I have just retired a bitch because she was too smart and figured out which tracks had a carcass and which ones had a bright flourescent "bunny" that she could never catch.

She was a genuine chaser......she has knocked the lure clean off the rail a number of times she hits it so hard....but take her anywhere where she can't get a bite on and she just won't chase after the first couple of runs.

Too smart for her own good.

Lucky GAP has accepted her.

This is a prime example how you can have a handy dog who for some reason fails to chase and then gets switched over to the FOL and wins first up ...
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I would like the admins to leave my link up because it shows us all just how important it is to be able to extend the racing careers of so many Greyhounds

Kevin, it should be an option as I have said many times over a long time, but should not totally replace the non finish on lure.

Trainers should have the option to nominate for either to suit their greyhounds. There are many dogs that are not suited to the finish on lure as well as those that are.

Surely its not that hard to replace the lure during a meeting. Run all the finish on races, then switch over for the rest.

I don't support having a certain lure in use full time at a particular track. Every track should have both options and all greyhounds are catered for. Greyhounds should not have to race at a certain track just because it offers a particular type of lure.

Fairly simple solution to me and should make everyone happy, particularly the greyhounds

It's hoop lure into the pen.

It was a great run Kev but the dog ran into the catching pen so it didn't get this 'reward' that everyone bangs on about.
And Sam Decrea is a fine trainer who should get a fair bit of credit for that win.

Yes JQ Sam and Dean should get the credit as well but when you have a dog go 3 in a row and then after a few decides to have a chomp at a dog and then a few weeks later gets transferred into a new lure format and chasing scenario and wins so well you really do see just how much our Greyhounds need to be STIMULATED just like myself ...LOL

Also agree that stimulation is a must for man and beast alike.

The trainers need access to field trials on a regular basis to tune the dog up to the fact it can get a bite on

It's of no use for a trainer to put a dog with chasing issues first-up onto the FOL under race conditions and expect it to be miraculously switched on.

I believe that is asking too much of the dog.

It needs to be trained to chase under the new set of stimuli before it can be raced on it successfully

Otherwise, it may take 3 or 4 FOL races before it switches on to the fact that it has a chance of catching the lure

We have dogs in NZ that need at least 3 trials on the lure before they accept that there is actually a prize at the end.

Granted, some dogs are quicker at catching on, than others.

Yesterday he annihilated a very good field (of fellow Aussies) in one of our premiere group one events The Waterloo cup.

The chase, speed, guts and determination this dog displayed made me wonder when the Aussies's are going to make use of a process that will fix a great deal of the problems they encounter with their dogs.

There none so blind as those who will not see.

Let me speak from a distance.

The example you quote has been repeated many times by errant dogs moving across to NZ and then succeeding. It is also consistent with humans (who need some incentive to do well) and by animals which have an urge or a prey drive, especially greyhounds. A reward is essential.

GRV and GRNSW have been bashful about publishing results of trials or actual races. RQ (actually QGRA at the time) have not.

In both SA and Qld the stats showed that results were better with the FOL fewer FTC or Fighting penalties. (My personal opinion is that dogs generally get a better view of the (high) lure and so chased the lure rather than the pack).

The hooped lure generally appears to be an improvement in that it tends to encourage the field to separate a bit (this needs serious analysis which is not available).

Therefore, the use of FOL and hooped lure should be standard everywhere in Oz no exceptions. The precise detail and design appears to be less important or not important at all. After all, greyhounds are bred to chase all sorts of moving prey, not just a fluffy rabbit or a coloured handkerchief.

The last statement is supported by the fact that, while NZ has a universal FOL practice, there are two or three different lure styles in use at their seven tracks, including some without a hooped lure.

The idea of providing a particular style of lure, or the FOL, to suit individual dogs is not a practical one. Neither are different types at different tracks. It also begs the question of whether the subject dogs have been educated on one or the other. If all pups use the same standard then problems should be minimal.

Equally, to prefer the use of the pen is an argument not supported by the evidence.

In other words, all the available evidence says that the FOL facility is by far the most critical feature, and that it is directly related to hard chasing. Anything else is small beer, or is related to clean running or track design rather than chasing.

What dog A or B or C want or are alleged to want is neither here nor there. At the moment, there is a landslide vote in favour of the FOL.