We are all familiar with dog sports like agility and obedience, even if we don’t participate in them. But there are many, many dog sports out there that celebrate the unique talents of our canine companions. Look over the list – we bet there is at least one in here your dog would find fun.
#1 – Treibball
If you own a herding breed or a ball crazy dog, this spot is for you. Created in Germany, the goal is to get your dog to drive eight balls into a goal within 10 minutes, using a combination of obedience and herding cues. www.americantreibballassociation.org
#2 – Barn Hunt
Have a terrier? Well, then you need to take him to a Barn Hunt! For this sporting event, your dog has to find the vermin (yes, real rats) in the hay bales. The dogs do not harm or kill the rat. www.barnhunt.com
#3 – Skijoring
For all of those who own a husky, malamute, or any northern breed or big dog, skijoring is a great way to exercise them during the winter. Instead of a sled, however, your dog will pull you on cross-country skis, and really any dog that is big enough to pull you can do it, not just “mushing breeds” – though they LOVE it! www.skijornow.com
#4 – Urban Mushing
If you are not a fan of the ice and snow, then skip Skijoring and try urban mushing. In this sport, you can use anything with wheels (bikes, sled, etc) to mush any time of the year. It’s a great sport to give your dog’s exercise without getting frostbite. www.urbanmushing.com
#5 – Lure Coursing
Have a sighthound? This sport lets them do exactly what they were bred to do – run really fast after a “rabbit” (a fake one in this sport) over a flat field. It’s quite exciting to watch and the dogs love it. https://www.akc.org/events/lure_coursing/
#6 – Flyball
If your dog loves to run, is ball crazy, and has lots of energy, this is your game. This sport has really gained popularity over the recent years. Relay teams of four compete against each other, racing side-by-side over 4 jumps and hit the box at the end that projects a tennis ball. The dog then has to jump back over the jumps with the ball, before the next dog on the team can run. www.flyball.org
#7 – Dock Diving
If you have a retriever or a water-loving toy dog, this sport is big fun! You throw the toy in and your dog runs up the ramp and launches into the water to get the toy. They have several different contests like furthest and highest jump, among others. www.dockdogs.com
#8 – Musical Canine Freestyle
Some dogs just love obedience training. If that is your dog, then this is your sport. Canine Freestyle is a fun and creative activity that requires a lot of skill on both humans and dogs. In Canine Freestyle you perform a routine, in costume, to music. It takes a lot of training and work, but the results are fun to watch. www.worldcaninefreestyle.org
Toledo, United States.
