FastCat

[Rits]

Good to know. I was more wondering about the growth plates but on soft ground like that it should be okay.

Have to use your best judgement! It's only 100yds but you can ask them to only go half way for the fun run. I'm pretty sure Revel would do the same thing at home if he found a bunny, too. The key thing is to not overdo anything they wouldn't do. I certainly wouldn't run them more than twice. He won't run for a long while now either. I'd like him to know a clear difference between his service vest on and off before we allow him to keep playing the game now that he has a taste for it. He was such a good boy, even though he was excited every time he put slight pressure on his collar he backed off. I don't want to ruin that for every day use!

The last video of Rip grabbing the bag at the end That Dober brain was thinking I’m running out of space to kill this thing!

Haha yea there's like 300 ft left past the point of them stopping the lure. I always like them to get a taste of the bag so they feel satisfied that they caught and "killed" the thing

 

[Ravenbird]

He won't run for a long while now either. I'd like him to know a clear difference between his service vest on and off before we allow him to keep playing the game now that he has a taste for it.

The first Fast Cat I went to Asha was still a bun in the oven, but went to help with Reckless. There was a lady there with a Doberman who had to lead him/her to the start BLINDFOLDED. At the last 2 seconds they took the blindfold and collar off simultaneously. Dog was awesome, but clearly over enthusiastic. I talked to the owner later because I was so excited to be getting a Doberman puppy soon. She said that her dog is a certified SD, and listed all the things that dog would do for her - she was visibly disabled - but said she would always bring her to run Fast Cats when they had them because the dog loved them so much. I think I told about this here, way back when it happened.

I think for the most part, a well trained dog knows not to go for a bunny in just any circumstance, and Revel is such a good boy across the board.

I just love that the dogs have so much fun.

 

[JanS]

I'm pretty sure Revel would do the same thing at home if he found a bunny, too.

Oh yeah, our two can do 3 laps around the fence line in a minute and that's a lot of yards.

 

[Rits]

who had to lead him/her to the start BLINDFOLDED. At the last 2 seconds they took the blindfold and collar off simultaneously.

You would have to blindfold and put earplugs in for Ripley... and then she would eventually learn that that means fast cat too so all would go out the window anyways

 

[Ravenbird]

If anyone is interested in watching!

 

[Ddski5]

This is coming up soon and we are taking Freyja…I cannot believe that my wife wants to participate in this.






There was a time that Freyja was as high as 8th place but as the year finished out, she dropped to 23rd.

 

[JanS]

Good luck!

There was a time that Freyja was as high as 8th place but as the year finished out, she dropped to 23rd.

Wow those scores are really close too.

There is a club not too far from here that recently started doing some AKC events like Fastcat but this year both of ours were too young to run.

 

[Ddski5]

My last phones burned up with all my valuable info on it….
So I am just putting this here for future reference for the titles.

FastCAT
BCAT- 150 points
DCAT- 500 points
FCAT- 1000 points
FCAT1- additional 500 points

CAT
CA- 3 passes
CAA- 10 passes
CAX- 25 passes
CAX2- 50 passes

 

[Rits]

I hope you 3 have a blast!

 

[Kaiser2016]

Have a great time. Can’t wait to see the results!

 

[Ravenbird]

That was so much fun that year, I think there were several of us here running so we were all on the year-end scoreboard. Freyja was fast! Looking forward to stories and photos!

 

[remy]

Remy’s first FastCat is Friday! Since he is under 12 months old his runs will only be 50 yards (normally they are 100). I signed him up for 2 runs.

How early do you think we should get there? We are 2 hours away from the event and the fun runs start at 3pm. I was thinking I should be there around 2-2:30? I think he gets a little sick from being in the car so I want to give him time to relax, but I also don’t want to be there too early.

I know they cannot run in them, but prong collars are also not allowed on grounds, right? I’ll see how he does, but I have a feeling we’ll need to wait in the car (or at least away from where they are running) since he was a pretty high prey drive. Without his prong on he likes to pull me around when he sees something interesting to him, and I know he’ll go crazy for the lure.

I’m bringing my mom with me and we’ll take turns catching and releasing. I figured that will also let me see if he does better with me as the releaser/catcher. He tends to be more calm with her and a little more crazy with me lol.

 

[LifeofRubie]

Correct on the no prongs!

Which means... I usually take the releasing end because Rubie is a MONSTER at the start line. I have a heavy duty leather collar I use for her at Fast CAT.

Getting there in plenty of time to warm up, get a feel for the layout and the process, and watch some runs is an excellent idea! You will see a lot of amped up dogs.

If they let you or your mom run down the middle of the track for your first run so that Remy can see where you went, that helps, as well. I did not do that for my Labs first run (he has zero interest in the lure and only cares about coming to me), so he was a bit confused that I exited stage right, came back into view another direction, and he had to run "straight" to get to me.

Anyone there will always be happy to answer any questions you have! Have fun!!!

Edit to add: Rubie I release and Husband catches; Moose husband releases and I catch.

 

[Ddski5]

Have you already signed up for the runs online? Some places allow you to sign up day of race. We did FastCAT and then signed up for CAT there at the race. I believe they only allow two runs per day.

Expect:
-a long line to sign in (with dogs and owners in line).
-utter chaos and lots of distractions for a first timer. Dogs barking, running, yippy dogs barking everywhere, owners being pulled all over. To be expected honestly, a very amped up environment.
-a long stop/go line to get into the lane.
-I felt it better/easier to hold mine in the lane and release. Their anticipation is crazy, I compare to a bucking bull coming out of a gate. They are in such a blind amped drive that anybody can catch/leash mine at the finish.

Starts at 3pm, I would be there before 2pm. Again, possibly a long line for check in. Then walk him around and let him get a feel for the new environment. He will be on the verge of going crazy and needs to just settle in. Great place to work on obedience commands and focus on you but at same time let him let loose a little bit and have fun.

Parking for us was a ways off so I wore a back pack with water jug and bowl, a couple of treats for focus/obedience training and other oddities.

Be prepared for the unexpected. I always had my head on a swivel and kept a 5-8’ circumference from other dogs. Ragnar hated yippy dogs, not fond at all. Problem was that yippy dog owners thought it was funny and cool that their little sniffles would run up to a big black Doberman and bark/challenge. Just no sense at all from some idiots.

Good luck and above all have fun.

 

[JanS]

Correct on the no prongs

I believe UKC is letting them go outside of the ring now, but AKC probably doesn't. I've always had a Secret Powers prong on Della and Phoebe around UKC shows but many people never knew it was a prong.

Guides – Lola Liimited

lolalimited.net

At any rate, good luck!

 

[remy]

Have you already signed up for the runs online? Some places allow you to sign up day of race. We did FastCAT and then signed up for CAT there at the race. I believe they only allow two runs per day.

Expect:
-a long line to sign in (with dogs and owners in line).
-utter chaos and lots of distractions for a first timer. Dogs barking, running, yippy dogs barking everywhere, owners being pulled all over. To be expected honestly, a very amped up environment.
-a long stop/go line to get into the lane.
-I felt it better/easier to hold mine in the lane and release. Their anticipation is crazy, I compare to a bucking bull coming out of a gate. They are in such a blind amped drive that anybody can catch/leash mine at the finish.

Starts at 3pm, I would be there before 2pm. Again, possibly a long line for check in. Then walk him around and let him get a feel for the new environment. He will be on the verge of going crazy and needs to just settle in. Great place to work on obedience commands and focus on you but at same time let him let loose a little bit and have fun.

Parking for us was a ways off so I wore a back pack with water jug and bowl, a couple of treats for focus/obedience training and other oddities.

Be prepared for the unexpected. I always had my head on a swivel and kept a 5-8’ circumference from other dogs. Ragnar hated yippy dogs, not fond at all. Problem was that yippy dog owners thought it was funny and cool that their little sniffles would run up to a big black Doberman and bark/challenge. Just no sense at all from some idiots.

Good luck and above all have fun.

Sorry, for some reason I’m just seeing this now! Thank you for all of the tips!

I only managed to get a video from 1 of his runs. He loved it! As soon as the bag moved he knew what to do. Can’t wait to take him back!

 

[Ravenbird]

He's gonna love the 100 yards! He looks great!

 

[JanS]

He did great! I didn't realize you could do sprints if they're under a year.

 

[remy]

He's gonna love the 100 yards! He looks great!

Thank you! I’m excited for him to do the full length. We’ll be going back in early January!

He did great! I didn't realize you could do sprints if they're under a year.

I didn’t know that at first either! I mentioned once how I was excited for him to be 1 year so he could participate, and someone told me about the “bunny hops” for younger dogs. It seems like some clubs have a different name for them, but it’s all the same thing (just a 50 yard dash). They are just fun runs and the dog doesn’t earn any points from them.

 

[Rits]

He did great! I didn't realize you could do sprints if they're under a year.

Yea! I've mentioned to you before that you can do fun runs under a year old, they just shorten the distance in half.