NYS Canine Expo - Schohaire County Kennel Club FastCAT Try-It

AKC Fast CAT® is a timed coursing ability test (CAT) where dogs complete for the fastest time chasing a lure over a distance of 100 yards. It taps into your dog's natural prey drive, and doesn't require any specialized training, making it an ideal introduction into the world of dog sports!

The Schoharie County Kennel Club is offering Try-It runs for anyone interested in learning more about this exciting sport. While formal Fast CAT events require dogs to be over 1 year of age and registered with the AKC, Try-Its are open to all dogs! They provide owners with the opportunity to learn what to expect in competition, and allow dogs to learn the game in a non competitive environment. Some dogs may take to the lure right away, while some may need a run or two to figure it out. We will help you and your dog get ready to compete for titles! For dogs who already compete in Fast CAT and enjoy the sport, Try-Its provide additional opportunities for them to run and have fun! The Try-It runs will be 50 yards long instead of the standard 100 yards. How does Fast CAT work? The Fast CAT course is a fully fenced area consisting of a release area, a 100 yard stretch (but for this Try-It, it will be 50 yards) with times on each end, and a catch pen/run out area after the second timer. Although we can provide people to help, it is advisable that you have two people, one to release your dog, and one to catch them at the end of their run. Dogs can run only in flat collars, well fitting martingales, or collarless for safety. Collars should not have tags attached as they can get caught on the line and cause injury. Dogs run individually, and are held with their front two feet over the start line until hunt master has verified that all parties are ready to start and calls Tally Ho, at which point they are released.

A brief AKC overview of Fast CAT, including a video, is available here: https://www.akc.org/expert- advice/news/how-does-fast-cat-work-watching-akc-fastest-dog-usa/ The full AKC rules are available here: https://images.akc.org/pdf/rulebooks/AKC1812-REFCAT.pdf

The Schoharie County Kennel Club Try-Its consists of two 50 yard runs for $25, and you pick an hour time block to complete those 2 runs in. Each dog limited to 2 runs each day (4 runs over the course of both days).

PURCHASING ONE TICKET GETS YOU 2 RUNS FOR ONE DOG. For exampe if you are running 1 dog, just buy 1 ticket in whichever timeslot you would like, and you will run your dog twice in that hour. If you are running 2 different dogs, then purchase 2 tickets, ect.

Info:

Agility is constantly changing. It can be hard to keep up! The newest trends in agility include layering, more distance and different approaches to backsides seen in AKC masters and premier courses and UKI courses.

This workshop will give the handler the skills needed when handling from a distance and laying obstacles, understanding the dogs line vs. the handler’s line, how to maximize your dog’s momentum and how to cue collection vs extension from a distance. This workshop will include all obstacles.

Host or Publisher Cobleskill Agricultural Society