Dog Sports
Our members train and show in Agility, Obedience, Tracking,
Herding, Conformation, Flyball, Rally, Weight Pulling,
and Water Sports. we encourage those who are truly
interested in participating to the best of their
ability, no matter if that ability is for a championship
or just to earn legs and/or titles, or just to enjoy
themselves. We also encourage our members to cross
train in any and all dog sports.
Below are just a few of the dog sports active today...
AGILITY
The USDAA defines agility this way:
"Dog agility is a competitive sport that tests a person's
skills in training and handling of dogs over a timed obstacle
course. Competitors race against the clock as they direct
their dogs to jump hurdles, scale ramps, burst through
tunnels, traverse a see-saw and weave through a line of
poles in an obstacle course configuration designed to
challenge a handler's competitive and training skills.
With scoring based on faults similar to equestrian show
jumping, dog agility has become an exciting spectator event."
AKC AGILITY INFORMATION
http://www.akc.org/events/agility/index.cfm
UNITED STATES DOG AGILITY ASSOCIATION
http://www.usdaa.com
NORTH AMERICAN DOG AGILITY COUNCIL
http://www.nadac.com
OBEDIENCE
An obedience trial is an event at which dogs and handlers
perform exercises such as heeling, sitting, laying down,
staying, returning to the handler and retrieving an object,
all on command from the handler. Dogs earn obedience titles
depending on their performance at different levels of difficulty.
AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB, INC.
http://www.akc.org/events/obedience/index.cfm
UNITED KENNEL CLUB, INC.
http://www.ukcdogs.com
CONFORMATION
Dog shows (conformation) concentrate on the distinctive
features of purebred dogs to help preserve these desirable
characteristics in the breed. Individual breed standards
have been determined by the breed' parent club, describing
the ideal size, color, and temperament of each breed, as
well as correct proportion, structure, and movement.
AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB, INC.
http://www.akc.org/events/conformation/index.cfm
UNITED KENNEL CLUB, INC.
http://www.ukcdogs.com
HERDING
Herding trials are designed to provide a gauge whereby
owners/handlers can preserve and develop the herding
skills bred into the herding breeds. These trials are
standardized tests to measure and develop the inherent
characteristics of the herding breeds.
AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB, INC.
http://www.akc.org/events/herding/index.cfm
FLYBALL
Flyball racing is a fast and exciting sport, an off-shoot of
scent hurdle racing. (In scent hurdle racing, the dogs must
go over four jumps and pick up one of four articles - the article
scented by their handler.) A realay race, there are four dogs (with an alternate
or two) on a team. At the signal to begin, each dog in turn
races down its lane, flying over a set of four jumps set ten
feet apart. At the far end of each lane is a flyball box. Each
dog must step on a flyball box pedal releasing a mechanism
which flips a tennis ball from the cup. The dog must retrieve
the ball, hopefully on the fly, and then return to its handler
over all four jumps with the ball. As each dog makes the turn,
another dog on the team is waiting eagerly to be released.
The first team to have all four dogs successfully complete a
run wins the heat.
NORTH AMERICAN FLYBALL ASSOCIATION (NAFA),
http://nafadb.flyball.org/public.shtml
RALLY
Rally is a dog sport that is based on basic obedience
commands, but is performed in more relaxed manner, allowing the
handler to verbally encourage, praise, and direct the dog.
It is open to all purebred and mixed-breed dogs. The course is
a series of numbered "stations" that the dog/handler team works
through. Once the judge gives the command “forward,”
the dog and handler complete the course on their own without
further commands from the judge, except for “exercise finished”
at the end of the course. Handlers may do anything to encourage
their dogs except physically touch them or make corrections
with the leash.
ASSOCIATION OF PET DOG OWNERS
http://www.apdt.com/rallyo/index.htm
WATER SPORTS
Water sports offer water tests that allow a dog, with
even the slightest interest in water, to quickly earn
recognition and have fun. This group of sports includes:
dog/handler team swimming, retrieve, underwater diving,
tow, scent, and search work. Fosters and direct natural
and trained canine water abilities while preserving
canine desire and joy for water work. This is open to all
purebred and mixed-breed dogs.
GOVERNING ORGANIZATION
LINK
WEIGHT PULLING
The IWPA describes weight pulling this way:
"[Weight] pulling is akin to a tractor pull. Dogs compete to
see who can pull the most weight 16 feet. They pull a
wheeled cart on an earthen surface, or a sled on snow.
The handler has no contact with the dog during the pull,
so it is up to the dogs willingness to pull. Safety of
the dog is of paramount concern." The purpose is to
promote the working heritage of all dogs.
INTERNATIONAL WEIGHT PULLING ASSOCIATION
http://www.iwpa.net/
