Frequently Asked Questions

Sighthound breeds have an overpowering instinct to chase. Lure coursing presents an opportunity for them to chase a lure just for their own pleasure. Between 500 and 1000 yards in length, sometimes longer, the course is designed by placing small pulleys around a field in a pattern meant to resemble the route prey might take when pursued by hounds. Usually, a continuous loop of braided string is pulled around the pulleys by a wheel attached to a motor, and the lure itself is a piece of plastic. An experienced lure operator can control the lure so as to simulate escaping game. Since 1972, clubs associated with the American Sighthound Field Association have provided the joy of the chase to thousands of sighthounds!

There are no guarantees. Sometimes youngsters may not show great interest at the first opportunity, but the next time something can click and they're off! Adult hounds often could care less, but others respond immediately. Some hounds just don't care to chase a piece of plastic, and that's it. Other hounds enjoy chasing the plastic lure, but would prefer to chase another hound. Competitive lure coursing is definitely not for them unless they can become much more focused, although they can course the lure by themselves in the Singles Stake.

Find other people experienced in your breed to lend a hand. Most are very willing. Also find a lure coursing club in your area. Many clubs have regular practices to help train novice hounds. To find out the name of a club near you, contact the ASFA Information person listed on the Member Clubs page of this site.

First you must practice your hound to make certain it is interested in chasing the lure. Once experienced observers have assured you that your hound is very keen, not merely mildly interested, your hound is ready to practice with another hound. If this test is also passed, then your hound is ready for certification, provided it is at least eleven months of age. To pass certification your hound must run a course with another sighthound of the same breed, or one with a similar running style, and this must be observed by a regularly licensed ASFA judge. Unless your hound already has another qualifying coursing/racing title, an ASFA certification form must be signed by the judge and a copy must be submitted when you enter your hound in a trial for the first time. The original should be retained in your records.

Any of the 12 AKC recognized Sighthound Breeds or those breeds in the Sighthound category as specified by the foreign registry known as FCI (Federation Cynologique Internationale), CKC, NGA or an AKC recognized foreign registry, or possess a desert-bred Saluki Critique Registry Number. A hound's registration number is required on all entry forms. Spayed or neutered sighthounds are eligible, but bitches in season, lame hounds, and hounds with AKC breed disqualifications are prohibited from competing. Hounds must be at least one year of age, and must have been successfully certified by running on the lure with another sighthound. Please visit our Eligible Breeds page.

The NGA should be able to give you a volume and certificate number when you give them the information tattooed inside both ears of your hound. If not, you can apply to the AKC for an Indefinite Listing Privilege (ILP) number. The ILP also applies to animals that are purebred but are otherwise unregisterable assuming that they meet all breed standard requirements. Contact AKC for an application. With your application you will have to include several photos of your Greyhound plus a certificate of spay/neuter, and then wait several weeks for your ILP number. The addresses are listed here. National Greyhound Association: R.R. #3 Box 111B Abilene, KS 67410 (913) 263-4660 American Kennel Club 5580 Centerview Drive Raleigh, NC 27606 (919) 233-9767

Observe a trial. Watch for a while, then look for someone who seems generally friendly to chat with about the sport. It might be someone in your own breed or not. At many trials there is a paddock person who calls out the hounds' names when it's time for them to be ready for the course. This person is often a useful source of information. The Trial Chairman listed in the premium can also suggest someone for you to meet. As in any sport, much of the so-called knowledge you hear at a trial may simply be opinion. It takes years of experience to assemble an understanding of the sport, and you won't learn everything there is to know from one person or from attending only a handful of trials. Also learn by observation. Notice the way owners prepare their hounds. Some walk their hounds extensively before they run, to loosen muscles and, hopefully, empty the hounds bladder and bowels. Some even trot with their hounds. Owners or handlers should also have equipment they'll need - the proper blanket color and a slip lead, and water and a wetdown blanket if it's a hot day. You may notice that breeds are prepared in different ways. Afghan owners sometimes wrap the coat of their hounds. Whippet and Greyhound owners often tape stop pads. Look for experienced mentors who can help you learn. You'll find that lure coursing people are competitive, but very helpful..

For the field committee, a trial begins long before roll call - the paperwork must be ready and the course set up. For competitors, the trial actually begins at roll call, where hounds are checked for lameness or any breed disqualifications, and bitches are checked to make sure they are not in season. Never take a bitch in season to a lure coursing trial, either to compete or to walk anywhere near the grounds. Hounds who do not pass roll call receive a refund of their entry fee. If you're late for roll call, however, you forfeit all entry fees.

You'll observe that the hounds run first against their own breed, and they run in trios with the different color blankets. The Huntmaster always places yellow on the left, pink in the middle and blue on the right. Each hound will run at least twice, its performance scored by the judge(s). The first course is called a prelim, or preliminary, and the second a final - even though there may be run-offs to determine Best of Breed and settle any ties for the top five placements in each breed. Finally, there's usually a Best in Field (BIF) run for any breed winners who choose to run for that honor.

Sighthounds love to run just for the fun of it. They have no idea how they've been judged or whether they've earned any points or a title. But, most people enjoy earning titles on their hounds. The ASFA offers several titles - a Field Champion (F.Ch.), the title of Lure Courser of Merit (LCM), and several levels of LCM. To earn titles, your hound must earn points at trials according to its placements. In the breed runs, ribbons and points are awarded as follows, with a total maximum of 40 ASFA points per trial: 1st place - 4 x number of hounds competing (40 max.) 2nd place - 3 x number of hounds competing (30 max.) 3rd place - 2 x number of hounds competing (20 max.) 4th place - 1 x number of hounds competing (10 max.) NBQ - Next Best Qualifier (no points) In other words, a hound finishing second in a field of 8 hounds would earn 24 points, etc. No points are awarded for BIF (Best In Field), just a very special ribbon. Field Championship (F.Ch.) Until a hound earns 100 total points (including two first placements or one first and two second placements, against competition) to get its Field Championship, it must run in the Open Stake. When the Field Championship is earned, the F.Ch. suffix can be added to your hound's name. At a trial, the winning hound in the Open Stake, the winning hound in the Field Champion Stake, and the winning hound in the Veteran Stake (if offered) run against each other to determine Best of Breed. Whichever hound wins could possibly earn the points of the defeated hound, if the point total is larger than the number earned in its own stake. For example, if there were only 6 hounds in the Open Stake, but 8 in the Field Champion Stake and the Open Stake winner defeated the Field Champion Stake winner to take Best of Breed, the Open hound would be credited with winning the same number of points as the Field Champion - in this case, 32 points (4 x 8). The Field Champion wouldn't lose those points, however, because it won its stake. Lure Courser of Merit (LCM) After a hound has earned its Field Championship, it can continue to accumulate points toward the title Lure Courser of Merit. To earn the LCM suffix, a hound must accumulate 300 points after its Field Championship, including 4 first placements against competition. For each consecutive accumulation of 300 points and the appropriate placements, further LCM titles are earned, such as LCM2, LCM3, etc. Currently, the highest ASFA-titled hound is an LCM 17! Top Ten Recognition Top Ten standing in each breed are published in each issue of the ASFA's bi-monthly newsletter, Field Advisory News (FAN), and the top hound in each breed receives an award at the close of each year.

Obtain a premium list from the host club. The premium list is usually available about a month before the trial date. It contains all the necessary information on the trial - the date, location, judges, course design and length, entry deadlines, roll call time, places to stay, and the entry forms. On the entry form, you'll need to include a breed-recognized registration number your hound. You may enter your hound as "pending," but submit the proper registration number within three months or you'll lose all the points and placements your hound has earned at the trial. If you're late with your entry, the club has every right to deny it. The job of Field Trial Secretary requires considerable paperwork, so timely entries are very important.

By subscribing to FAN Magazine, contacting the Director of the Region in which you live, contacting one of your local clubs, or checking this website's Events page.

There are seven possible stakes at a trial: Open Stake, always offered, for dogs that haven't achieved their Field Championship Field Champion Stake, always offered, for dogs who are champions and are working on their Lure Courser of Merit titles Single Stake, optionally offered, for dogs to run in by themselves; no points or placements are earned Single Stake, optionally offered, for dogs to run in by themselves; no points or placements are earned Veterans Stake, optionally offered, for dogs over 6 years of age, except Irish Wolfhounds, who are over 5 years of age. Breeder Stake, optionally offered, two dogs bred by the same person have their scores combined against similar pairings Kennel Stake, optionally offered, two dogs kenneled in the same household have their scores combined against similar pairings Miscellaneous Stake, optionally offered, for those dogs in the FCI Sighthound group but not yet recognized by ASFA. These dogs earn no ASFA points or placements, however, their national breed club may award titles based on points earned.

As in any physical sport, there is risk of injury or even death. Proper training and conditioning of your dog are the best ways to minimize the chance of harm coming to it. Most clubs hold regular practices for the purpose of training new hounds. Safety of the hounds is the primary concern of ALL officials and participants of lure course trials.

Make friends, enjoy yourself, meet other hounds and other sighthound breeds, watch the courses and learn more about the function of your breed. You do have three important jobs, however. The first is to get to roll call on time; if you're late, your entry could be scratched, and fees forfeited. Second, walk your hound thoroughly. Even jog with it, to loosen muscles and give it a chance to eliminate. Hounds should not compete on a full stomach. Third, have your hound prepared and ready for its course. To find out when it runs, look first at the running order, which should be posted. This is the order in which the breeds will be run. Then find out what course your hound is in and what blanket color it will wear. This is posted on record sheets or draw order sheets when the trial is about to begin. Find your breed, then your stake (which is probably Open unless your hound is already a Field Champion). Behind your hound's call name will be a number and letter, indication the course and color. For example, 1Y means be ready to run in the first courses for the breed, wearing yellow; 3P is the third course, in pink. Find someone who will help you learn to securely fasten the blanket and how to release the slip lead. Clubs usually supply coursing blankets and slip leads, but if no blanket or slip lead is available, you will have to borrow both from someone with a similar-sized hound. If you don't know who to ask, always explain your problem to the paddock person or Huntmaster before the trial begins. They want to keep the trial moving. Delays are cumulative, and you don't want to be the cause if you can help it. Follow the Huntmaster's instructions during the course, and never release your hound until you hear the "T" in "Tally-ho." There's nothing wrong with letting the Huntmaster know that this is your first trial, as s/he will make a special effort to make sure you and your hound are following proper procedures. After the course, be sure to walk your hound until its breathing returns to normal. In general, treat your sighthound just as wise human athletes take care of themselves, walking and stretching after strenuous exercise.

Either one or two judges will be assigned to score your breed. Judges independently the score for each hound on a Judges Sheet and give the sheets to a field clerk, who checks the addition and records the scores on a record sheet. The record sheets are brought in from the field and checked by the Field Trial Secretary, who posts the scores for all to see. Once the trial begins, approach the Field Trial Secretary with questions about paperwork or scores only, as s/he is very busy. Other questions should be directed to the Field Trial Chairman. Sometimes you will agree with the posted scores, sometimes not. You'll notice that most people simply observe the scores for their hound, with little comment. Other people may be irritated by the way their hound was scored, still others delighted. Lure coursing is a lot like life in that you'll encounter all kinds of people and reactions. Some invest a great deal of emotion into the sport, while others put more weight on the good time their hound is having. It's been wisely said, "Don't tell my dog how he placed - he thinks he had a good time."

Overall, judges base their scores on the ASFA's criteria: Speed......................25 points Agility......................25 points Endurance................20 points Enthusiasm...............15 points Follow.....................15 points However, every judge has his/her own system, usually based on their own concept of an average or superior performance. In fact, typical total scores for excellent courses range from the low 60s to the 80s. One judge's average score for speed might be 18, another's 20. So, even when two judges agree on a course, their scores are unlikely to be exactly the same. They may place the hounds in the same order, but have different scales of evaluation. Of course, judges occasionally disagree on what they saw. It's worth noting that judges usually stand at a point with a far different view of the field than the spectators, so it's not unusual for judges to see courses differently than onlookers. Judges also have an obligation to disqualify, dismiss or excuse a sighthound for displaying aggression, interfering, playing, or coursing another hound rather than following the lure. Such calls are the judges' to make by following the ASFA's Running Rules and Field Procedures for Lure Field Trials.

If you have more than one hound, always get someone to help you rather than making people wait while you put a hound away and get another. If you need help, just ask the paddock person or Field Trial Chairman. Don't cause delays in the trial.

You should know the limits and relative health of your hound, as well as the heat-adapting characteristics of its breed. For example, some breeds, and even specific hounds, do not dissipate heat quickly when running. Most breeds can run safely in all but the very hottest weather. Even then, there are precautions you should take if your hound is competing in hot weather. After the course, splash cool water on the surfaces inside the rear legs. Some owners drape their hound with a wet blanker to accelerate cool down, or even spray a cooling mist of water on their hound's coat. Provide shade. Offer cool water to drink only after your hound appears to be breathing normally.

There are different schools of thought. Many experienced hands believe it just happens or it doesn't. Others believe that you can imprint chasing a lure on young puppies and they'll grow up enjoying it. Playing chase games and fetch are wonderful ways to exercise young hounds and help them reach their physical potential, as well as to create a bond with you. One proven way to train and exercise young pups is to attach a piece of plastic to a lunge whip or at the end of a fishing pole rigged with yarn (yarn doesn't cut young mouths like string). Exercise them in this way a few minutes every week, but stop before they're tired or bored. When a pup is about 6 months old, you might try to practice it on an actual lure for a straight forty yards or so. It's not recommended to have a pup run a full course at this age. Young bodies and minds are not fully developed, so avoid risking serious injury. Adult dogs should be in good condition from regular exercise. They may not chase the lure the first time, but try again.

Lure coursing in the United States began back in the early '60s, when sighthound organizations in different parts of the country began looking for ways to treat their hounds to the joy of the chase. In California, Lyle Gillette and several friends involved in open field coursing (after live game) began looking for a way to test the the function of their hounds, and to give the hounds the pleasure of the chase, without the danger from barbed wire so often encountered in the field. In the late '60s, a hand-cranked take-up reel was developed. In 1972, the American Sighthound Field Association (ASFA) was founded by a handful of enthusiasts, with Lyle Gillette as the first President and tireless supporter.

The ASFA is a volunteer association of over 120 clubs holding ASFA trials throughout the U.S. The ASFA strives to be democratic and seeks the opinions of its clubs. Since 1972, an annual meeting has been held for club delegates where the Running Rules and Constitution are refined and officers elected. Each of the ASFA's ten regions is represented on the Board of Directors by a Regional Director who is elected by the clubs in that region. All members of the board are volunteers. Also since 1972, records have been accurately maintained and published in FAN, and thousands of sighthounds have earned meaningful titles of importance to their function. Quite recently, the AKC began a lure coursing program based almost entirely on the ASFA's established running rules.

Join a club. Subscribe to FAN. Volunteer to work at trials. Once you carefully observe a trial or two, you'll see there are dozens of jobs that need doing, and they usually fall on the shoulders of a few committed people. Lend a hand when you can. Look for a job that needs doing and volunteer to handle it. Watch and learn. You'll enjoy lure coursing even more by becoming involved in the success of a trial

If you decide to begin lure coursing seriously, it's advisable to own the ASFA's rulebook, Running Rules and Field Procedures for Lure Field Trials. For a small fee, this booklet provides you with much greater detail on the oration of field trials and the various rules, practices and procedures governing the sport, as well as the ASFA's Constitution and By-Laws.

Contact the Regional Directo r to find out about clubs in your region, and subscribing to FAN. National Greyhound Association: R.R. #3 Box 111B Abilene, KS 67410 (913) 263-4660 American Kennel Club 5580 Centerview Drive Raleigh, NC 27606 (919) 233-9767

Entry fees vary from club to club. It usually runs from $8.00 - $15.00 per dog per day. Some clubs offer price breaks if you enter more than one dog or pre-enter (submit your entry before the day of the trial).