Columbiana, Ohio 44408
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Reference Articles General Interest Activities for you and your dog
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There are endless things to do with your dogAgility Competition
Currently sponsored by a number of organizations, agility as a sport originated in England over fifteen years ago. An agility course consists of various jumps, a scaling wall, a teeter totter, tunnels, a high ramp walk, and weave poles. Dogs run the course off leash and are judged on speed, with penalties for refusals, knock-downs, and other mistakes. Agility is an exciting, growing sport that provides both challenge and fun for dogs and owners alike. Carting
Dogs maneuver carts through a course, either individually or as teams. This is a fun and useful skill for larger breeds such as Bernese Mountain Dogs, Rottweilers, Bouviers, and Collies. National clubs for some breeds sponsor drafting events to promote their breed’s natural and historical abilities. Conformation Showing
Sanctioned by kennel clubs and other organizations, conformation shows are designed to give recognition to purebred dogs which are outstanding examples of their breed type. Breed standards include requirements as to head and body structure, coat color and type, gait, size, and temperament. By competing successfully at shows, dogs accumulate points toward a conformation championship. Disc Dog
For dogs who love frisbee! Approximately 100 local and 40 state competitions lead to the world finals. Entrants are supplied with a free disc and can participate in a wide variety of categories, such as freestyle throwing. Earthdog/Terrier Trials
Open to all terrier breeds and dachshunds these trials are a test of terrier’s natural hunting instinct. Terriers must “go to ground” and travel through a tunnel with several turns to find caged rodents. The dog then “works” by barking, scratching, or digging. Dogs are scored on speed and quality of work, and are issued a Certificates of Gameness if they pass. Flyball
Flyball is a team relay sport. Each team consists of four dogs with their owners. The dogs race each other over a series of hurdles, hit a lever on the flyball box, catch the tennis ball and return to the owner with the ball back over the hurdles. High drive, high energy breeds like Border Collies and Jack Russell Terriers often excel in this sport, but the main trait that flyball trainers look for is a dog that is “ball crazy.” Teams are usually organized by dog training clubs and competitions are held where dogs can earn points towards flyball titles. Herding Tests and Trials
Herding tests evaluate instinct and natural ability. The instinct test is done with no prior training, other testing is done depending on the dog’s training level. Sheep or cattle are the most often used livestock, although ducks may be seen as well. Open to all herding breeds/mixes. Lure Coursing
Designed for the sighthounds such as Afghans, Whippets, and Greyhounds, lure coursing employs their natural speed and hunting style. Dogs run a zigzag course following an artificial lure tied to a fish line. Judging is based on speed, agility, enthusiasm, follow, and endurance. Dog’s must be in great physical condition to compete in this instinct based sport. Obedience Competition
Obedience trials are designed to give dogs and owners a chance to demonstrate precise teamwork. Obedience competitions are divided into three levels each more difficult than the preceding one. Obedience trial performance consists of exercises, which involve heeling, coming, staying, retrieving, jumping, and scent discrimination. Search and Rescue
Dogs are a necessity of search and rescue work, due to their awesome scenting ability. Large dogs are used for tracking long distances and over rough terrain, such as woods or mountains. Dogs of all sizes are used to search wrecked buildings for survivors of disaster. Search and rescue dogs usually are pets first and foremost, owned by civilians. Schutzhund
Schutzhund combines obedience, tracking and protection training. Schutzhund trials are divided into three levels, each progressively more challenging. Schutzhund, due to the protection training involved is not a sport for all dogs. Only dogs which have very solid temperaments should be training for protection work. However, dogs not suited for protection may still earn titles through schutzhund clubs in obedience and tracking. Typically large working breeds such as German Shepherds, Rottweilers, Dobermans and American Bulldog are used for schutzhund, but the sport is open to all breeds and mixes. Therapy Dogs
Therapy Dogs are used to help many people. Those commonly visited by therapy dogs are lonely nursing home residents, hospital patients, physiatric patients and children. Tracking Tests
Tracking tests demonstrate the dog’s ability to follow human scent over a set distance. Depending on the level, the track may contain multiple turns, cross tracks and numerous articles dropped by the track layer which the dog must indicate. Water work
Water work is a type of training which is popular with water dogs like Newfoundlands and Portuguese Water Dogs. Dogs are trained to perform lifesaving tasks, like towing a person to shore, taking a life jacket out to a person, and towing a boat. For many years, only the national breed clubs of various water dog breeds sanctioned water rescue training and certification. In 1992, a group developed the organization, WET DOG, which welcomes all breeds and mixes to compete for titles in water work. Weight Pulls
Weight Pull Events give dogs an opportunity to perform a function that comes naturally to many dogs, one that they obviously enjoy. Dogs are placed in a pulling harness and hooked to a weighted cart. The dogs are scored based on how much weight they can pull and by the proportion of their body weight to the amount of weight pulled. Dogs which typically excel in weight pulling are sled type dogs such as Huskies and Malamutes and muscular breeds such as American Pit Bull Terriers, Rottweilers and American Bulldogs. However, all dogs can compete in and enjoy weight pulling. Sled Dog
Dogs have been used for pulling sleds since the first century, and in some areas of the world are still depended on for transportation. Competitive sled dog racing emerged in the 1920s. Teams of 3- 15 dogs pull an eight foot sled plus the driver. Most races are three to eighteen miles long. Sled dogs are typically Artic breeds developed solely for this job such as Siberian Huskies, Alaskan Huskies, Alaskan Malamutes and Samoyeds. However, many breeds have been seen in harness from collies to setters to retrievers to hounds, there has even been a Standard Poodle sled dog team!
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