Plenty of dogs are perfectly content with couch life, but they’re capable of much more. They’ve been bred for hundreds of years to accomplish certain tasks, and even mixed breeds hold onto these instincts to be active and engaged.
Luckily, there are plenty of sports available to dogs of any size, breed, or lineage. As long as your dog is in good health and you put in the effort, these sports are a great opportunity to socialize, expend some energy, and let your dog’s instincts loose in a suitable way.
Racing Sports
There are plenty of breed-specific sports, but the events are rapidly opening up to able-bodied canines. Considering most dogs love to run around as fast as they can, it’s no surprise the number of racing opportunities.
Agility trials involve an obstacle course, usually consisting of tunnels, jumps, and walkways, that your dog must finish in a specific order. Your dog must be physically capable of handling the course, but they must also listen to handler instructions to perform in the correct order.
Flyball allows your dog to join a relay team, usually of four dogs. Each dog will run down the course, jump over hurdles, and release a ball from the flyball box. Once they bring the ball back to their handler, the next dog is free to go.
Even lure-coursing, which was once limited to sighthounds, is opening up to all breeds. Those with high-prey drive now have a suitable outlet for this instinct, chasing a lure through a course and over obstacles to put the best time on the clock.
Field Sports
Dogs also have their own version of track and field events.
Field sports usually cover tasks associated with hunting. Certain breeds may be innately talented at retrieving or pointing, but many field trials are open to any breed. As long as they can exhibit valuable hunting skills, they have a chance of performing well.
Barn dog and farm dog trials simulate the expectations of many working breeds closer to home. A barn dog like a Dachshund would usually focus on catching rats in small spaces where others couldn’t reach, but even Great Danes have had fun trouncing around those bales of hay.
Other farm dog events focus on instincts like herding. The AKC even has a Farm Dog Certification that involves 12 trials (other than herding) a rural dog may face.
Disc and Water Sports
Some dogs hate water; others seem to be born with fins. If your dog is the later, you may want to look into disc and water sports like:
- Disc dog
- Dog puller
- Dock diving (also known as dock jumping)
- Dog surfing
These water sports usually encourage your dog to chase after a lure, following it bravely into the water with the hopes of marking the furthest or tallest jump of the competition. Your water loving dog probably won’t care where they place as long as they get to stretch their legs and soak.
Pulling Sports
Huskies and malamutes aren’t the only dogs well-suited to pulling a sled or other vehicle. Many broad-chested, strong-legged, athletic dogs enjoy strapping in and hauling off.
You don’t need snow or a cart to compete either. Bikejoring, skijoring, and scootering involve your dog pulling you on the mentioned vessel, racing to be the first across the finish line.
Your dog doesn’t even need to pull you. If they’ve got the brawn and health clearance from a vet, weight pulling gives them the opportunity to show off those muscles. Instead of distance hauling, they aim to pull a greater weight over a short distance.
Protection Sports
Protection sports like Schutzhund test a dog’s obedience as well as their courage and ability to guard. Any dog may compete, although there are breed-limited club competitions.
Generally, dogs are judged for their ability to track an individual, obey their handler, search hiding places, and guard under pressure. They should be able to pursue a target and apprehend them, all while listening to their handler.
We usually picture working breeds like German Shepherds doing this work, but even well-trained Chihuahuas have had success and fun competing in protection sports.
Trick and Obedience Sports
Would your dog prefer staying in one space? Trick and obedience trials may be a better option than anything mentioned before.
These events give your dog a chance to show off their intelligence. There may be a specific routine you need to follow, or you may have the freedom to impress the judges with your own creativity.
Rally obedience trials like APDT Rally and AKC Rally are usually more open than traditional competitions, and they offer several levels of competition depending on experience.
Dancing Sports
If your dog can carry a beat, dancing sports like canine freestyle or heelwork to music may be a better challenge than simple tricks. These sports require stringent obedience training as well as careful choreography and a deep bond between a dog and their handler.
While some events are more stringent, most allow you to perform any move as long as it isn’t dangerous. These include:
- Turns
- Weaving through legs
- Walking backwards
- Jumping
- Skipping
Canine sports are increasingly opening up to all, and now is the perfect time to get your dog involved. You just may find your new favorite hobby, and your dog will have a fantastic time getting out and being active.
