The weekend was not a total loss, though, because thanks to my friends Jeff and Danielle, we got to go and try lure coursing. Lots of people have invited me to go before, but Mommy always says NO because she is afraid that if I get used to chasing little white things on the course I will come home and chase our white rabbits, and the chickens, and the geese, and the ducks, all of whom free-range around our property. I used to want to chase the rabbits, but Mommy and Daddy told me "NO BUNNIES", so I knew I wasn't supposed to. Since we had gone to Duluth without Daddy we had nothing to do after our conformation classes, so when Jeff invited us to go lure coursing, first Mommy said No, then she said No again, and then finally, she said we could just go and watch the other dogs run. I was very excited to see what lure coursing was since I had never done it before.
Once we got there, Mommy was careful to keep me away from where the dogs were running. I stayed in the van while she watched, but once she saw how much fun the other dogs were having she decided to walk me up by the line just to see if I acted interested. Was I ever! That line went whipping by me so fast I could hear it zinging! Then I saw the white bags on it and I just wanted to run after them and see if I could catch them- and I didn't even know what they were, but they sure looked like they were moving fast!
Finally, Mommy decided that I could try chasing the lures, but because we had not entered for that day we had to wait until the next day. We went back on Saturday after our dog showing and Mommy entered me in a Singles race. That meant that I would be running by myself instead of against any other dogs just so that Mommy could see if I would really course. Sometimes the clubs hold practice runs, but there weren't any that weekend.
Some of our friends loaned us a blue jacket for me to wear and a special lure coursing collar and a slip lead so Mommy could release me really quick at the starting line. Then we went up to the starting line with the Starter and my friend Jeff, who was telling Mommy what we were supposed to do. When the Starter was ready, she yelled "Tally Ho!" really loud, and that was Mommy's signal to let me loose. Just as the lures went past me, she let go and I raced after those lures like I was chasing the wind!
I was having so much fun! I ran and ran and ran and I watched those lures and I never stopped trying to catch them. Even when they went around corners I never let them out of my sight.
Look how strong my muscles are- I am RIPPED!I got a very good score on my first run, and then I had to wait until all the dogs had finished running and then I got to run again, only this time, I had to turn around and run the course in the opposite direction! I was so excited when I found out that I was going to get to run again that I practically dragged Mommy all the way to the starting line. She could hardly hold me while we waited for the lures. Finally, we heard those magic words, "Tally Ho!", and I was off! I ran like the wind and I just kept running all the way around that old course, right up to the finish line where Mommy was waiting for me.
This time I had to wear a pink jacket even though I tried to tell the grown-ups that pink is for girl dogs. No one was even listening to me, but pretty soon I got busy running and forgot all about the color of my jacket. I had just as much fun running opposite, and I chased those old lures right back to the Finish line.
After every dog had finished running the judges added up all of the scores, and guess what? I got Second Place! And I only missed First Place by 1 point! Mommy said that I was awesome and we can definitely do more lure coursing next time. I can hardly wait!
Mommy says the best part of all was that after we got home I never even tried to chase the rabbits, or the chickens, or the ducks, or the geese and she wasn't at all sorry that she took me lure coursing after all. She was very proud of me for being such a good, smart puppy dog.
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