Dog sports

Agility

Dog Frisbee

Companion dogs

Dog sports

If you have an active dog, you should be fit yourself and do sports with your four-legged friend. This is the only way the dog will be sufficiently occupied and thus lead a happy and exciting life with its owner. A dog can be a very good and motivated sports partner for its owner. Depending on the size and character of the four-legged friend, there are many possibilities for exciting activities in the team between human and dog. Of course, the dog's fun should always be the main focus. If the dog cannot be motivated to do something, then you should try something else.

If you want to do dog sports, then you don't necessarily have to take part in competitions and compete with the competition. Most dog sports can be done just for fun. Of course, it's even more fun in groups.

Agility

Here the dog has to complete a given course. The obstacles can consist of tires, tunnels, walls, see-saws and a slalom, for example. This sport requires a lot of mental work (concentration) from the dog and also represents an exciting challenge for the trainer. A dog that is already well trained masters the sporting obstacles without loud commands, but only through the body language of its trainer. Clickers, leashes or similar are not permitted. Agility can be practiced as a fun sport with exercise-loving dogs from the age of 1 1/2 years. There are also regular competitions for experienced four-legged friends where they can compete with their peers.

Agility originally comes from England and is now a very popular dog sport in Switzerland too. This sport is suitable for all active dogs, provided they do not have any problems with their joints.

Example Video

Companion dog sport

It is very important to teach a dog the basic commands from a young age. In addition to sit, lie down, stay, come and out, "heel" is also part of this. The dog should learn as soon as possible to behave correctly towards strangers and other dogs and to follow its owner's commands straight away. Dogs usually learn the quickest from other dogs, which is why training in a group with the guidance of a qualified dog trainer will almost always lead to success very quickly. Once a dog has absorbed this basic training, it can perhaps even be trained to be a rescue dog or a companion dog for disabled people.

Example Video

Canicross

This sport has not been known in Switzerland for very long and was first practiced in France. In canicross, the dog is attached to the belly belt with a short leash (max. 1 meter in competitions). Unlike jogging, the dog is allowed to pull, so this sport can be very strenuous for the owner. It is really fun for both dog and owner when you do your training laps in the forest or on hilly terrain. So that the leash can be easily released in an emergency in the event of a fall, a so-called "panic hook" is recommended (mandatory in competitions).

Example Video

Degility

If you don't want to compete with others and just want to do dog sports for fun, you can do Degility with your four-legged friend. Agility or just jogging are also included here. However, it's not about speed, but simply about interesting activities for humans and dogs. Above all, older dogs should also have fun doing something with their owners in order to stay active for as long as possible.

Service Dog Biathlon

This dog sport is aimed at service dog handlers who take their four-legged companions with them on missions for work. As with agility, the dogs have to complete a predetermined course. However, they also have to cross pools of water, jump over tree trunks or carry out a planned attack on the dog handler. Shooting exercises are also part of it.

Dog biathlon is a good option for civilians, although there are no shooting exercises or attacks on people.

Dog Dancing

Yes, there are dogs that like to dance and are even real professional dancers. You teach the dog certain natural movements, such as small tricks, jumping, turning or slalom running. A specific choreography is then developed to suit the music. The gentle movements are very relaxing for both dog and owner, but require a lot of concentration from both. A typical dance exercise to start with is running between the legs. You lead the dog from left to right, from behind and from the front and vice versa between the legs. Most dogs understand this movement quickly and the whole thing can then of course be gradually increased. The various jumps, running on two legs and "playing dead" the dog require a little more training time.

If you are fascinated by this dog sport, even if you don't have a dog yourself, then just watch a few videos. You will be amazed at what you can do with your dog through diligent training.

Example Video

Dog Diving

This sport is particularly well-known in the USA and is becoming increasingly popular here too. The dog jumps as far as possible into the water from a diving platform that is about 60 cm high. The owner motivates his four-legged friend by throwing toys into the water, or the dog has to fetch its "prey" from the edge of the pool. This dog sport is also spectacular fun for spectators. Of course, this sport is only suitable for dogs that love water.

Example Video

Dog Frisbee

Many active dogs love to chase a flying Frispee and catch it with a skilful jump. This type of game is also great fun for the humans and is a great and meaningful activity for the dog. In addition to being used as a game, this dog sport can also be played competitively. The aim is for both the dog and the human to show off skillful throws and various tricks. In this sport, special care must be taken to ensure that the dog does not have any joint problems due to the high jumps.t.

Example Video

Flyball

Flyball is an action-packed sport that is great fun for both dogs and humans. At the command of the handler, the dog runs over several hurdles to a ball machine and triggers it with its paws. It then catches the bouncing ball and runs over more hurdles to the finish. Now the next dog on its team runs off, similar to a relay race. The team that has caught and returned the most balls at the end wins.

Example Video

Special dog sports

Of course, there are many other dog sports that every dog ​​owner can do with their four-legged friend. If a dog meets the appropriate requirements, it can also be trained as a rescue dog, for example. Special tests must be passed for this too. And then there is dog sledding, which I have already written about in a separate topic.

If you have a dog that needs a lot of exercise, then you should definitely do some sporting activities with him. There are numerous clubs that offer suitable courses, and there is sure to be an opportunity in your area. You will see that dog sports are not only fun for the four-legged friend, they also keep him fit :-)