Fast CAT for Dogs: The 100-Yard Dash Explained
Fast CAT is a timed 100-yard dash for dogs. One dog at a time runs a straight course, chasing a lure, and the clock records how fast they go.
It's simple, it's over in seconds, and most dogs need little training to understand it.
What Fast CAT is
CAT stands for Coursing Ability Test. In AKC Fast CAT, a lure is pulled along a straight, fenced 100-yard course and the dog chases it.
One person releases the dog at the start. Another waits at the finish to catch them. The dog's time is converted to miles per hour, and those runs earn points toward titles.
Dogs run alone, so there's no contact with other dogs on the course.
Where it came from
Fast CAT comes from lure coursing, a sport created for sighthounds such as Greyhounds, Whippets and Irish Wolfhounds. These breeds were developed to hunt by sight and chase at speed. Lure coursing lets them do that safely, following a lure around an open field.
The Coursing Ability Test opened a version of the chase to every breed. Fast CAT simplified it again into a straight sprint. The AKC calls it a relatively new sport whose popularity has spread quickly.
Is it a good fit for your dog?
Fast CAT is open to purebred and mixed-breed dogs with an AKC number. Dogs must be at least 12 months old, and females in season can't run.
It tends to suit dogs who:
- Love to chase. Dogs who light up at a squirrel or a thrown toy usually understand the game at once.
- Are fit and sound. This is an all-out sprint.
- Are fully grown. Twelve months is the minimum to enter. Giant breeds are often still growing well past their first birthday, so it's worth asking your vet when your own dog is ready.
It's not suited to dogs with joint, heart or breathing conditions, and to dogs who are carrying extra weight. Before every event, an inspection committee checks each dog for lameness and fitness to compete.
Many of the giant sighthounds and their relatives were made for short bursts like this. Plenty of other big dogs enjoy it too, at their own pace. A happy lope down the course still counts.
Practical tips
Warm up first. A few minutes of walking and easy trotting before a sprint, and a cool-down walk after.
Bring a helper. You need one person to release and one to catch. Most dogs run best toward their favorite person.
Keep it to a run or two. A sprint asks a lot of a big body. Quality over quantity.
Mind the weather. Big dogs heat up fast. Choose cool mornings, bring water and shade, and skip hot days.
Watch how they move afterward. That evening and the next morning will tell you how it went.
How to get started
Look for a Fast CAT event through a local AKC club. Many clubs hold them alongside other events, and some offer practice runs so your dog can try the lure before you enter.
Going to watch first is a good idea. You'll see dogs of every size, and you can ask people how their dogs got started.
The bottom line
Fast CAT is a few seconds of pure joy for a dog who loves to run. It's also a real athletic effort, so it's best for a fit, mature dog and a handler who knows when one run is enough.
If your dog comes back grinning, you've found something they love.
Want to know what your dog's breed was built for? Read What Was Your Big Dog Built to Do?
To more, better years.
