Flyball
Does your dog love to play ball. Put him to work on a flyball team. Flyball is a relay race between two teams of four dogs. The dogs are required to jump a series of four jumps hit a box that releases a ball, and then return over a series of jumps.
For more information check out the North American Flyball Association.
Musical Freestyle
Musical freestyle is a relatively new sport that combines dog obedience and dance in a way that is totally unique and visually exciting display of handler and canine teamwork. The handler and dog perform dance-oriented footwork in time to the music, rather than displaying the traditional walking pace of obedience. Heeling is an important component of freestyle but nonstandard movements are also expected to be displayed by the dog along with attention, enthusiasm, and a degree of difficulty over and above that which is normally seen in the obedience ring. A variety of handler upper body movements are also encouraged to lend interpretation to the music. Costuming for the handler also helps to enhance the interpretation of the music and to involve spectators in the spirit of the routine. Throughout the routine the handler may encourage the dog's performance with verbal commands, but no training aids or food of any kind are permitted in the competition ring.
A good example of dancing with your dog is this video
Search and Rescue
Scent wafting is one of the important channels that canines use in communicating with the outside world. The dog scenting ability is quite an integral part of its being that, this same scent is as informative as a road-side billboard is to humans. The same acute sense of smell proves to be quite useful in search and rescue operations
Everyone agrees that the function search and rescue dogs perform is extraordinary but little information seems to be available about what they actually do, and how they do it. No one ever talks about the remarkable teamwork that exists between the dog and its human partner.
The search and rescue dogs are high energy and love to retrieve. If you are considering doing search and rescue work the best place to start researching is the RCMP Civilian Search Dog Association.
Scent Hurdling
Scent Hurdle Races have two teams of four handlers and dogs racing their dogs at the same time over a series of four hurdles. At the end of the hurdles each dog must retrieve a scented and numbered dumbbell from a square platform then return over the hurdles. The dogs love it and so do the handlers.
Scent Hurdling is popular in several provinces in Canada and a lot of the CKC shows include Scent Hurdling. It is often at the end of the day, so if you want to see it check out a show schedule before going.
Schutzhund
Schutzhund combines tracking, obedience and protection work. In one day the dog faces a tracking test, an obedience test and a protection test. It originated as a way to find the working ability of a dog before breeding it.
Sledding
Although dog sledding is associated with the Northern Breeds such as the Alaskan Malamute and the Samoyed, these breeds are not the only ones which can pull a sled; I believe most large dogs can do it. The following site has a complete introduction to sled dog training. The most popular sledding event in the world is the Iditarod race, an annual dog sled race in Alaska , where mushers and teams of dogs cover more than 1,000 miles.
One nice thing about sledding is that you do not have to own a team to try it. There are tour companies which will teach you how to sled with their teams, or give you a ride on a sled. Click for a list of some dog sled tour companies in North America.
An offshoot of sledding is Skijoring. It combines sledding and cross country skiing.
Therapy Work
Do you and your dog like meeting people? Some extended care centers and hospitals look for people to visit with their dogs. Brighten up someone's day with a visit with from your dog. Dogs need to be outgoing yet calm. Contact the volunteer coordinator at a local care centre and see whether they are looking for someone to bring in their pets. For more information on pet therapy in general check out the Delta Society site. Another good site is the St. John's Ambulance Therapy Dog Program.
Tracking
Tracking tests are designed to test a dog's ability to recognize and follow human scent, and their ability to locate and "indicate" any articles left on the track. Every dog is born knowing how to follow a scent trail, but the challenge in this sport is in getting him to follow only the one that you want him to. This is a non-competitive sport; there is no score awarded - simply pass or fail. The handler must be willing and able to work outdoors with the dog in all kinds of weather. Obedience training is not a requirement; indeed, many people start tracking with puppies because it is a simple, non-stressful, instinctive activity for the dog.
In Canada, tracking competitions are regulated by the CKC, and for that reason, are restricted to dogs of breeds that are "recognized" by the CKC. As of 2002, the CKC opened up performance events to both registered purebreds and dogs that appear to be of a CKC-recognized breed, who fit the criteria for a Performance Event Number (PEN). For more information on the PEN program, visit the links page to find out how to contact the CKC.
Click for info on the type of equipment required for this sport