Dog Sports

[Sally&Daisy]

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What's the favourite dog sport, just wondering what the current favourite is? Please vote below!

 

[Josie]

I don't do anything with my boy but if he was younger I would definitely get him into Dock Diving!

 

[leashedForLife]

Haven’t done:
-dock dive
- HTM (which is “heel” BTW, the dog is at heel, not ‘heal’, as in recover from illness or injury. )
- flyball
- don’t know what “hoopers” is, so i’m pretty certain i’ve never done it!


I have:
- shown in breed ring
- done agility in fun matches
- disk dog
- trained tricks
- trained in competitive Obedience, but only competed with one dog
- done Rally-O, but only in fun matches, not for points.

Rally-O is great for any dog, of any age.
Agility is a blast for dogs who enjoy runs & jumps.

Showing is only fun if the dog can enjoy primping, & can tolerate strangers getting personal.
I prefer to SHOW my dog’s teeth to the judge, vs have the judge put their own hands, slimed with other dogs’ saliva, into my dog’s mouth. That’s probly just a hangover from all my years in food service, personal care, wildlife rehab, & vet care, but it’s pretty careless of contagion.
I know I wouldn’t want my dentist shoving her or his hands into my mouth without washing up & replacing gloves, after their previous patient, let alone after 15 or 20 other mouths!

Trick training is a blast, every dog has at least one talent waiting to develop as a trick.

Hunt trials can be fantastic for setters, pointers, gun-dogs in general, Cockers, scenthounds, sighthounds, VHRs... even Terriers. // The UKC / United Kennel Club even has hunting trials for terriers, who are run in assembled packs, for points.
Beagles, Foxhounds, Coonhounds, ... NOSE-WORK is great fun for most dogs. It’s a recent sport, & still developing.

Herding trials?...
There’s a sheepless version of herding that uses a ball, driven by the dog with legs, shoulders, & chest, to shoot between goal posts (rather than penning sheep). Lots of dogs love it.

Carting?

Ski joring?

Sledding?

Wt-pulling?

Parkour?

Bike joring?

Messenger dog?


Really, there’s a sport out there for every dog & owner, even if it’s just for fun - U don’t have to compete in the regionals to have a wonderful time with yer best buddy.

- terry

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[Mad Murphy]

Ive read through that list and although I think Murphy would most likely enjoy some of the sports mentioned each one has a major drawback. At some point be it training, competing or showing it would involve being around other people and that is enough to prevent me even considering it..

Ive come to the conclusion that I am more anti social that I first thought.

 

[Shalista]

Ive read through that list and although I think Murphy would most likely enjoy some of the sports mentioned each one has a major drawback. At some point be it training, competing or showing it would involve being around other people and that is enough to prevent me even considering it..

Ive come to the conclusion that I am more anti social that I first thought.

i dont know if its a SPORT but bax really enjoyed nosework. we'd put him in a separate room, set up a bunch of boxes and then put a little bowl of food behind one of the boxes. then open the door and let him loose to find it. no other people needed!

 

[Biker John]

With other dogs, I have done obedience and agility, (both only for fun), I have shown but being a very shy person I dont like feeling the center of atention, and yes I know its the dog thats being looked at but it does not feel like it. At present I only do Whippet racing.

 

[Mad Murphy]

i dont know if its a SPORT but bax really enjoyed nosework. we'd put him in a separate room, set up a bunch of boxes and then put a little bowl of food behind one of the boxes. then open the door and let him loose to find it. no other people needed!

Yeah I think Murphy would love that! We did try a self made drag hunt with Benny ( our old Beagle once) he was great at that and followed every tiny detail of the drag until he got the reward at the end.

To be honest and positive we just have a great time wandering about with Murphy , we go to a lot of nature reserves where there are very few people and where he has to stay on lead but thats ok because he is such a dedicated hunter he would take off otherwise. His hunting instinct also means he never barks when he spots wildlife he just points so we get to take some great photos.. a win win situation really.

 

[leashedForLife]

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@Mad Murphy ,
as Murph just loves running about, i’d bet he would love Parkour, which at its simplest is using objects in the environment to move thru it.
Hopping onto a wall to leap onto a low branch, run the limb to jump onto a stump as a step-stool, back on the ground to race to a 3-rail fence, stair-step up the fence to balance along the top rail, & so on.

It can be as complex & difficult, or as simple & easy, as U like, & no one but U and the dog are involved. . U can post videos of his exploits, or just enjoy them “live”.


.

 

[Teddy560]

I would love to do a sport for fun with Teddy. I think he'd love agility. I can't do any at present though as I don't have any regular childcare and my husband is working abroad i did think about buying some agility stuff for the garden...

 

[Mad Murphy]

@Teddy560 If you have a big enough garden why not make your own course.. sounds perfect to me.

 

[Josie]

I would love to do a sport for fun with Teddy. I think he'd love agility. I can't do any at present though as I don't have any regular childcare and my husband is working abroad i did think about buying some agility stuff for the garden...

You could even do a two in one agility course for Teddy AND the children

 

[Rhythmpig]

Mine love playing football,they are cracking centreforwards. You should see the rest of the teams trying to get the ball off of them. They jink to the left,then jink to the right with the ball while running full speed. In the end they always end up getting sent off. Some people just cant handle playing football with dogs.