Bikejoring: How to Get Started This Summer
Fast CAT: How to Get Started This Summer
There are dog sports that take months of specialized training to enter. Fast CAT is not one of them.
AKC Fast CAT — Coursing Ability Test — is a timed 100-yard straight sprint where your dog chases an artificial lure down a field. You let go. Your dog runs. You pick up your dog at the end. That’s the event. No formal training required. No titles needed to enter. No equipment beyond a slip lead the club provides.
It’s genuinely the easiest AKC performance sport to try, and there’s a concrete reason to start this summer: the 7th Annual AKC Fast CAT Invitational runs September 18-21, 2026 in Branson, Missouri. Summer events count toward qualifying. If you want a destination goal to chase this season, this is it.
Quick Info
Detail Info What it is Timed 100-yard dog sprint chasing an artificial lure Who can enter Any dog 12+ months old with AKC number or Canine Partners enrollment Training required None — dogs run on instinct How scoring works MPH × height-based handicap factor 2026 Invitational Sept 18-21, Branson MO Fun runs available Yes — most clubs offer test runs before official entries Best for Any breed that likes to chase things, and plenty that don’t expect to
What Is AKC Fast CAT?
Fast CAT is a 100-yard dash. Dogs run one at a time down a straight course chasing a mechanically-operated lure — usually a white plastic bag or streamer pulled along a line at speed. The dog is timed from release to finish line. That time gets converted to miles per hour.
Here’s the part that makes it competitive across all breeds: each dog’s MPH score gets multiplied by a height-based handicap factor. Dogs 18 inches or taller at the withers use a 1.0 multiplier. Dogs between 12 and 18 inches use 1.5. Dogs under 12 inches use 2.0. So a Basset Hound running 15 mph with a 1.5 multiplier scores 22.5 points — competitive with a Labrador running 20 mph flat. That scoring structure is what makes the sport interesting across an entire entry of 60+ breeds at a single trial.
A dog earns a BCAT with 150 points, a DCAT at 500, and an FCAT at 1,000. The points accumulate across events and don’t expire.
Who Can Enter
Purebred Dogs
Any AKC-registered dog that’s at least 12 months old can enter. If your dog is registered but you’ve never entered a performance event before, you create an AKC online account and file an entry through My AKC or through the hosting club’s entry secretary. First-time entrants sometimes find this part confusing — the club listing on AKC’s event search will have contact info for the entry secretary who handles all of this.
Mixed Breeds and “Mutts”
This is the part more people should know about. Mixed-breed dogs can compete through AKC Canine Partners, which is a $35 enrollment program that generates an AKC number. With that number, mixed-breed dogs are eligible for Fast CAT, Canine Good Citizen testing, trick dog titles, agility, rally, and most other AKC performance events.
A mixed-breed dog — say, a 50-lb Aussie mix — would need a Canine Partners number at $35 to compete officially. That’s the only cost difference between a mixed-breed entry and a purebred entry. The field treats them identically.
Age and Health
Minimum 12 months. AKC strongly recommends a vet check before your dog’s first run — growth plates in large breeds close around 18-24 months, so check with your vet if you have a bigger dog close to the 12-month mark.
There’s no “maximum” age cutoff, but older dogs with joint issues should get vet clearance. The sprint itself is short, but the burst effort is intense.
How to Enter Fast CAT: Step by Step
How to get started in AKC Fast CAT:
- Confirm your dog meets eligibility: 12+ months old, AKC registered or Canine Partners enrolled ($35 for mixed breeds)
- Find a Fast CAT event near you using the AKC Event Search at akc.org — filter by “Fast CAT” event type
- Submit an entry through the hosting club’s entry secretary before the closing date (typically 1-2 weeks before the event)
- On trial day, check in at the secretary’s table, get your armband, and ask about fun runs
- When it’s your dog’s turn: step to the start line, hold your dog’s collar or slip lead, release when the lure starts moving
That last step is where people freeze up. You’re releasing your dog in an open field toward a moving object. Dogs who’ve never shown any lure interest will often take off anyway — the instinct triggers differently than anything at home. Some dogs stop halfway down the field and sniff around. Some dogs catch the lure before it reaches speed. Most dogs run. The chaos is part of the point.
The Fun Run Option
Most clubs running Fast CAT trials offer fun runs: unofficial timed runs that happen before or after the official competition. They cost a few dollars less than an official entry (often $5-15) and don’t count for titles. What they do: give your dog a chance to see the lure, experience the course, and figure out what’s happening before you commit to official runs.
If you’re bringing a dog that’s never chased a lure before, do the fun run. You’ll know within 30 seconds whether your dog is going to sprint or wander. Some dogs need two fun runs before it clicks. Some dogs explode out of the box on their first attempt and you realize you’ve been sleeping on their speed for three years.
I’d suggest arriving early enough to watch several dogs run before your entry. Watch how the slip lead release works, how the lure is operated, where to stand at the finish line. The first-timer anxiety is almost entirely about logistics, not the sport itself.
The 2026 Fast CAT Invitational
The 7th Annual AKC Fast CAT Invitational runs September 18-21, 2026 at Sycamore Creek Family Ranch (2657 Sunset Inn Road, Branson, MO 65616). AKC also runs open Fast CATs on Thursday, September 17th before the invitational officially starts.
Qualifying for the invitational requires accumulating enough points during the year — the specific cutoff varies by division and gets announced closer to the event. If you start in June or July and get to several trials this summer, you have a realistic shot at accumulating meaningful points by early September. That’s not guaranteed, but it’s a concrete goal to chase.
Even if you don’t qualify, the invitational weekend is worth knowing about. Branson in September is its own experience, and the concentration of Fast CAT teams from across the country in one place is genuinely useful for meeting clubs, finding training partners, and watching elite dogs run times you won’t believe.
Summer Event Logistics (This Is the Part People Underestimate)
Fast CAT trials happen outside, often on open grass fields with limited shade. Summer events in most of the U.S. mean genuine heat risk for your dog, even though your dog is only running for 5-10 seconds.
The concern isn’t the run. It’s the wait.
Dogs sitting in cars between runs, standing at staging areas in direct sun, waiting in a crate between the fun run and official entries. That cumulative exposure is where heat problems start. Your dog’s sprint is over in seconds. Your dog’s time at the event site might be three hours.
Practical logistics for a summer Fast CAT day:
- Bring more water than you think you need. There’s often no water available on site beyond what vendors sell.
- A portable shade canopy or umbrella. If you’re crating your dog at the event, shade is non-negotiable in July and August.
- Cooling gear. A cooling vest between runs keeps body temperature from climbing while your dog waits for the next run.
- Know your dog’s heat tolerance. This isn’t even close to universal by breed. Our post on dog breed heat tolerance breaks down the real differences. Brachycephalic breeds (Bulldogs, Pugs, French Bulldogs) may be ineligible to run in extreme heat (some clubs have explicit temperature cutoffs).
- Time your attendance. Morning events are dramatically better than afternoon events in July. If you have a choice, take the early time slot.
The AKC Fast CAT rules allow clubs to cancel or modify events in extreme heat. This has become more common. Know the club’s cancellation policy before you make a long drive.
What Your Dog Actually Does
Worth being direct about this: your dog’s behavior on the course is not something you control.
You release them. They chase (or don’t). A lure operator tries to stay ahead of the dog. The timer runs automatically from release gate to finish. If your dog catches the lure, stops, turns around — the run is over. Some runs result in legitimate sprint times. Some are chaos.
Dogs with strong prey drive tend to go immediately. Herding breeds sometimes have complicated relationships with the lure — they want to chase, but they also want to circle and control. Terriers go absolutely sideways for it. Sighthounds (Greyhounds, Whippets, Salukis) are what the sport was originally designed for, and they are something else to watch in person. Your Basset Hound might surprise everyone.
The point is: you don’t need to teach your dog to do this. The lure does the teaching. Your job is to get your dog to the start line and release.
Fast CAT vs. Other Dog Sports
If you’ve looked at other AKC sports and felt overwhelmed, this comparison might be useful.
Agility requires months of equipment training and handler footwork. Obedience competition requires precise command execution under pressure. Rally has a learning curve. Dock diving requires access to a pool for practice.
Fast CAT requires none of that. No equipment to purchase. No skill to teach. No previous titles. You literally show up, let your dog chase something, and find out how fast they are.
That’s a meaningful entry point. A lot of people discover dog sports through Fast CAT and then branch into agility, barn hunt, or lure coursing. Others just keep running Fast CAT because their dog loves it and titles stack up. Both are legitimate.
For a comparison with another sport that requires more training but offers similar outdoor appeal, our canicross guide covers what that progression looks like. Fast CAT is a much lower-friction starting point.
Finding Events Near You
AKC’s event search at akc.org covers the full Fast CAT calendar with location, date, and entry secretary contact. Filter by “Fast CAT” and your state.
A few tips on reading the calendar:
- Some events are “Fast CAT only.” Others run Fast CAT as part of a larger trial day that includes lure coursing, CGC testing, or breed shows.
- Check whether “Open” entries are available or whether it’s members-only. Most events are open to all.
- Look at the entry closing date. Many trials close 2 weeks before the event. Missing the closing date means you’re watching, not running.
- If you find a club hosting multiple trials a year in your area, reach out to them directly. Local breed clubs and coursing clubs are usually welcoming to newcomers and will answer basic questions about what to bring and what to expect.
The Honest Verdict
Fast CAT is a legitimately good time with low barrier to entry. Your dog may surprise you. The community at events is relaxed and knowledgeable. The titles accumulate across a season, which gives you a reason to travel to trials beyond your immediate area.
The 2026 Invitational in Branson isn’t some distant, intimidating goal — it’s a concrete reason to find your first local trial this summer, see how your dog responds, and build from there. You might need three events to qualify. You might not qualify at all and still have a great season. Either way, your dog ran a 100-yard sprint chasing something at full speed, which is a better Tuesday than most.
Find a trial. Sign up. Release the dog.
For more on summer safety at outdoor events, see our guide on keeping dogs cool during summer activities and our breakdown of electrolytes and hydration for trail dogs. Breed handicap factors and title requirements from AKC Fast CAT official rules.
