Thursday, September 1, 2011

Lure coursing slip leads (and a Giveaway!)

Me and the dogs headed to lure coursing practice last night. It was a bit of a debate between conformation classes with Pallo or lure coursing with both dogs, but as much as Pallo needs the stacking, standing, staying, and handling practice, lure coursing is just so much fun that it won out. Plus, there is a CAT (Coursing Ability Test) coming up next month that I'd like to take the dogs to, so I wanted to get in at least one more practice before then. For those who don't know this, AKC has opened up lure coursing to all breeds for the CAT. So if you are looking for a fun activity for your dogs, and maybe a title or two to show for it, lure coursing might be worth checking out!

Since its getting dark so much earlier nowadays, I don't have any pictures of my dogs on the course. Or any dogs on the course. But, I did make some coursing slips to try out with my dogs and used them for the first time last night. Using a slip is super easy but not super obvious on how to do it, so I thought I'd put up some pictures showing how to using a coursing slip.

First off, this is a lure coursing slip (there are many kinds out there, this is the type my club taught me to use, and which I believe is the most common type of slip). It has a wide collar area with a D ring on either side, then a narrower webbing is used for the leash.

To use the slip, you pull the narrower webbing through the first D ring partway to form a small loop.

Then loop the collar part around the dog's neck.


Pull the loop of webbing through the other D ring.

On the line, hold onto the leash with one hand, firmly, while gripping the loop with one or two fingers. When they call Tally-ho and start the lure, simply drop the loop. 

Continue holding onto the leash part, and the dog's forward momentum will pull the collar easily off, releasing them quickly and cleanly after the lure. Don't pull the leash as the dog is released, as you will then swing the collar around when it comes loose, smacking yourself or someone else nearby with it, which hurts. Any questions on how to use this style of coursing slip? Feel free to ask in the comments and I will clarify if possible.

While you don't need to use a slip like this to run the CAT, it makes releasing the dog fast and easy. Plus, I like having the "proper gear" even when it isn't strictly required. (Probably why I have bins full of dog stuff for all occasions.) 

I'm even planning on using this slip to release Koira for flyball, since it is so fast and easy. She likes running naked the best, and I find the slip easy to use and prefer it over the standard flyball collars or harnesses but find Koira way too slippery to hold only by her shoulders, chest, or hips. Plus, I think it will help her to run away from me faster, since she will practice running away full speed when released from the slip for lure coursing, which might (I can hope, right?) increase her speeds to the box for flyball.

Think this coursing slip is nifty? Want one of your own, for lure coursing, flyball, or some other genius plan? Maybe you should leave a comment and enter my 100 Follower Giveaway! 

How the Giveaway will work:

You can enter once per new post by leaving a comment. On Friday of next week (the 9th), I will assign a number to each comment, in the order they have been received. I'll plug the numbers into a random generator, which will pick the winning comment! I'll announce the winner, who will have a week to reply with their mailing address (open only to continental residents of the United States and Canada).

The winner will get to choose between a lure coursing lead, made with their choice of colors and size, or a 4 foot bungee leash, in choice of colors.

The bungee leash looks like this:

It has a 1 foot bungee section that extends up to 2 feet. The bungee in this leash reduces shock from the dog abruptly hitting the end of the leash and also keeps the extra loose leash from dragging on the ground or getting tangled when your dog is walking nicely. I like using these when biking or jogging with the dogs to reduce the shock and to avoid having to stop and untangle me or the dog from the leash.

So, start commenting away! 

23 comments:

  1. K-Koira, do you mind if I ask where you are located (I am wondering if it is road trip distance!)? I LOVED doing lure coursing with Bug and better yet - he loved it. I definitely want to pursue, at a minimum, his CA. He has moderate HD, bi-laterally, and while he was tight afterward he was not *sore*. I am most concerned with his body's longevity so I won't do anything competitive that leaves him stiff and sore. If being a dog and hiking, etc leaves him sore on occasion that is okay.

    I really like the sounds of the slip lead and hope I win it! If not, where would I find one to buy?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Just re-read the post and saw that you made the slips! Cool.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Interesting. Do you find that doing lure coursing increases prey drive in your dogs?

    Cheers :-)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Oh fun! I'm always a fan of a giveaway ;)

    I am keeping my eyes open for a CAT test here, hoping that someone will run one. I'd love to try with Steve, see if he'd do it. He loves to chase stuff.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Jules- I'm way off in Oregon, which I think is about as far away as possible while being in the same country. Check out the Gazehounds of New England, they might have info on practices, CATs, and coursing slips available near you!

    AES- I haven't noticed any increase in prey drive in my dogs since starting lure coursing, except toward white plastic bags, which now make them go bonkers. My cat and neighborhood cats are just as safe as always, and both my dogs will call off a chase easily.

    Katie- Hope you find a lure coursing club in your area, its a lot of fun. The herding dogs are pretty funny sometime though.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Bummer! Thanks fo rth etip about Gazehounds of NE. I will check it out.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hi Y'all,

    Just wanted to say enjoyed your post.

    My Human admires your talent, making the leads. She says she has four thumbs on each hand and no fifth finger. BOL

    Sounds to me like lots of fun.

    Y'all come by now,
    Hawk aka BrownDog

    ReplyDelete
  8. Those are too cool!! Count us in!!

    AROOOOOF!
    Boondocks & The Love Shack Pack

    ReplyDelete
  9. This is very exciting! I wanted to let you know that you've inspired me to look into flyball or lure classes in my area! I think Skye would love to try out either, and I'll see which she likes!

    ReplyDelete
  10. I went to a lure course last year and had the most fun ever! You know, us terriers were breed to catch those furry things!

    Wyatt

    ReplyDelete
  11. The slip lead looks like a great idea! Well done on being able to make it yourself.

    As usual, I live in the wrong part of the world to enter a giveaway or contest:( Never mind, congratulations to the eventual winner!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Awesome! Thanks for the great giveaway! That bungee leash is so cool - I've never seen anything like it before!

    I've never tried lure coursing and I have only seen a few videos but it does look like a lot of fun. I'll have to ask around to see if there is something like that available in my area.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Roxy and Molly would Love to do try it out. Roxy a a beagle jack russel ix and Molly is a Beagle. Thanks for the chance!
    katielynnmitchell@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  14. I'd like the bungee leash to try with my dogs. I hope to start biking with them.. at least one of them, the youngest.. soon so it should help like you said. Thanks for the giveaway and congrats on 100 followers!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Lure coursing looks like so much fun! And both those leashes are great - I like the colors in the first one

    ReplyDelete
  16. Thank you so much for following my blog, Doggy Hell and Back! Your blog look equally as awesome! Neat giveaway too! I've followed you back and look forward to new blog entries! =)

    ReplyDelete
  17. This is a very cool leash. We are always looking for innovative items. Also, we are working with a dog rescue and always looking for great opportunities to provide those dogs with anything "something extra"

    ReplyDelete
  18. thanks for the giveaway. My dogs play flyball too. One is competing the other is learning (I dont know if she will ever compete but she has done a few full runs now!). My competing flyball dog, Raster, also does agility once a week just for fun and my other dog Pixel will be starting nosework classes at the end of the money :D We are also probably going to try dock diving with Raster next year he has been practicing in my inlaws pool :D

    ReplyDelete
  19. Gorgeous slip leads! I wish I could do lure coursing with Lola, but it's only open to sighthounds and sighthound mixes... and unfortunately I don't think I could pass her off as a sighthound mix! There's terrier racing, but none nearby, which sucks.

    I guess I have a lot to live vicariously through you guys.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Hoagie and Trixie are up for a challenge :) these look great! thanks for linking up your giveaway.

    mysocalblog at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  21. I had never heard of luring before. The lure leash looks like it will make it super easy (as long as you don't pull the leash and hit someone, like you said). If I won, I would definitely want the bungee leash since it seems like it would make walking a lot easier and I wouldn't get so tangled like I seem to do.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Oops, forgot my email.

    annaisabanana08[at]yahoo[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  23. Hello, first time on the blog here... saw a comment linked to Lure coursing so I had to check it out. This is something I have been dying to try with Luna as I know she would be a natural. She has a ton of prey drive already and loves to chase. I have looked around for somewhere local but never can seem to find anything. I'm out in MD, VA area. Any search terms or words I should try?
    Anna
    www.akginspiration.com

    ReplyDelete