NEWS

Recently we started up doing a new doggy sport with Rocky, our Boxer. Basically Lure Coursing is a plastic bag attached to a rope, which is wound around pulleys at different angles, which is attached to a motorbike wheel to make it move - the more throttle the bike has, the faster it goes. It will have long or short straight, and tight or open corners.

The aim of Lure Coursing is for the dog to chase, and try to catch a plastic bag which is attached to this string. Dogs are graded on 5 separate things in this order:

*ENTHUSIASM: (Max 15 Points)  Lively, single minded, showing great eagerness &  determination in regard to the lure, after the "Tally-Ho" & until the lure passes the marked "Finish" for the course.

*FOLLOW: (Max 15 Points) Chasing the lure with the intent of taking it, while maintaining a path of reasonably close proximity to the lure's course, considering the relative positions of the dogs to the lure and to each other.  Keenness is exhibited when the dog reacts immediately to any change in the motion of the lure.  A dog that becomes unsighted for some good reason & yet attempts to find the lure again is not severely penalised, depending on how hard it works at  trying to find the lure again, & how soon it does so.

*SPEED: (Max 25 Points)  Rapidity in moving, the rate of moving or progress. 

Credit goes to the dog which levels out low, stretching & really drives.  Since timing is not used to measure speed, the dogs manner of "putting out" is an important means of assessing it's ability to cover ground.

*AGILITY: (Max 25 Points)  The ability to move quickly & easily.  Nimbleness in negotiating terrain which may cause a dog to slip or slide.  Turning without going wide or cutting or breaking stride.  Co-ordination of movement.

*ENDURANCE: (Max 20 Points)  Lasting quality, stamina of physical & mental concentration.  Credit is given to the dog which does not fade, or pull up or slacken.

7/5/06 On Sunday May 7th 2006, we took Rocky for his first go at Lure Coursing - & he LOVED it. There were 5 Boxers there in total, including Rocky, all the other 4 having had many goes at the sport on previous occasions. I was hoping Rocky would come a place, as he was VERY good, following the Lure VERY CLOSELY, not making wide turns like a lot of the other dogs, and was very fast! Well not only did he come a place but he got

out of Boxers with a total score of 170/200 for his 2 runs!!!

& also...

1st in Combined Groups 1&6, with a count-back!!!

YAY! for Rocky!!!

28/5/06 We took Rocky again on May 28th for his 2nd go. Again Rocky LOVED it, and again placed 1st out of 5 Boxers, with a total of 167/200! We also Won best in Group 6! If Rocky goes as well as he has already next time on July 2nd, then he will get his Novice Courser (NC) title!

2/7/06 Rocky came 1st in Boxers again with a score of 170/200 - He now has his NC title!

Rocky now has his Novice Courser title! He is now officially known as "Kaservoncarl Jumpin Jack ET NC". He has also qualified for the Qld Lure Coursing "Invitational Races" on July 30th! It is only by invitation only, for the first 3 dogs of each breed with highest average! WISH US LUCK!