What is lure coursing?

Lure Coursing in Australia

Lure coursing is great for Sighthounds. Photo: Shutterstock.com

Lure coursing is a dog sport primarily for sighthounds. It is a safer, more controlled alternative to open field coursing originally used to hunt jackrabbits. This dog sport allows the hound to test its abilities without hunting prey. Instead, the hounds chase plastic bags on a course laid out to simulate escaping game. The plastic bags are pulled around on a nylon string course, propelled by a hand controlled motor.

The course follows a pattern that is meant to simulate live coursing. A typical lure course is between 548 to 914 metres long. The course must have a minimum number of turns in order to simulate prey such as the jack-rabbit or hare changing direction in a chase. The fields can be fenced or not.

What Australian National Kennel Council (ANKC) titles can be attained?

Sighthound breeds registered with the Member Body (see member bodies below), may earn lure coursing titles of:

Singles Field Champion (sFCH)
Singles Lure Courser of Merit (sLCM)
Singles Lure Courser Excellent (sLCX) Field Champion (FCH)
Lure Courser of Merit (LCM)
Lure Courser Excellent (LCX)
Veteran Field Champion (vFCH)
Veteran Lure Courser of Merit (vLCM)
Veteran Lure Courser Excellent (vLCX)] are the (ANKC website)

Is my dog suitable for lure coursing?

Competition is typically limited to dogs of purebred sighthound breeds that pass the fitness requirements. Sighthound dog breeds include: Afghan Hound, Azawakh, Borzoi, Greyhound, Ibizan Hound, Irish Wolfhound, Pharaoh Hound, Saluki, Scottish Deerhound, Sloughi, Whippet, and Italian Greyhound.

Though not recognised Sighthounds in Australia, Rhodesian Ridgebacks and Basenjis are considered as eligible breeds for the purposes of Lure Coursing and will be eligible for the Sighthound titles.

Age restriction: Junior Coursing Tests and Coursing Ability Tests are open to eligible dog breeds 12 months of age or older on the day of the meet. Trials are open to eligible dog breeds 18 months of age or older on the day of the meet.

Where can I do lure coursing?

Find a dog club that offers lure coursing near you by contacting ANKC‘s State member bodies.

Dogs ACT

Dogs West

Dogs Queensland

Dogs NT

Dogs NSW

Dogs SA

Dogs Tasmania

Dogs Victoria