Dog sports are a great way to for you and your dog to bond, exercise and stay fit. Participating in sports with your dog is also a great way to meet and socialize with other active dog lovers.   As dogs have become companion animals and further away from their traditional work roles as hunters, trackers and herders, many dogs don't have a regular outlet to channel their natural abilities. Dog sports fill that gap. Canine-related...

Read more

Dog agility is a dog sport in which a dog navigates an obstacle course guided by his/her handler. A dog's ability to race through the course is judged on time and accuracy. Dog agility can be traced back to the 1970s when a demonstration was held at the Crufts Dog Show in England to entertain spectators. The course was based on the type of course used for horse-dressage events. Since then, the dog sport has...

Read more

Bikejoring is a dryland mushing activity where a harnessed dog (or team of dogs) is attached to a towline and runs ahead of a cyclist on cross-country trails. The activity is related to skijoring, cani-cross, dog scootering. Any breed (or mixed-breed) of dog can be used in bikejoring. However, because it it a more rigorous activity often the more popular breeds for bikejoring are large breed dogs such as Pit Bulls, Siberian Huskies, Samoyeds, Malamutes,...

Read more

Cani-cross (or CaniX for short) is the dog sport of cross-country running while hitched to a dog. The sport is popular in Europe, and is becoming more popular in North America. Cani-cross is related to other dog-powered sports such as skijoring and bikejoring. Runners need a special running harness, waist belt and flexible line that connect the runner to the dog. Competitions require more specific equipment in terms of the length of line and type...

Read more

In the dog sport Disc Dog, dogs and their handlers interact with a flying disc. Disc Dog is the generic title, but the sport is also commonly referred to as Frisbee Dog, after Wham-O's tradmark brand of disc. The human throws the disc and the dog catches it. It sounds simple, but the sport is filled with exciting acrobatics and athleticism that take years to master. Disc dog competitions have two types of events: distance...

Read more

Dock jumping, also known as dock diving, is a dog sport in which dogs compete against one another to see who can jump the farthest distance and/or height from a dock into a body of water. There are numerous clubs and organizations that run dock-jumping competitions around the world, but Purina's Incredible Dog Challenge remains one of the most popular and is televised on sports television. There are various divisions of dock jumpers, depending on...

Read more

Dog scootering is a sport where one or more dogs pull a human riding an unmotorized kick scooter.  Similar to bikejoring, or sulky riding, the dog(s) wear special harnesses and are hooked to the scooter with a towline/gangline. The gangline has a bungee cord which smooths the ride. Most of the same commands used for mushing are used in dog scootering, although dog scooterers tend to be more relaxed about their commands, sometimes using "right"...

Read more

Dog hiking is an activity where dogs are taken alongside their guardians to wilderness areas. Sometimes packs (similar to saddle bags) are strapped to the dog, so they can carry their own food and/or water (which is often referred to as pack hiking). Hiking with dogs is great exercise and enjoyable past time for outdoor enthusiasts. Selected destinations do need to be reviewed in case the park or natural habitat has any particular dog restrictions....

Read more

Earth Dogs (or Earthdog) are competitive trials that grade and rank the working ability and instinct of small (often short-legged) terriers or Dachshunds. Historically these dogs were bred to hunt vermin, such as rodents and other animals that burrow and live in underground dens, such as rabbits. Earthdog den trials involve man-made underground tunnels that the dogs must negotiate, while scenting a rat, "the quarry." The dog must follow the scent to the quarry and...

Read more

Canine freestyle is also known as musical canine freestyle, freestyle dance, dog dancing, or heelwork to music. It is a modern dog sport that mixes obedience training, tricks, and dance to music. The sport has a degree of artistry which allows for creative interaction between dogs and their handlers. Canine freestyle is a choreographed performance and is meant to illustrate the training and joyful relationship of a dog and handler team. Distinctive to canine freestyle...

Read more

Flyball is a dog sport in which teams of dogs race against each other from a start/finish line, over a line of hurdles to a special box that releases a tennis ball which has to be retrieved when the dog presses the spring loaded pad. The dog then races back to their handlers while carrying the ball. Flyball is run in teams of four dogs, as a relay race. A Flyball Relay course is 51...

Read more

Dog surfing is both a recreational and competitive dog sport. Dog surfing started as a recreational phenomenon in Southern California, and quickly became so popular that competitions were introduced. The first dog surfing contests started in 2005 in San Diego as fundraisers for charities, a practice that continues on today. Dog surfing events are held each year in California and include: Helen Woodward Dog Surf-A-Thon (Del Mar), Loews Surf Dog Competion (Imperial Beach), Purina Incredible...

Read more

Although Skijoring first started with a person being pulled by a horse, people now enjoy the sport with dogs. In skijoring one to three dogs assist a cross-country skier. Similar to cani-cross and bikejoring, a dog is connected to a skier with a special harness and towline. The skijoring line is usually at least 1.5 meters (8 feet) long. A section of bungee cord is often incorporated into the line to absorb the impact of...

Read more

Scent Work, or Nose Work, is a dog sport that involves a dog's keenest sense - their sense of smell. The sport can be recreational or competitive and will appeal to dogs of any breed, size or age. With Scent Work, dogs are encouraged to make use of their nose. The activities play to their ability to follow a scented trail. Scent and nose work clubs and associations will have different trial tests, rules and...

Read more