Age?

[Vanessa]

Is it a good idea to bring a pup to Lure Coursing? I am interested in this sport and not to mention I love the fact that it is a great way to make your B tired.
What is a good age to introduce this and are there any places around San Francisco/Bay Area?

[ChaseandZahrasmom]

Vanessa,

I took Zahra for the first time a few weeks ago. Since she is only 6 months they only let her run a short portion of the course but this gives her the opportunity to learn. Our club said that she will have to be at least a year old to compete.

Jenn

[Vanessa]

Hi Jenn,
I thought there would be age requirements. Thats great that they let Zahra run at such a young age. How did she do??? Did she learn quickly? Do you plan on continuing??

[ChaseandZahrasmom]

Vanessa,

She was so funny, the first time she ran she was going pretty good and then she drifted off course and pee'd, then came right back to the course and continued! It was so funny!

They didn't let her run very far since she is so little but they let her run enough to get her interested in it. She really got interested when I Puggle Chase ran, the second time she was really into it.

It was also very neat to see other Basenji's running it, I met two others in the club. It really gave me and idea of how big she is going to get, I think Zahra is almost at the height and now she is starting to fill out and get the wrinkles on her head more.

I actually joined the club this past week. My husband is getting ready to deploy and I look forward to doing this with the dogs, it will get me out and get me socialized (guess that socialization is not just for them!). If Zahra doesn't seem to take to it after this year then we will see whether we will continue but she seems interested now.

Some of the club members told me to let her chase around a white plastic bag, I know I am going to look crazy running around the park by my house with a white plastic bag on a string and her chasing me! LOL!

[lvoss]

Dogs can not compete until they are 1 year old but they can come and practice at the end of the day. I have brought my puppies to lure trials with me as young as 12 weeks old. At that age, I just want them to get used to the sights and sounds of a trial. It is a great socialization for the puppies. They even got to chase the lure a few feet, just to introduce them to it.

There are several lure events coming up in Northern California over the next few months. This month there is lure coursing in Wheatland which is North of Sacramento and in Hollister, in November it will be in Oakland, in December in Livermore at the same site that the Basenji Nationals will be held next fall.

[Vanessa]

@lvoss:

Dogs can not compete until they are 1 year old but they can come and practice at the end of the day. I have brought my puppies to lure trials with me as young as 12 weeks old. At that age, I just want them to get used to the sights and sounds of a trial. It is a great socialization for the puppies. They even got to chase the lure a few feet, just to introduce them to it.

There are several lure events coming up in Northern California over the next few months. This month there is lure coursing in Wheatland which is North of Sacramento and in Hollister, in November it will be in Oakland, in December in Livermore at the same site that the Basenji Nationals will be held next fall.

How often do these events happen? I would love to attend one!

[lvoss]

There is usually about 1 weekend a month that there are lure trials planned somewhere in Northern California. Some months there are more and some months there may be none. I will probably be at the trials in Oakland the weekend of November 18 and 19 at least one day. I am not sure about the ones coming up in the next couple of weeks.

[Vanessa]

@lvoss:

There is usually about 1 weekend a month that there are lure trials planned somewhere in Northern California. Some months there are more and some months there may be none. I will probably be at the trials in Oakland the weekend of November 18 and 19 at least one day. I am not sure about the ones coming up in the next couple of weeks.

I would love to drive up to see your dogs in action.

[kmccubbin]

I live in Alameda and would love to try my girl out at Lure Coursing. What would be the appropriate first steps? Where does one start?

[tanza]

@kmccubbin:

I live in Alameda and would love to try my girl out at Lure Coursing. What would be the appropriate first steps? Where does one start?

You can find coursing in the area by looking at the calendar of events on the following sites, www.asfa.org and www.akc.org. Also check out www.norcalbasenjis.org for Basenji related activties in the area (The Basenji Club of Northern California). Also the 2007 Basenji Club of America National specialty will be in Livermore/Pleasanton in October with the lure trial and NOTRA races in Livermore at Robertson Pk on the 13 and 14th. The next lure trial will be in Oakley July 14th with a fun run on the 15th.

How old is your Basenji? And who is your breeder? Best way to start is to come to the trial… and let your Basenji try a practice. All the clubs try and have practice after the trial is over... of course the time varies depending on the number of dogs entered in the trial, but usually if you go about 1 or 2:00pm you will be there in time for a practice.....

[kmccubbin]

Thanks very much for the help. What is a "fun run"? Is that an informal "try it out" kind of deal?
Tallulah is 5 and she was bred by Bush Babies.

[tanza]

@kmccubbin:

Thanks very much for the help. What is a "fun run"? Is that an informal "try it out" kind of deal?
Tallulah is 5 and she was bred by Bush Babies.

My oldest male way bred by Terri Gavaletz, Bushbabies… s.... fun run is that they have a trial but just for fun... still would have to enter, but entry will be small, so they will have practice after... just like a regular trial....

You should talk to Terri about coursing... Who is Tallulah sire and dam?... I am guessing that Baby P (Terri's black and white girl) is her Mom... and sired by Piper?....

[tanza]

By the way, my Boy, OJ will be 16 on Septermber 16th… he is the last living offspring of his sire.....

[kmccubbin]

@tanza:

My oldest male way bred by Terri Gavaletz, Bushbabies… s.... fun run is that they have a trial but just for fun... still would have to enter, but entry will be small, so they will have practice after... just like a regular trial....

You should talk to Terri about coursing... Who is Tallulah sire and dam?... I am guessing that Baby P (Terri's black and white girl) is her Mom... and sired by Piper?....

Small world! I know almost nothing about the particulars of breeding, so forgive me if I use any terms wrong.
Tallulah's sire was Bushbabies Red Rider (red/white) and her dam Palm Desert Diamond Sparkle (black/white).

[tanza]

@kmccubbin:

Small world! I know almost nothing about the particulars of breeding, so forgive me if I use any terms wrong.
Tallulah's sire was Bushbabies Red Rider (red/white) and her dam Palm Desert Diamond Sparkle (black/white).

OH yes, I know Ryder well, forgot about the breeding that Joanne Dutton did (she owns Sparkle)…. Ryder is a sweetie... I showed him to his conformation championship for Terri....

[dmcarty]

Whew Pat when I saw the thread for age - I thought you were asking our ages not talking about dog ages.

[lvoss]

Here are pictures of Rally's pups trying a puppy lure practice at the beginning of June. They were just shy of 6 months.