What is Fast CAT?
A 100-yard dash of pure fun.
AKC Fast CAT — Coursing Ability Test — is a timed sprint where your dog chases a lure 100 yards. Not a race against other dogs. Just your dog, the lure, and the clock.
How it works
Your dog is released
At the starting line, a handler holds their dog. When the lure starts moving, the dog is released.
The lure zooms
A motorized lure — usually a white plastic bag — rockets 100 yards down the straight track.
The chase
Your dog sprints after the lure as fast as they can, giving 100% instinctual effort.
Time is recorded
The elapsed time is converted to MPH, recorded to the nearest 1/100th of a second. That's your dog's official Fast CAT speed.
The full picture
Unofficial fan-made summary — not an AKC publication. One correction: titles aren't earned by age group — they're earned by cumulative points (MPH × height handicap): BCAT at 150, DCAT at 500, FCAT at 1,000, then FCAT2+ every 500.
Who can participate?
Fast CAT is one of the most inclusive dog sports in the country.
- ✓Any breed or mix — AKC registered or AKC Canine Partners enrolled
- ✓Dogs at least 12 months old
- ✓Spayed, neutered, or intact — doesn't matter
- ✓Up to date on vaccinations and in good health
Titles & points
Each run earns points equal to your dog's speed (MPH = 204.545 ÷ run time in seconds) × a height handicap: 18"+ at the withers ×1.0, 12" to under 18" ×1.5, under 12" ×2.0. Points accumulate across all events.
Frequently asked questions
What does Fast CAT stand for?
Fast Coursing Ability Test. It's a timed single-dog event where dogs chase a lure 100 yards — not against each other, just against the clock.
What breeds can participate?
Any dog — purebred, mixed breed, or All American Dog — that is at least 12 months old, in good health, and registered with AKC or AKC Canine Partners can compete. There are no breed restrictions.
How is MPH calculated?
AKC records the time it takes the dog to run 100 yards, then converts it to miles per hour. A dog that runs 100 yards in 6 seconds is running at approximately 34 mph.
How do rankings work on Coursing Club?
Lifetime rankings use the average of a dog's three fastest runs across their entire career (AKC's official metric for 2018+). Yearly rankings use the average of each dog's three fastest runs within that year. 2016–2017 used a single-fastest-run format.
What titles can dogs earn?
Dogs earn BCAT at 150 points, DCAT at 500, FCAT at 1,000, then FCAT2, FCAT3 and beyond every additional 500 points. Each run earns points equal to the dog's speed in MPH multiplied by a height handicap: dogs 18 inches or taller at the withers get ×1.0, dogs 12 to under 18 inches get ×1.5, and dogs under 12 inches get ×2.0 — so smaller dogs earn the same points at lower raw speeds.
How do I find an event near me?
Check the Events page on Coursing Club: it lists upcoming AKC Fast CAT trials by state — dates, venue, entry closing dates, fees and the premium list — pulled from AKC's public event search, alongside trials host clubs post themselves. For states not covered yet, the AKC event search at akc.org/events finds sanctioned Fast CAT events by zip code.
Is it safe?
Fast CAT is one of the safest dog sports. Dogs run solo (no other dogs on the course), the lure is a soft plastic bag, the track is straight, and the handler controls the start. Most dogs love it immediately.
How is Coursing Club related to AKC?
Coursing Club is an independent fan site. We display performance data sourced from AKC's public Fast CAT rankings (apps.akc.org/apps/fastcat_ranking) to give competitors an easier way to search by dog name and track performance over time. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the AKC.