|  | | | Lure coursing comes naturally to these speedy and smart small sight hounds! Zaragata de Viamonte is the first Podengo Pequeno titled in lure coursing in the US |
Lure coursing is a fun sporting event for Podengos and their owners. The formal excuse for all this fun is that the simulated hunt helps us to test our coursing dogs for the basic instincts we hope to maintain in the sighthound breeds -- the instinct to chase game. The more simple reason for participating in this sport, and for many people the primary reason, is the excitement of watching the intensity, speed, agility, endurance and beauty of these dogs as they run.
It's important to bear in mind that the chase is instinctive to Podengos. We cannot teach them how to do it, nor can we force them to do it. They do it because the want to. In fact, when you see a coursing hound run, you will see that they absolutely LOVE doing it!
The two most visible open field coursing organizations in the United States are the American Sighthound Field Association (ASFA) and the American Kennel Club (AKC). Each has their own set of rules for judging and awarding titles to the better dogs, but we have never known a dog to care which organization the are running for, just that the lure goes and they are allowed to chase it.
Coursing uses an artificial lure, open field, and judges who evaluate ability, speed, endurance, agility, and follow. Titles include:
ASFA titles: FCh
AKC titles: Junior Courser (JC), Senior Courser (SC), and Master Courser (MC) Field Championship (FC) Lure Courser Excellent (LCX).
The upside of coursing is the dogs are kept in good healthy shape by doing something that comes naturally and that they enjoy.
The super fast little Podengo Pequenos compete with may breeds in lure coursing. Some are Afghan Hounds, Basenjis, Borzois, Chart Polskis, Cirneco dell'Etnas, Greyhounds, Ibizan Hounds, Irish Wolfhounds, Italian Greyhounds, Pharaoh Hounds, Rhodesian Ridgebacks, Salukis, Scottish Deerhounds, Sloughis, Thai Ridgebacks, and Whippets.
This section of our website is growing as is participation of the Pequenos in the sport. They are determined, agile, fast and fantastic!
ENJOY!
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