COURSING ABILITY TEST

To pass the test, a dog running alone must pursue a lure, completing the course with enthusiasm and without interruption within a given time. Most dogs will happily go after the lure! The CAT provides a lively and healthy activity attractive to many dog owners. NEW AKC EVENT ALLOWS ALL DOGS TO DISCOVER FUN OF LURE COURSING Dog sports photographer Jackie Phillips often brings her dogs with her on assignments for company -- not for action.But a suggestion at a lure coursing event changed that and turned Phillips on to a new hobby with her mixed-breed companions. "After the event, they were having practices, and one of the people running the event suggested I bring out Dino and see if he would chase the lure. I had absolutely no idea what Dino would do so I brought him out and he chased the lure partially around the big field." Phillips began seeking opportunities to let her dogs experience lure coursing and found that they loved the activity.Now each time Dino sees the lure, and knows he is going to run, he is absolutely bonkers. He is barking up a storm and jumping around and extremely excited." Phillips discovered what many other dog owners have also uncovered: their dogs' natural prey drive gives them the love of chasing a lure -- regardless of their breed or mix of breeds. The American Kennel Club recently created a new event that allows all dogs to discover the excitement of lure coursing. "The Coursing Ability Test can provide a wonderful community outreach opportunity, an enjoyable experience for dogs and owners and a way to expose a wider audience to the sport, " said AKC's AVP of Performance Events Doug Ljungren. "Most dogs will chase a lure and have fun in the process." The Coursing Ability Test (CAT) is for any dog of any breed, including mixed-breeds, as long as it is at least 1 year old and individually registered or listed with AKC.To pass the test, a dog running alone must pursue a lure, completing the course with enthusiasm and without interruption within a given time. Dogs that pass the CAT three times will earn a Coursing Ability (CA) title. Ten passes and a dog earns a Coursing Ability Advanced (CAA) title, and 25 passes results in a Coursing Ability Excellent (CAX) title.Licensed lure coursing clubs may hold CATs in conjunction with a licensed lure coursing trial or as a standalone event. The first Coursing Ability Tests debuted with five days of action from Feb. 23 to 27 in Calhoun, Ga., in conjunction with lure coursing trials hosted by the Bluegrass Coursing Club and the Greyhound Association of North Georgia.There were 158 CAT entries over the five days with a 75 percent qualification rate. "Many of the participants had not been to a lure coursing event. They arrived early and enjoyed watching the sighthounds run. When it was their turn, they cheered for each other and basically had a wonderful time," said Les Pekarski, president of Greyhound Association of North Georgia. "It was great fun watching such a variety of dogs try their hand at coursing - what a positive activity for the sport, the club and all the new participants." Twenty-eight different breeds competed in the tests, and several earned CA titles.Nine dogs became the first to earn the CA title on Feb. 25, including the first mixed-breed dog. He is Charlie, a Siberian Husky-Whippet mix, owned by Jan Curry of Columbia, Ky. Kate Corum of Georgia brought her mixed-breed dog, Vito, to try coursing and admits she was surprised at how welcomed they were at the event. "I was amazed at how friendly and helpful the lure coursing people were," she said. "The only one worried about my mixed breed dog being here was me." Another mixed-breed dog taking home a qualifying ribbon was Millie, who raced around the course and had no problems passing. Her owner, Bob Keller of Clearwater, Fla., is vice president of the Upper Suncoast Dog Training Club and said his club is always looking for additional activities.