Disc dog. Flyball. Agility. Earthdog. Musical freestyle. Lure coursing. Splash dogs and Dock dogs. Weight pulling. Obedience. Rally. Schutzhund. Lucky dogs . . . the list of sports for canines goes on and on.
Just watch a flyball tournament; youll see human and canine faces alight with the exhilaration of the race for the ball against another team barely six feet away.
Witness the connection between dance partners in a musical freestyle routine and try not to get misty-eyed.
Marvel at the dog whose natural sense of smell has been channeled into a game of find it! and share in the joy of both handler and dog as he correctly locates the hidden source of the odor. Gawk at the agility team that has just mastered a challenging obstacle course, recognizing how much training and love made that run possible.
Looking at these competitors faces, would you guess there is any other place they would rather be? Unlikely! They are in the zone. They are like the top-seeded tennis phenom, or the enraptured concert pianist, completely absorbed in their art. The most amazing thing about dog sports is that our partner is not a little white ball, or a grand piano, but a living, breathing friend who also warms our feet at night. How amazing is that?
There is an almost endless list of sports to enjoy with your dog. Just when you think youve explored them all, someone comes up with an activity to which can be applied rules and titles for those wanting the camaraderie and structure of competition. A good example of this is pool diving, the most recent dog sport to draw big crowds. There are now two major organizations that provide competitive outlets for people whose dogs love to dive off the side of a pool after a toy.
You dont need a purebred dog to enjoy these activities. Although you will see the American Kennel Club (AKC) listed as a resource for more information about some sports, there are many organizations that welcome all dogs to participate. Be sure to check them out and give them your support. The more we support organizations that welcome and encourage all kinds of dogs to play these games, the more avenues there will be available to those of us who do not have only purebred dogs.
Youll find that there are classes and clubs available for any sport even if you just want to have a good time with your dogs or explore your dogs potential. Often, however, people end up practicing with like-minded dog owners and, finally, competing. Thats natural: The relationship between dog and person blossoms from training and playing together. You look into your dogs eyes and he looks at you, and the connection, the understanding, the thrill of it all is there, and you want more of it.
Starting this month, we will explore this wonderful world of dog sports. Well explain how owners can learn each sport with their dogs whether its for a ribbon and title or for the fun alone and how each sport offers yet another way to celebrate the human-canine connection. And, as always in Whole Dog Journal, well explain how positive, non-punitive training methods can be used to train your dog to love and succeed at the sport.
