A few months ago I was talking with a lady at a dog show. In response to her questions about my Working White English Bulldog (Pete), I was telling her about the origin of the breed and their uses as a working dog, hunting in particular.

She belonged to a local Sight Hound Club and invited me out to a Lure Coursing practice. I wanted to see the level of prey drive that Pete had so I decided to take her up on her offer.

My friend and I went to a practice a few months later. There were quite a few surprised and curious looks as we arrived with our dogs. They sure didn't look like the Greyhounds, Whippets, Deerhounds, etc. that they were used to! However, our dogs were really well received as we introduced them to the club members.

The folks in charge had me stand on the side of the course to see if Pete would have any interest in the lure. The course was set up so that the lure, an artificial raccoon tail and a white bag with a squeaker, was attached to a cable on an electric motor. As the dogs are ready the person running the event squeezes the squeaker to get the dogs attention. The lure takes off and the dogs are released. The lure is pulled 200 yards. This event is called Lure Coursing.

So, I am on the sideline with Pete as the first lure takes off. Pete let out a bark and was airborne! Thank goodness he was on a leash! I heard and saw in him an excitement that day that I had never seen before! He had the same response every time. The lady running the event was watching him and said that his attention was fully focused on the lure and not the dogs, which was a good sign.

We ran the course twice that day. The first run I was at the finish line and my wife was holding Pete at the starting line. When the lure started down the course and Pete was let go, he ran the entire 200 yards, his attention completely focused on the lure.

The next run my wife and I changed positions. When I brought Pete up to the starting line, people were saying, "Hey! The bulldog is running again! Come and look at him run!" The results from his second run were the same as the first.

Pete was a great ambassador for the Working White English Bulldog that day. True to the breed standard, he was just as friendly as could be to everyone who wanted to come pet him. Truth be told, I'm sure he just loved the attention!

We have gone back since then and when we get into the area Pete just knows where we are going and he can barely contain himself! As one lady, a seasoned Lure Coursing competitor, stated after seeing him run on our second visit, "He absolutely loves to run. His body is completely stretched out. He couldn't get another inch of stride if he tried!"

I am a huge fan of Lure Coursing now! It gives Pete a chance to exercise his prey drive in a positive way that shows the Working White English Bulldog in a positive manner.