TRAINING FOR RACING
The most important item that must be taught to your Pharaoh hound is the reliable recall. No Pharaoh hound (or dog for that matter) should be allowed to participate in any event without a reliable recall. The recall is the one command that can truly save your dogs life. In addition to the recall, three things need to be taught to your Pharaoh hound for racing:
Bunny training - this can start with puppy training. A plastic bag on a lunge line is a lovely tool to encourage the chasing and catching of the bunny. Some racing/coursing clubs will allow pups to do puppy runs. These are generally straight short runs in which the pup chasing the plastic bunny or the jack a lure for fun. Praise for chasing, pouncing and "killing" the bunny is very important.
Muzzle training - all dogs must wear a racing muzzle. There are various types. The muzzle must allow adequate air flow for the dog. Having your dog wear the muzzle and get used to it before it attends its first meet is always a good thing.
Racing box training - most clubs have the dogs begin each race from a racing box, so your dogs must be trained to go into the racing box. Box training should be viewed as having a party with lots of treats and the biggest of all jackpots - "killing the jack-a-lure". Here's how I trained Phlirt and her puppies as well as many other sighthounds too). Now when we go racing it is very easy to load then into the box. By training the dog using this method, it avoids the method that I see a lot of folks do - forcing the dog into the box and hope for the best - this is a disastrous method and only scares the dog possibly into disliking racing. For my Pharaohs, when they see the back of the box open, I have to be sure I am completely ready to load them, otherwise, they shoot into the rear of the box and I get dragged in and my arms get pulled severely. When my Pharaohs see the box, they get very excited as they know it is bunnytime!! Now for the process. This should be started in puppyhood but this will work for all aged dogs as long as they have keen interest in the jack-a-lure or bunny. Dogs WITHOUT interest in the lure should not be box trained until they are crazed about the bunny.
Step 1: Go to a box with at least two people and lots of treats. The box is open at both ends. The dog on a leash has the leash thrown through the box (from the rear of the box) to a second person on the front side of the box. The front of the box person grabs the leash and entices the dog through the box with the jack-a-lure, treats, praise, etc. Do NOT pull the dog through the box. After going through the box the dog should be lavishly praised and given lots of treats. Then the dog is walked around to the back of the box again and the dog is walked through the box over and over again. Soon the dog is rushing through the box, knowing the big payoff of treats. Remember the treats and praising needs to be phabulous. This first step may take a while and it should not be rushed. It may take multiple visits to box training before proceeding to the next step.
Step 2: Now, the front of the box is put down (not all the way), with the front person's foot on it. Same process as above, with putting the dog into the rear of the box and then allow the front to open. I use treats here also, but I really try to encourage the dog through with the jack-a-lure. This next step may take a while and it should not be rushed. It may take multiple visits to box training before proceeding to the next step
Step 3: Once the dog is introduced to the quiet rise of the front door, the next step is to slip the back panel closed behind the dog. Again the front of the box is put down (not all the way), with the front person's foot on it. The dog is enticed into the box with the back closed. The jack-a-lure is moved and squawked then the front is allowed to go up and the dog comes out and pounces on the "bunny". Lots of praise, treats, etc should be used here too. This next step may take a while and it should not be rushed. It may take multiple visits to box training before proceeding to the next step.
Step 4: The final step is closing the front of the box all the way. Entice the dog into the rear of the box and close the rear of the box. The jack-a-lure is moved and squawked then the front is allowed to go up and the dog comes out and pounces on the "bunny". Lots of praise, treats, etc should be used here too. After a few times of pouncing on the "bunny", have the lure operator move the jack-a-lure down the track, so the dog understands he is supposed to chase it. This last step may take a while and it should not be rushed. It may take multiple visits to box training before your dog figures this all out.
Bunny training - this can start with puppy training. A plastic bag on a lunge line is a lovely tool to encourage the chasing and catching of the bunny. Some racing/coursing clubs will allow pups to do puppy runs. These are generally straight short runs in which the pup chasing the plastic bunny or the jack a lure for fun. Praise for chasing, pouncing and "killing" the bunny is very important.
Muzzle training - all dogs must wear a racing muzzle. There are various types. The muzzle must allow adequate air flow for the dog. Having your dog wear the muzzle and get used to it before it attends its first meet is always a good thing.
Racing box training - most clubs have the dogs begin each race from a racing box, so your dogs must be trained to go into the racing box. Box training should be viewed as having a party with lots of treats and the biggest of all jackpots - "killing the jack-a-lure". Here's how I trained Phlirt and her puppies as well as many other sighthounds too). Now when we go racing it is very easy to load then into the box. By training the dog using this method, it avoids the method that I see a lot of folks do - forcing the dog into the box and hope for the best - this is a disastrous method and only scares the dog possibly into disliking racing. For my Pharaohs, when they see the back of the box open, I have to be sure I am completely ready to load them, otherwise, they shoot into the rear of the box and I get dragged in and my arms get pulled severely. When my Pharaohs see the box, they get very excited as they know it is bunnytime!! Now for the process. This should be started in puppyhood but this will work for all aged dogs as long as they have keen interest in the jack-a-lure or bunny. Dogs WITHOUT interest in the lure should not be box trained until they are crazed about the bunny.
Step 1: Go to a box with at least two people and lots of treats. The box is open at both ends. The dog on a leash has the leash thrown through the box (from the rear of the box) to a second person on the front side of the box. The front of the box person grabs the leash and entices the dog through the box with the jack-a-lure, treats, praise, etc. Do NOT pull the dog through the box. After going through the box the dog should be lavishly praised and given lots of treats. Then the dog is walked around to the back of the box again and the dog is walked through the box over and over again. Soon the dog is rushing through the box, knowing the big payoff of treats. Remember the treats and praising needs to be phabulous. This first step may take a while and it should not be rushed. It may take multiple visits to box training before proceeding to the next step.
Step 2: Now, the front of the box is put down (not all the way), with the front person's foot on it. Same process as above, with putting the dog into the rear of the box and then allow the front to open. I use treats here also, but I really try to encourage the dog through with the jack-a-lure. This next step may take a while and it should not be rushed. It may take multiple visits to box training before proceeding to the next step
Step 3: Once the dog is introduced to the quiet rise of the front door, the next step is to slip the back panel closed behind the dog. Again the front of the box is put down (not all the way), with the front person's foot on it. The dog is enticed into the box with the back closed. The jack-a-lure is moved and squawked then the front is allowed to go up and the dog comes out and pounces on the "bunny". Lots of praise, treats, etc should be used here too. This next step may take a while and it should not be rushed. It may take multiple visits to box training before proceeding to the next step.
Step 4: The final step is closing the front of the box all the way. Entice the dog into the rear of the box and close the rear of the box. The jack-a-lure is moved and squawked then the front is allowed to go up and the dog comes out and pounces on the "bunny". Lots of praise, treats, etc should be used here too. After a few times of pouncing on the "bunny", have the lure operator move the jack-a-lure down the track, so the dog understands he is supposed to chase it. This last step may take a while and it should not be rushed. It may take multiple visits to box training before your dog figures this all out.