Chasing a plastic bag is fun!

Bonnie, a muscular golden retriever, limped into the exam room, her head bobbing when her lame foreleg hit the floor. Bonnie’s owner, Sue, explained that the injury was the result of a vigorous session of lure coursing. My quizzical expression brought a crash course on the subject of lure coursing from Sue, an avid dog enthusiast. I was intrigued; I had to observe this madness for myself!

I finally got the chance to do that a couple of weekends ago. It was the grand opening of a series of monthly events named AIM (Auss-In-Motion), sponsored by ASRM, the Australian Shepherd Rescue Midwest. It was a beautiful day in Libertyville, where the event was held on five picturesque acres of fenced-in private property. The $5 fee bought your tail-wagging friend two sprints around the course and supported the rescue. 

A lure course consists of a series of pulleys that are staked to the ground and arranged in a zigzag pattern to simulate the unpredictability of chasing a live animal. A motor-driven cord pulls the “prey,” typically a plastic grocery bag or small pelt of fur, along the course, which is usually 600 to 1,000 yards long.  The operator at the AIM event manipulated the lure to make it more enticing for newbies, while veterans needed no persuasion. He gave the handler a cue to release the dog, who then chased the bag around the course. The operator controlled the speed of the lure, so even short-legged dogs could participate.  

Sighthounds, such as greyhounds, have an innate drive to chase prey, and lure coursing was developed so they could satisfy that urge in a safe environment. In the United States, it started out as a competitive event. Two organizations, the American Sighthound Field Association (ASFA) and the American Kennel Club (AKC), sanction the competitions. The list of qualifying breeds is restricted to sighthounds.

But why limit the fun to sighthounds? Could the drive that incites your terrier to chase squirrels and kids on bicycles be diverted to dashing after a plastic bag on a pulley? The answer, it turns out, is yes! At some point, dog lovers realized that many breeds cherish the chase. In 2011, the AKC launched the Coursing Ability Test, a less-intense event open to all dogs registered with the AKC or with AKC Canine Partners. And many similar recreational events, such as Auss-In-Motion, have been born across the country. 

The preponderance of dogs at the Libertyville event were Australian shepherds, but there were also border collies, golden retrievers, a boxer, a puggle, and other pure and mixed breeds. 

Some were veteran coursers, and “lure-wise” (savvy enough to cut corners):

Others had to be coaxed to give chase. Still others decided that it was just too much work!

A few were over the top with enthusiasm; this border collie really “killed” it!

This activity is not for the physically unfit; every dog was panting heavily after the exertion of the chase -- even a greyhound that ran gracefully and with apparent effortlessness. So if you’re interested in trying lure coursing, be aware of your dog’s athletic capability. Extra pounds should be lost, and your buddy should have some prior conditioning, such as daily ball chasing. Because the sharp turns can be tough on joints, waiting until your dog is over a year old is recommended.

On the day of the event, make sure you give your dog time to digest her food. That means feeding a smaller amount than normal at least four hours ahead of time, and not for an hour afterward. Take her for a cooling-down walk when she’s done. Offer water when her breathing is back to normal. The AIM event had water available, and there was even a baby pool for a post-run dip. 

As Sue found out with Bonnie, even fit, athletic dogs can sustain injury from the high speeds and sharp turns of lure coursing. But the minor risk of injury is outweighed by the fun your pooch -- whether a Chihuahua or a borzoi -- will have. If she delights in chasing things, she will love the lure!