AKC Coursing Ability Test
It is called a CAT - Coursing Ability Test. Most dogs need to run a 600 yard course and maintain interest in the lure for the run. They have 2 minutes to complete the run. To get your title (CA - Coursing Ability) the dog needs to get 3 qualifying runs under at least 2 judges. The Greater Twin Cities Afghan Hound Club offered the 1st test in Minnesota yesterday. People drove from a long ways - us at a 2 hour drive were not the farthest - one lady came from IL - (6 hours) and another from Des Moines IA (4 hours). They offered 2 tests - 2 judges - and one followed the other. 1st run was in the AM, then we had a lunch break, then the 2nd was after lunch. There were 50 dogs in the AM test, 47 in the PM test! They were pleased, as it's new and they were afraid no one would enter!! They had to turn entries away. Chewie LOVED it! He had to stay crated away from the course, as he was so excited by the lure and the other dogs running (and that's rare for him, he usually stays well behaved no matter what!) He ran his runs in about 50 seconds - that's fast for 600 yards  That's 548.64 meters for the metric system.He even grabbed me a souvenir piece of the baggie (lure) when he finished the 1st run.  The hunt master said he put the sight hounds to shame with his focus, speed and intensity What a great compliment that was!! It was a nice cool fall day - it was cloudy and in the 40's F (8C). Cool for the humans, but the dogs were LOVING it! Here we are after our tests with our Qualifying ribbons:  So now we just need one more test to get our title. Sadly, that won't be until spring here.  I had a friend taking pics and video, they also had an event photographer...so I will add more pics and video later when I get them. Probably take several days to get some, a week for the photographer ones.  I highly recommend this event if you ever have a chance to enter. It is fun for your own dog, but amazingly beautiful (flat out running dogs) and hilarious for some - as some dogs don't run, or stop and pee/poop, or make their handlers get out there and get them back on focus. I was lucky - all I had to do was stand at the start/finish line and let Chewie do his thing! Even though it was cold out, most of us stayed outside all day just to watch the dogs run! |
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 Way to go Chewie! That sounds like loads of fun! Great job team Chewie!  Cindy |
Oh, Simone would have been a natural in her youth! Even today she keys on movement, but just can't get it done  Hooray for Chewie for bringing home the prize! Literally. |
 Chewie you rock!!! Oh, and Dawn you rock too!! |
| Congratulations!!!! I can't wait to see video. I have always wanted to try this with Harry. You will have to clue us in. |
SheepieMommy wrote: Congratulations!!!! I can't wait to see video. I have always wanted to try this with Harry. You will have to clue us in. Harry would love it...just the joy of RUNNING full speed! The info is on the AKC website. There is a page for coursing ability test - just type it in the search option. They aren't going to integrate the tests onto the events page (heard through the grapevine - as they plan on updating the AKC site in the near future), but need to search on a pdf page that they update. Again, you find it on the CAT information page. They also list all the results there too. It's fun - I highly recommend it! |
| Congrats to Team Chewie! It sounds like the whole day was a lot of fun. Thank you for sharing you day. |
| Congrats Chewie and Dawn! You guys rocked this! Robin |
Way to Go!  I am so out of the loop on all these kind of things. I wish more happened around here for me to learn. Whether or not we have a "show'able" OES, it would be fun to be a part of it. Some day.  Jacqui |
jleefoss wrote: Way to Go! I am so out of the loop on all these kind of things. I wish more happened around here for me to learn. Whether or not we have a "show'able" OES, it would be fun to be a part of it. Some day. Jacqui It is totally doable. Now that the PAL and mixed breed registries are up and running, EVERY dog and their human can participate in every single AKC activity except the conformation (breed) ring. We had everything from show champions to rescue and mixed breed dogs participating in the coursing test. It was a wonderful dog day. |
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