Saturday, December 31, 2011

Sports For Your Dogs

By Alice Nance


Engaging in sports is not only for humans. Your best friend, the dog, loves playing sports as well. Dog sports do not only make a dog's life fun, but healthy, as well. Depending on his breed, there are some dog sports that you may want your dog to get involved into and here is a list you can consider.

Being Agile

While the dog is being guided by its handler, they will then move through an obstacle course such as tunnels, jumping, contact obstacles, and so on. What controls the dog is only its handler's voice and body language. If he doesn't have a leash, then the major requirement for a dog to enjoy this sport would be obedience training. The names of this game would be speed and accuracy.

When Carting

Large breeds usually participate in this dog sport. Mainly, this will involve the dog pulling a cart with supplies like firewood or other farm goods and sometimes even pulling people. Dry land mushing and sulky driving is what it is also known as and it is well-known and practiced all over the world.

Frisbee Dog

Frisbee dog is commonly known as disc dog and it's a competition about a dog and a human disc thrower competing in the events such as a choreographed freestyle catching and distance catching. In this kind of dog sport, the division will depend on the skills and experience of the handler. This is one of the most popular dog sports because of the fact that any kind of dog can participate in them.

What is Flyball?

This dog sport is a relay wherein teams of dogs race against each other leaving their handlers. These teams need to surmount four hurdles that are placed 3 meters apart from each other. Then, they have to reach a box that will release a tennis ball that needs to be caught when the dog presses the pad which is spring-loaded. Then, they have to go back to their respective handlers while carrying the ball.

Scootering

It is a sport where one or more dogs pull an unmotorized scooter in which a human is riding. Mushing, which is another dog sport that is done in the winter, is what this is similar to only the dog scooter involves fewer dogs and instead of a dog sled which is used in mushing, a scooter is used. Like sled dogs, dogs that are doing scootering wear harnesses and are hooked to the scooter using a gangline.

Learning about Sheepdog Trial

It is also called a "dog trial" in which, as the dogs are directed by their handlers, breeds that are into herding move sheep around a field, gates, fences, or enclosures and is also considered as one of the competitive dog sports. Think of the movie "Babe" to understand this better. This is more popular in UK, Canada, Ireland, the USA, New Zealand, Australia and other farming nations.




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