Items12The creator’s order
  1. 1Dog agilityDog agilityThe one most people picture: your dog runs a course of jumps, tunnels, weave poles and climbing obstacles such as the A-frame while you steer with your body and voice. Foundation classes run at training centres in most US cities, and a six-week beginner course often costs around $130 to $250.…0i
  2. 2HoopersHoopersThink agility with the jumps taken out. Dogs flow round a course of low arched hoops, barrels, tunnels and gates, and the handler is rewarded for sending them on from a distance rather than sprinting alongside. With no jumping, weaving or climbing, it is a kind choice for older dogs, dogs returning…0
  3. 3Rally obedienceRally obedienceIf your dog already walks nicely and knows sit and down, rally is the gentlest way into competing. You move through a course of numbered signs, each asking for an exercise such as a turn, a halt or a spiral, and unlike formal obedience you can talk to, praise and encourage your dog the whole way…0i
  4. 4NoseworkNoseworkScent work, also called nosework, teaches your dog to find a cotton swab scented with an essential oil such as birch, anise or clove, hidden in boxes, rooms, vehicles or outdoor areas. Dogs search one at a time, so it is a brilliant option for shy or reactive dogs who find busy classes…0i
  5. 5Barn HuntBarn HuntGot a terrier, dachshund or any dog that goes rigid at the sight of a squirrel? Barn Hunt lets them search a maze of hay bales for pet rats sealed safely in aerated tubes, with a tunnel and a climb thrown in. Any breed or mix that fits an 18-inch-wide tunnel can play, and the first step is a…0
  6. 6Tracking (dog)Tracking (dog)Tracking turns your dog loose on a real trail: wearing a harness on a long line, they follow the footsteps of a person who walked a field earlier and dropped a glove or wallet at the end. The first AKC test is a 440 to 500 yard track with several turns, aged 30 minutes to two hours, and a judge…0i
  7. 7FlyballFlyballA noisy, joyful relay for ball-mad dogs. Teams of four race in turn over four small hurdles to a spring-loaded box, trigger it, catch the tennis ball and sprint back, with two lanes of dogs going head to head. The hurdle height is set by the shortest dog on the team, so small, fast dogs are prized…0i
  8. 8Dock jumpingDock jumpingDock diving is about as simple as dog sport gets: your dog runs the length of a dock, about 40 feet, and leaps after a toy into a pool, and the distance is measured. Water-loving retrievers are the obvious stars, but small dogs have their own division and veterans compete too. Many facilities and…0i
  9. 9Disc dogDisc dogIf your dog would chase a frisbee until sunset, disc dog gives that obsession structure. Toss and fetch rounds give you 60 seconds to score as many catches as possible, and UpDog games add points for distance, zones and teamwork. Novice divisions let you play with soft, floppy discs, and local disc…0i
  10. 10Lure coursingLure coursingClassic lure coursing is a sighthound event, but its spin-off, AKC Fast CAT, is open to every dog aged 12 months or more, mixed breeds included once they have an AKC Canine Partners number. Your dog chases a plastic lure down a straight 100-yard dash, is timed, and gets a speed in miles per hour,…0