Performance Sports

Performance Sports

Fast CAT & Coursing Ability Test

Irish Wolfhounds love to chase — and Fast CAT gives them a sanctioned, timed, and utterly exhilarating way to do it. IWANE hosts multiple FCAT and CAT events each year throughout New England, open to members and non-members alike.

What is Fast CAT?

Fast CAT (Coursing Ability Test) is an electronically timed 100-yard dash in which dogs chase a lure down a straight course. Introduced by the AKC in 2016, the sport has grown dramatically — and for good reason. A dog’s speed is recorded in mph, then multiplied by a height-based handicap to generate the points that count toward suffix titles.

Unlike lure coursing, which is restricted to the 17 recognized sighthound breeds, Fast CAT and CAT are open to all AKC breeds and mixed breeds. Irish Wolfhounds — with their long legs, deep chests, flexible backs, and keen vision — are built for exactly this kind of pursuit, and can power down the course at nearly 40 mph.

Straight Racing

LGRA Racing

The Large Gazehound Racing Association brings the thrill of straight-track racing to sighthound breeds, including Irish Wolfhounds. Hounds race 200 yards on a flat course, competing in organized heats and earning points toward national titles.

How it works

In LGRA racing, hounds are released from starting boxes or hand-slipped and chase a lure 200 yards down a straight, flat track. Each race meet consists of three programs, with individual heats made up of a maximum of four dogs. All competing hounds must wear properly fitted muzzles and approved race blankets for the safety of every dog on the track.

Hounds are graded according to their previous racing experience, or — for dogs with a race history — using the LGRA “WAVE,” a weighted average of the dog’s last three race meets. This grading system ensures competitive heats at every level, from newcomers running their first event to seasoned racers chasing a GRC title.

Performance Events

Obedience & Agility

Irish Wolfhounds may surprise you in the obedience ring and on the agility course. With the right approach, these gentle giants bring a quiet eagerness and athletic grace that makes for deeply rewarding performance partnerships.

Obedience

AKC Obedience tests a dog’s ability to perform a series of exercises with precision and reliability — heeling, recalls, retrieves, stays, and more — in a structured ring environment. The exercises grow in complexity through the levels: Novice, Open, and Utility, each with its own suffix title (CD, CDX, UD).

Irish Wolfhounds have earned obedience titles at every level — a testament to the breed’s intelligence and willingness to work when motivated appropriately. The key with hounds is patience, consistency, and a positive hand.

Agility

AKC Agility sends dogs through a timed obstacle course — jumps, tunnels, weave poles, A-frames, dog walks, and teeters — guided entirely by their handler’s voice and movement. Courses grow more demanding through Novice, Open, Excellent, and Master levels.

Irish Wolfhounds’ athleticism and size make for spectacular agility runs. AKC’s jump height divisions and Preferred class options accommodate large breeds comfortably, and the sport’s format rewards communication and teamwork above all else.

IWANE members participate in obedience and agility trials throughout New England and beyond. Whether you’re curious about your first Novice class or looking to connect with experienced competitors in the club, we encourage you to reach out.