Imagine this… you the Receiver standing at the end of a fenced in 100 yard course behind the timers.
Your dog at the start line with the Releaser holding them back as they eye the Rabbit (plastic bag).
And then they are Off “Tally Ho!” says the Huntmaster as your dog runs chasing the lure to arrive in your arms. Yes we all know wheatens are adorable and cuddly and beautiful..but they are also very smart high energy dogs who need exercise and love working with their owners!
Meet FAST CAT…something your high energy healthy athletic dog can do naturally relying on his instincts. Chase that Bunny! FAST CAT is a relatively new dog sport. Everyone wants to declare their dog as the fastest in their breed. First offered as a titling event by AKC in 2016, FAST CAT has grown rapidly in popularity.
If you want to participate in dog sports but don’t want to spend the time or energy with lots of training, this sport is for you because it relies on the dog’s natural prey instinct to chase a lure. CAT stands for Coursing Ability Test, a timed 100 yard dash where dogs run one at a time. The dog’s time to complete the 100 yard dash is converted into MPH. Dogs earn points based on their handicapped speed. Titles are awarded when a dog has accumulated a given number of points.
Dogs may run without a collar or wear any type of flat collar. Collars should be snug. Clips or rubber bands may be used to keep the Wheaten Fall from impairing vision. When instructed, you bring your dog to the Release area. If you are alone, ask if the club will release your dog for you and then trot down to the other end and become the receiver. After your dog is released (Tally Ho!) you can either quietly watch them chase the lure running towards you, or yell encouragement as you desire. Whatever works better for your dog. Tip: If you are alone, bring an extra leash with you as yours will still be at the start line!
TOP 20 DOGS BY BREED BY YEAR. AKC rankings show the top 20 fastest times in MPH by breed for a calendar year. To find the fastest CAT times in a Breed, check here: https://www.apps.akc.org/apps/fastcat_ranking/index.cfm
To participate in FAST CAT, your dog should be in excellent health, be at least 12 months of age, and have an AKC number. Before your dog can enter each event, they will get a brief inspection for fitness and lameness, and also to make sure the Bitches are not in season.
To find an event near you, Go to the AKC site and look under FCAT (Performance events) https://webapps.akc.org/event-search/#/search At the event you can check and see it they are offering practice runs, which are inexpensive and just for learning. The first couple of times your dog will just be figuring out what is going on and these probably won’t be their fastest times.
Please remember to only do FAST CAT if your dog is 100% physically sound and healthy. Also like any other athlete, your dog should regularly be getting excerise including running and conditioning work. Remember to warm up your dog and also cool down just like any other athlete would do. Walking can help with their cool down and also stretches like the Wheaten Greetin and Play Bow. If you are not sure, make an appointment with a veterinarian to get an opinion.
Will your dog like FAST CAT? If they have what is called “prey drive” I would think so. This is a natural instinctive trait in the dog to find, pursue, and capture prey.
By Susie Blackledge