Lure coursing

In Europe, as well as the rest of the world, the course length can be over 1000 meters, and often incorporates some obstacles or jumps.

The course must have a minimum number of turns in order to simulate prey (the jack-rabbit or hare) changing direction in a chase.

Some breeds do, however, require lure play at a very early age to encourage them to follow an artificial object with enthusiasm.

Dogs at an earlier age do require a moderate but essential introduction to the artificial chase to: stimulate their normal mental and physical development, to prepare and improve their capacity to perform physically with enthusiasm without hurting themselves - as is the case with the mutual, voluntary athletic play of littermates.

[citation needed] In American Sighthound Field Association (ASFA) competitions, a dog must be Certified in order to compete in the Open category of the breed.

Hounds must run jacketed in yellow, pink and blue in North America, red and white in Europe.

ASFA has also set up a Lure Coursing Instinct stake which can be run in a regular trial, for any non-sighthound dogs.

Some clubs opt to provide a Best in Event which brings Best of Breed dogs from multiple days to run off.

Judges will deduct a pre-slip penalty of up to 10 points for the early release of a hound in a course.

In American Kennel Club trials, hounds are judged for overall ability (10), follow (10), speed (10), agility (10), and endurance (10) for a maximum score of 50 points.

Using these systems in international trials is also allowed, as long as the qualifying criteria are within the general FCI framework of rules.

[1] At international lure coursing trials, the CACIL (Certificat d'Aptitude au Championnat International des Courses de Lévriers) is given to the first placed sighthound of each breed and sex, provided that it has achieved at least two thirds of the possible total points.

The FCI European Lure Coursing Championships took place on 6 and 7 June 2015 in Helsinki, Finland.

[10] For ASFA, hounds must be registered with an ASFA approved registry, such as the American Kennel Club, National Greyhound Association, the Federation Cynologique Internationale, an ASFA-recognized foreign registry or, in the case of Salukis, a critique registration number from the Society for the Perpetuation of Desert Bred Salukis.

The Italian Greyhound, although considered a Toy Breed in AKC is now eligible for Lure Coursing as the CKC recognizes it as a Sighthound.

In Europe, international lure coursing trials are held under the auspices of the Commission for Sighthound Sport of the F.C.I.

However, they can currently not get the CACIL: Basenji, Podengo Português, Rhodesian Ridgeback, and Hortaya Borzaya may participate on national level in some European countries, but they are currently not eligible for FCI international lure coursing trials.