Lure Coursing Setup

[DaveS]

I'm in the process of building a system for our local greyhound group.  I've acquired the motor, drive pulley, string and battery.  I still need to order a couple of pulleys for the end of the course and have a source.  Several YouTube videos have been helpful.  This will be a continuous loop system as opposed to pulling the lure out and then winding it in.  The lure will be a white plastic grocery bag (no live animals will be harmed).  Has anybody here ever put one of these systems together?  There are commercial systems available that cost $350 and more.  I figure I can put a system together for about. $125.  Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[macoduck]

DaveS, have you been to any lure coursing events? You'll learn more there than you will be by YouTube.

I'm not sure about where in NC you can lure course, but I can ask some SC friends for you.

Cautionary tale: Several years ago there was a guy in coastal NC who thought he knew all about lure coursing though he'd never done it before, just watched videos. Bought used equipment, set up in an enclosed field with cable going around (not close to) some trees in the center. Initially did greyhounds only, then as a fundraiser, let any kind of dog run. On the day there was a large crowd with many children in attendance, his own greyhound, running solo, ran head first into a tree in the center of the field and snapped her neck. That was the end of that group's local idiot's lure coursing.

It can be fun, and there are many professional competitions, but those folks know all the safety risks, regarding inuries and heat-related overexertion.

[DaveS]

The local greyhound group typically rents an open field that is fenced.  But the only activity has been some straight line sprints with one person releasing the dog and the owner standing about 200 feet away calling it.  Not very effective or rewarding.  Last time it was a ball field in a city park and obviously there were no trees present.  It makes sense not to set up a course with obstacles present as the dogs will probably be so focused on the lure that they don't see anything else.

Edited August 6, 2020 by DaveS

[greysmom]

At our LGRA events the lure is a squawker, covered in fabric fur, attached to some white plastic bags, so it both makes a sound and has visual interest.

If you haven't been to a professional lure coursing event I would urge you to consider it, even if you need to drive a few hours to get there.  The AKC website or ASFA may also have suggestions for proper courses and set ups.

I know the lure coursing group here sets them up so that they can run both ways - forwards and backwards - I guess so they can get twice the racing out of a single set up.

[MP_the4pack]

Walk the course closely.  Make sure there are no ankle breaking ruts.

[DaveS]

2 hours ago, greysmom said:

At our LGRA events the lure is a squawker, covered in fabric fur, attached to some white plastic bags, so it both makes a sound and has visual interest.

If you haven't been to a professional lure coursing event I would urge you to consider it, even if you need to drive a few hours to get there.  The AKC website or ASFA may also have suggestions for proper courses and set ups.

I know the lure coursing group here sets them up so that they can run both ways - forwards and backwards - I guess so they can get twice the racing out of a single set up.

I've seen the squawker used and it seems to work.  The system I'm setting up is two-way or triangular; the string is a continuous loop.  It eliminates the need to pull the lure out after winding it in.  I saw one setup that involved the use of a fishing reel to wind the lure back in.  That's not for me.

[cleptogrey]

Don't do it yourself. Contact a club and see if you can hire their runner and equipment for the day or weekend.  If a dog shatters a leg you will never forgive yourself. 

Remember many dogs are NOT in shape to course. GIG  did a fun straight run the last day. A speed gun was used and a simple recall. 

Yup, now I know why I was knocked over on recalls so many times. Felix clocked 38mph!

[DaveS]

Despite the cautionary comments, we ran the lure coursing system this morning with no damage to any grey.  There were a couple of technical problems with the equipment but I can fix them.  Biggest problem was that the grass was wet from a heavy dew and the lure (plastic bag) started dragging and slowing the system so that a couple of dogs caught it.  Oh well.  And then when one dog ran into the motor/battery drive unit, a wire was pulled out of a connector and killed the system.  We finished up doing straight like runs with a squawker and all the pups had fun.  Lesson learned: don't do this on wet grass.

[greypuppyluv]

I'm another cautionary person suggesting you attend lure coursing events before continuing to do this. There is more to being a lure operator than just running the lure. You need to know how to always keep it in front of the dog so it doesn't catch it, know when to slow it down so dogs don't get their legs sliced by the line, and always check the field for holes. Dogs running it need to be in shape, not just going for a walk every day shape. There are dogs running in sanctioned events that get injured so be prepared for that. People always need to hold on tight to the leashes of their dogs that are not running because if a dog gets loose, it can cause problems on the field. People running their dogs need to know to walk the dog afterward to cool it down. 

 

There's so much more to running a lure machine than running a lure machine. 

[cleptogrey]

i just went to a great lure coursing event in NJ. it's all about the person running the lure- the lure master. and they need to be a master- wow!!! 

[DaveS]

Folks, thanks for your words of caution, but you're making me a bit paranoid.  I'm probably going to be the Lure Master since I designed and built the system.  I've tested it (without dogs) with about 275' of string and after timing the lure have calculated the speed at about 36 mph.  I can't make it faster with the current drive pulley but with the push button on-off switch I can prevent the lure from getting too far out in front of the dogs.  Our fall fun run is scheduled for Halloween afternoon at a baseball field in a city park.  I'm certain there are no holes nor obstacles in the fenced field.

The local greyhound rescue group will reimburse me for the cost of the equipment, now at about $100.  I told the head of the group not to pay me until we were satisfied it works properly.  So I guess until then, I'm the responsible owner.  From a liability standpoint, I don't think there's any more risk than the straight line runs with a squawker that the group has been doing for years.  Fingers crossed.  I'll post pictures or a video if the events goes as scheduled.

[DaveS]

The Triangle Greyhound Society held our fall fun run on Halloween afternoon at a baseball field in a city park.  The weather was perfect and about 40 greys attended with owners in tow.  We had a raffle the netted about $800, a costume contest, a straight line run, and a lure coursing run.

Weather was perfect and the ball field was a mix of infield gravel and beautiful outfield turf.  Almost like a golf green.  I set up a course that was about 450 feet in length and most of the dogs ran about three laps so they definitely got their chance to stretch their legs.  I had made a few tweaks to the equipment since the last event and it paid off.

Here's a link to the event.  The Corgi in the last photos is my wife's dog, Phoebe.  She's the unofficial mascot of the greyhound group and loves to join in their games.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1VzRC5guao3Ro55JoDB2DZ6KV77wNgykO

[macoduck]

DaveS, is that corgi wearing a tutu? 

[DaveS]

Yes, she's wearing a tutu.  It was from the costume party that was held prior to the running events.

[Lizziiee]

Do you have instructions on how you made it? 

[DaveS]

Lizz, i"m not able to post photos on this site but if you send me a private message with your email address, I'll send you photos and a list of parts.  Dave