Specific breed or type sports and titling

These dogs were grabbing and yanking the line with the lure

These dogs were grabbing and yanking the line with the lure, I guess it threw the puli more than once? It happened at the ABLSA events, it's very possible their set up is different than AKC.

So, after the run, when they "catch" the lure? I saw more sighthounds try to "catch" the lure at the end of a course than non-sighthounds. My dogs pretty much give up once the lure stops, though they may grab the lure once. When they grab it and it doesn't pull away, it turns boring.

Yes, when it stopped or they caught it they would grab and yank, my mals would do it as well. I'm not sure what that says about the chase instinct but the officials were scolding the lure runner for not keeping it away and yelling at the owners for not catching their dogs efficiently enough I would like to try the CAT at the Belgian Malinois western specialty but that will be my first AKC, I've only seen and done the off organizations.

Okay, first off I've seen photos/heard of kelpies at USBCHA trials, which are predominantly border collies. I also know of someone who runs shelties. Second of all, it is not impossible to get a dog registered on merit, which is open to non-papered border collies (if the dog gets registered, it's not a non-BC). Dogs have passed it and gotten ROM. Is it hard? Yes. It could be considered too hard, but it is not impossible.

These dogs were grabbing and yanking the line with the lure, I guess it threw the puli more than once? It happened at the ABLSA events, it's very possible their set up is different than AKC.

Well, I don't have any of the blogs, etc, that Adrianne was asking for, but since we're all discussing it, I'll wade in.

I do the CAT test with my non-coursing breed, and I'm okay with my dogs not being allowed to compete in the true coursing. It's a safety thing, and a fairness thing. The CAT test has less sharp angles, and the dogs run separately, both of which are hugely safer. (I talked to someone who knew of a Whippet that died during a coursing event when it was T-boned by another dog.) Also, in coursing competitively, the dogs are matched up by breed. Borzoi run against Borzoi, Basenjis run against Basenjis, etc. How would you do that fairly if you were allowing all breeds and mixes?

There is an all-breed coursing organization that has competitive coursing, but I'd be a little uncomfortable with it because of the safety angle. I know when I run Tess, she's going to be only interested in chasing the bag. What's my guarantee that the other dog out there is going to be the same?

I do kind of wish that there was a "higher" level of titling, in that the CAT test is pass/fail, which is great, but it would be nice if Tess' superlative performance could win her a little more than a dog that just barely scrapes by. However, that could be complex to set up, and might not meet a lot of support, so I'm okay with it how it is.

I wish that some of the other sports were open to dogs that can do the activity. A lot of non-herding breeds will herd, for instance, so I wish they could title in that if they can do the work. Most dogs won't fit down an earthdog tunnel, but if they will, and will do the work, why not let them? I was always sad that my Tully didn't get to play that game, which she would have loved. And I have a friend with a Miniature Bull Terrier who is bigger than Pirate, and does earthdog, so the "won't fit" argument doesn't hold. Some of the rules about which breeds can do a certain activity are sort of arbitrary.

Most likely, if herding, gundog events, etc, were open to all breeds, there wouldn't be many off-breeds participating anyway. But I still wish that those who wanted to, could. I will say though, that I don't find myself caring as much these days, with so many things available to all dogs.

I guess I don't see how your dog would get hurt much more than just running around without a lure to chase? .

A dog that is seriously coursing is running much harder than a dog will when just running around. And even just running around, I cringe at the things my dogs do when running together.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNhbhq0-5Xc

Specifically, watch from about 4:05.

My biggest concern if running my dogs with another dog at a coursing event wouldn't be the potential for injury from crashing into each other, though. It would be the fact that I don't know those dogs, and how serious they are about chasing. Tess will not redirect off the lure, but what if the other dog does? What if it decides that little black dog would be easier to catch than the stupid lure? Sighthounds have been bred for centuries to run together, not all breeds have that.

It's no big deal, we have the CAT, and I'm happy with it.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but that video is of LGRA racing. Their lure not only has a fluttering bag, but also has a squawker... much more prey-like than what they use in AKC. LGRA requires the use of muzzles.

I would worry about redirection, especially with breeds that haven't been breed to "hunt" in this manner. But IMO redirection is something the sighthound people have to consider as well. (Pssst sighthound folks on this board! Is that correct? )

In regards to both the CAT and higher level lure coursing being the same do those who can only get CAT titles feel slighted? I mean if you are doing the same exact runs, why not get the same titles? If not, why is this okay?

In regards to both the CAT and higher level lure coursing being the same do those who can only get CAT titles feel slighted? I mean if you are doing the same exact runs, why not get the same titles? If not, why is this okay?