Introduction to Sports

Dog sports help keep dogs physically active and mentally healthy. All dogs need a degree of exercise, and most will thrive with the extra stimulation. This seminar covers:

Agility:
This is the number 1 dog sport where you direct your dog through an obstacle course. Agility equipment may consist of contact obstacles, tunnels, weave poles, a pause obstacle, and a tire jump. You and your dog can enjoy this as backyard fun or aspire to go to the competitive level. The dog is off-leash, and treats are not utilized on the field when at the competitive level.

Trick training:
A great way to give your dog both a mental and physical workout. Your dog learns behaviors that require you and the dog to work together. Through trick training, you build a better relationship with your dog, increase mental flexibility, focus and engagement, help develop control, and increase motivation.

Canine Freestyle:
A fun mixture of obedience, tricks, and dance that allows creative interpretation. You choreograph your performance to music to present your dog to his best advantage in an artistic manner.

Treibball:
Our dogs need a job. Most of us who have herding dogs do not use them for herding. However, Treibball (urban herding) isn’t limited to just herding breeds. Urban herding is a positive reinforcement dog sport where the dog must gather and drive large exercise balls into a soccer goal. Nose targeting, go around, wait and push are the primary skills needed for this fun sport.

Hoopers:
Unlike Agility, the dog must master the obstacle course alone. He receives commands from his owner and must follow them from a distance. As a result, the dog learns to pay attention to his owner even if he is not in his immediate vicinity.

Scent Work:
Created to mimic professional detection dog tasks. One dog and one handler form a team. The dogs must find a hidden target odor, often ignoring distractors, and alert the handler. After the dog finds the scent, they are rewarded with food or a toy.

Rally:
A dog and their handler move together through a course made up of 10-20 signs. Each sign displays a skill to perform such as turns or behaviors like sit, down, or stay. The dog and handler work together and should show a sense of teamwork and enthusiasm throughout the course.

The Seminar begins with a presentation at The Training Center – 110 E. Council St. – then proceeds to the Pitner Dog Park for dog activities.

All Dogs Welcome (must be UP TO DATE on Vaccinations and no signs of dog/people aggression)