First training in Lure Coursing. Our Experience

We arrived exactly on time. Or even a minute late. We still saw many basenjis, which means that the previous group was still running. We went to the organiser’s tent to register, pay the participation fee, as well as sign for compliance with the rules. It’s nice that they were already included in the training information, and it was possible to get acquainted with them in advance.

We understood that we will have to wait. I put on a sweater on for Vētra and went for a walk. Weather was a mix between autumn and spring. We walked until we have managed to freeze and went to warm up in the car. I think I was very lucky that in the first run Vētra was put in the group after the basenjis – so we knew very clearly when the previous group ended and ours started.

Time had passed and the first round of our group’s race had arrived! A flock of whippets gathered at the starting point. Vētra did not “communicate” with other dogs too much, but it was no wonder since she is the main representative of animals at home and communicates mostly only with her people.

While the first whippets were running their first runs, I lifted Vētra in my hands to see from above what is happening on the track. Seeing the spectacle, Vētra began to manifest herself vocally – between whining, howling and barking. Yes, coursing is really “in the blood” for sighthounds!

It was our turn. I removed sweater and collar from Vētra, and held her so that she didn’t start prematurely. For the first time, Vētra was running alone, not in pairs with a running partner. The training organiser moved the mechanical lure a bit to create interest. The hare started to be pulled and START is given! At first, Vētra did not run – I had to run with her for more than ten meters. Then the hare was pulled faster – and then Vētra chased after it herself and successfully ran the whole distance. Great! 🙂

We learnt that there are usually two runs in training, between which a half-hour interval is desirable. We went for a short walk to calm down the heartbeat of Vētra after the race, and then rested a little in the car before the next race.

We arrive in the area before the start. An owner of another whippet offered to run our dogs along the track together. Since Vētra was not very experienced, I doubted if it was a good idea, but I agreed. Hoping that Vētra would take as an example what the other dog was doing and started the run better.

The start was given and both whippets went off on the track. The second whippet took the lead. As the track is quite large, I did not see part of it from the starting point. After a while at the finish I sew a hare, the other whippet, but Vētra wasn’t there! I called and asked the lure operator what had happened. It turns out, in the middle of the track, when Vētra realised that she could not keep up with the other dog, she simply threw in the towel. 🙂 🙂 Smarty pants. Victory or nothing! 🙂