Lure Coursing

According to AKC, the Rhodesian Ridgeback is in the Hound Group and more specifically it is a sighthound.  Most hounds share the common trait of being used for hunting. Some use scent powers to follow their prey while others use stamina to run down their quarry. That being said, the Hound Group is divided into scent hounds and sight hounds. There are numerous AKC events you can enter your dog in that will exploit his/her talent for "chasing the bunny".

In this event, Sighthounds chase a mechanized white plastic lure around a 600 to 800-yard course that simulates the unpredictability of chasing prey. This event helps improve focus, agility, and stamina in your Ridgeback. Until you've actually seen this event in person, it's hard to imagine the joy your dog will feel chasing prey and doing what they were bred to do. Your dog will be competing with other Ridgebacks during the event and this is an event where each dog is judged based on their overall ability to chase the lure. Your dog can obtain coursing titles such as Junior Courser, Senior Courser, and Field Champion. 

Every state has its own sighthound clubs that hold lure coursing events throughout the year. Here in Arizona, lure coursing events take place from October through March due to the cooler temperatures. You can check the AKC website for lure coursing events in your area or you can contact a local club for more information. 

One of the easiest ways to get involved in dog sports is with a Coursing Ability Test (CAT). In this event, a dog will run alone chasing an artificial lure on a 600-yard course and must finish in less than 2 minutes. This event is judged with either a pass/fail score for your dog.  Your dog can earn a title of CA after completing 3 successful runs.  Learn more about CATs on the AKC website.

So you think your dog is fast? Well, this event will tell you just how fast your dog really is! FAST CAT stands for Fast Coursing Ability Test and it is a 100-yard dash for dogs. Your dog will run alone chasing a lure on a straight course of exactly 100 yards and he/she will be timed. This is a fun event and something anyone can do with their dogs. You dog will earn points based on his/her speed and these points will then be used to obtain an AKC title.  You can learn more about FAST CATs on the AKC website.