun.

I KNOW your girl had a good time. I can imagine how much many of mine would enjoy that!

Christine

www.blackthornkennel.com

 Those are great photos.  I've heard about Malinois doing lure coursing also.  I found one video on You Tube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hC162mEWlJw

The dog looks like he's having a wonderful time chasing the rag.

Anita, absolutely splendid! It's great to see our all rounders put other specialists to shame. BTW were the runs timed? It'd be interesting to see the comparative times of the different breeds.

I must admit I would be really surprised to see a GSD out pace a greyhound , lurcher or whippet. Our own dog is friendly with a number of such dogs & when playing over the fields he can give them a good run for their money but they always seem to have another gear in which to outpace him.

BTW 'real' hare coursing has now been banned in the UK but outright speed wasn't the only desired trait. The hare's primary evasive tactic was sudden changes of direction. So a dog that could combine speed with an ability to turn on a sixpence was much more sought after.

AandA

Awesome!!! I got goose bumps reading your story...way to go!!! 

"The german shepherd, the best at most things and second best at  everything else!"

Great Job!  I really enjoyed your post.  It makes me want to try it with my boy!

Melissa