Lure coursing - harmless fun or ........

[david2363 42]

I have noticed that in recent years, there has been a huge upsurge in lure coursing for lurchers.

Nothing wrong with that I hear some of you say, as we all see plenty of posts on the hunting boards from people who obviously treat this as some kind of hobby.

Noticably, some of these lure coursing folk never seem to put a hunting post up i.e. lurcher catching a rabbit or whatever.

I am sometimes amazed at the distances some of the lure cousing fraternity will drive to "match" their lurcher against others in the pursuit of a plastic carrier bag.

My question is simple, do the members of THL see lure coursing as a harmless and fun summertime activity? or do some see it in a negative light? i.e. lurchers being bred purely for speed, with lure coursing in mind and not hunting.

Edited June 3, 2010 by david2363

[Bosun11 537]

It ain't my bag!!!

 

Never put a dog in nor would I ever. Not my cup of tea. Don't even bother watching it if its on and would rather attend shows where it's not. I'd much rather see lurcher obedience, if its done correctly, or a dog simply playing in a field, than 'trying' to catch a plastic bag and hate the canine histeria that goes with it, dogs screenming for a run.

If its what you enjoy then go right ahead, its just not for me!

[david2363 42]

It ain't my bag!!!

 

Never put a dog in nor would I ever. Not my cup of tea. Don't even bother watching it if its on and would rather attend shows where it's not. I'd much rather see lurcher obedience, if its done correctly, or a dog simply playing in a field, than 'trying' to catch a plastic bag and hate the canine histeria that goes with it, dogs screenming for a run.

If its what you enjoy then go right ahead, its just not for me!

Interesting that you mention obedience Bosun, an obedience trial for lurchers, that would sort the good dog trainers from the rest.

When you think about it, you see less and less Collie crosses at these events these days.

[poacher3161 1,766]

I dont attend shows any more due to the fact i see it as heartbreaking how serious people take this pastime and dogs just being bred for speed and then people bulling these winning dogs and singing their praises like a forley cup winner or a dog that catches large amounts of game week in week out

[Strong Stuff 2,171]

It ain't my bag!!!

 

Never put a dog in nor would I ever. Not my cup of tea. Don't even bother watching it if its on and would rather attend shows where it's not. I'd much rather see lurcher obedience, if its done correctly, or a dog simply playing in a field, than 'trying' to catch a plastic bag and hate the canine histeria that goes with it, dogs screenming for a run.

If its what you enjoy then go right ahead, its just not for me!

 

Would that be a plastic bag?

 

Not a fan myself, can't say it's ever crossed my mind to put my dogs in for it, much like weight pulling with Bull Breeds, just not my thing.

[Guest little lurcher]

what we all have to remember is many lurchers are NOT in working homes , and for me i like to see them at least almost doing what they were bred for , yes we could all be cold hearted and say no not a place cull all not going in to pet homes but reality says that aint going to happen

 

i work my dogs and i have a lure ,IMO,it keeps my lot fit , fun in summer ,good to see if a dog is coming back from injury ok ,etc etc , there is an extensive list of positives , however what i dont accept is that is is the real deal , the FIELD is where it counts not at a fun event , i also show my dogs , but everytime we post a pic on here of our dogs we are showing our dogs and they will be "judged" by someone

 

people do need to stop taking things soooooooooooo serious though , it should be FUN , the dogs work hard all season , this should be a little summer R and R for dogs and humans alike

[Fabapocalypse 35]

I personally can't see the harm in doing something like lure coursing or straight racing just for fun; I wouldn't travel miles to do it or take it seriously, but me and the dog have had a lot of enjoyment out of it, and I hope we carry on doing so.

 

Not everyone wants to hunt and not everyone who wants to hunt can, so lure racing and lure coursing is an outlet; it's exercise and fresh air for owner and dog, if nothing else.

 

I can remember seeing lurcher obedience classes at the bigger shows a few years back; not seen one put on for a while now but I suppose they're not as exciting to watch for the paying public, maybe?

[anagallis_arvensis 2]

I've taken my dog lure coursing, its a nice day out and she enjoys it despite always seeming to come last as she is racing what appear to be pure whippetxgreys. I dont hunt with her as I live in a city away from where I grew up so dont know any farmers around here who would be happy for me to hunt their land and stock breaking is hard without easy access to omeone who trusts you stock. Hunting isnt obviously in my blood to the extent of many.

[Bosun11 537]

I've taken my dog lure coursing, its a nice day out and she enjoys it despite always seeming to come last as she is racing what appear to be pure whippetxgreys. I dont hunt with her as I live in a city away from where I grew up so dont know any farmers around here who would be happy for me to hunt their land and stock breaking is hard without easy access to omeone who trusts you stock. Hunting isnt obviously in my blood to the extent of many.

A great many, if not most, hunting folk are city dwellers. I lived for 42 years in Liverpool 4, it dosen't get more urban than that! But i've always found my escapism in the countryside. Long before I could drive I used public transport. As for local land owners, if you don't ask, you'll never know.... As for hunting in your blood, why not give it a go, your obviously a lurcher enthusiast, why not see your dogs really doing what they were bred for, you'll see 'em in a whole new light?

[Strong Stuff 2,171]

I've nothing against it.

 

 

I would ask though, and am asking because I don't know.

 

 

If most shows are in the summer, and it's accepted that the risk of injury through running on hard ground and the warmer weather meaning dogs can dehydrate more easily, then don't those same things apply to lure coursing too?

 

I've been at shows where it's been red hot, I wouldn't even walk my dog far in it, but the racing is still on?!

 

That's the bit I don't understand.

[Bosun11 537]

It's a good point SS and one you've answered yourself.....

[wirral countryman 2,110]

I remember the first time I seen lure coursing and thought it looked ok for a bit of fun at a show,much like the terrier racing,when that rag turns or dissapear's through the fence its hilarious,lol,but when people start breeding lurcher's(whippet/greyhounds)just for a couple of quick sprints so as to win a trophy they have lost the fun element it was meant to be,there are some folk that actually think they own a good dog by winning a couple of sprints.I realise if every lurcher you see at a show worked and caught 10 rabbits then we would probably have none left in the country,I do understand the attraction to own one as most are good family friendly dogs,but people breed to easilly off none tested untried dogs for the wrong reasons and that is why there are a lot of poor lurcher's about now,give me a good well worked dog in the cold depths of winter on the field anyday over red hot summer days stood watching a predicted course chasing a bag,imho,wirralman

[david2363 42]

A fella I know travelled down to somewhere near Nottingham/Derby to buy a Whippet x Greyhound pup a couple of years ago.

The woman who bred the litter (she had 2 litters actually) assured him that the pups had all the big name ancestry in their pedigree i.e Sooty Sam and Top Honcho etc, etc, to cut a long story short, it seems that she is big into her lure coursing.

The fantastic racy looking brindle bitch he bought that day hasn't really set the world on fire as a working lurcher, despite being given plenty of opportunities on permission with lots of game.

Perhaps she's just a slow starter, or maybe being bred out of lure coursing parents hasn't given her the minerals needed to spend a day in the field filling the pot.

[gerron 13]

Lure "coursing" is exactley the same as showing, its ok for a bit of fun in the right conditions,but who are we to judge people who only show or race there dogs,bit hypicritical if you ask me, just like folk who dont hunt saying dogs shouldnt be used for hunting ??!!

 

so what if people want to breed dogs to win races.....greyhound men have been doing if for years and i dont hear any one complaining about them ?

 

and dont say that they are ruining the breed because any deacent dog man wanting a dog for hunting porposes will go to proven lines for that purpose !

 

i'd also like to add that i have never entered any lure coursing events and am only pointing out that it should be each to there own no 1 is forcing anyone to enter so it doesnt affect those who dont like it, this is how hunting was banned for christ sake !

 

YIS

gerron

[riohog 5,818]

I've nothing against it.

 

 

I would ask though, and am asking because I don't know.

 

 

If most shows are in the summer, and it's accepted that the risk of injury through running on hard ground and the warmer weather meaning dogs can dehydrate more easily, then don't those same things apply to lure coursing too?

 

I've been at shows where it's been red hot, I wouldn't even walk my dog far in it, but the racing is still on?!

 

That's the bit I don't understand.

yeah understand what you are saying , ive never ran a dog on the track or lure coursed , but have seen it many times , in europe it is a big thing , lure track racing , live coursing has been banned over there for years apart from poland , spain , the lure racing in europe starts proper in ..may and finishes october , and yeah it f,,kin hot most of the time 20 deg+ dogs cope fine , they are fit and given electrolights to aid recovery , so dosent seem to do them any harm the heat if there fit and well looked after