Most people have heard of dog sports such as agility, competition obedience, nose work, and flyball. However, dog sports are as numerous and varied as are the breeds themselves — some are suitable only for particular breeds while others are open to all breeds, even mixed breeds. If you are looking for a new way to engage your dog in a physical or mental challenge, and to spend more time together in an activity that you both enjoy, consider trying some of these unique dog sports, many of which you may never have heard of before.
Dog Mushing
A number of dogs sports fall under the category of dog mushing: skijoring, bikejoring, dog scootering, and canicross.
Skijoring is the only one of these dog sports that requires snow: a cross-country skier is equipped with skis and poles and is pulled by one to three dogs in a sled harness. When more than one dog is taking part, the dogs are connected to each other with a tug line rope. Since no reins are involved, the skier must direct and motivate the dogs to run through voice commands.
Bikejoring uses the same concept as skijoring, but the dogs are attached to a towline ahead of a bicycle, in order to provide extra power to the cyclist. This can be the perfect way to train dogs for skijoring when you do not have snow or to just exercise them on dry land.
Dog scootering is the same a bikejoring except the handler uses a kick scooter. The sport uses the same type of harness as for other dog mushing, but usually dogs are connected to one another with a gangline.
Canicross is a very popular sport in Europe; a handler runs with one or two dogs attached to a waist belt. If you are running with two dogs, it is necessary to connect them with a bungee line or elastic line to reduce strain if one dog tugs. Unlike other dog mushing sports, even small dogs can participate in canicross.
Treibball
Treibball is another sport that originates from Germany. In this game, a dog must drive eight large exercise balls, set out in a triangle formation, into a soccer-goal sized space within a time limit (usually 15 minutes). The handler stays in a specified area and communicates with the dog through whistles, verbal signals, and hand motions. In a competition, the dog and handler team receive points for cooperation and direction.
Musical Canine Freestyle
This example of dogs sports combines obedience training, tricks, and dance to enhance the interaction between dog and owner. The emphasis on creativity and fun has led the sport to develop into many competitions in various countries across the world. In traditional obedience heeling, a dog is taught to work only on the left side of the trainer, but in canine freestyle, the dog must work on both sides while performing a variety of tricks including leg weaving, moving together at a distance, spinning, jumping, and rolling over.
Dog Surfing
Dogs that love the water can learn to enjoy it in a whole different way through dog surfing, a sport where your companion rides with you or alone on a surfboard, bodyboard, windsurf board, or skimboard. Competitions and exhibitions are held across the coastal areas of the country from California to Florida. The sport is no where near a new one: it was first documented in the 1920s, and one decade later Philip K. Auna appeared in the silent movie On the Waves in Waikiki surfing with his dog in Hawaii.
If you’re looking for creative and challenging activities for you and your dog to share, there’s virtually no end your choices. The important thing is to find something that both you and your dog can enjoy.
