Dog Activities
Whether you join a club or do it on your own, doing things with your dog is lots of fun:
Agility
Dog agility is a sport in which a handler is given a set amount of time in which to direct a dog off-leash through an obstacle course. Originally loosely modeled on equestrian stadium jumpers competitions, the sport has evolved its own additional obstacles, scoring systems and performance ideals." -- Janet Gauntt, Introduction to Dog Agility, Dogpatch web site. A more detailed description of Agility (and the rest of the article) can be found at http://www.dogpatch.org/agility/FAQs/faqintro.html. Some Alberta agility clubs can be found at: Agility Clubs. The web site of the Agility Association of Canada can be found at: http://www.aac.ca/. To find an agility trial to watch check out the agility page of the upcoming events section of Alberta Dogs: Agility Trials. |
Competitive Obedience
Sometimes it seems wondrous what dogs do in an Obedience Trial: dogs heel, come, retrieve and jump. As wondrous as it seems, almost any dog can learn to do it.
There are three levels of Competitive Obedience: Novice, Open and Utility. Each level is progressively more difficult. It used to be there was only the Canadian Kennel Club trials for dogs, leaving the crossbred dogs out. Now there are the United Kennel Club trials which include everyone.
If you are interested in competitive obedience take some time to watch an obedience trial, upcoming trials are listed in the shows area of Alberta Dogs: Dog Shows. Most of the training centers which provide dog obedience classes can get you started on competitive obedience. A listing of some clubs which organize obedience trials can be found at: Dog Obedience Clubs.
Conformation Showing
I suspect that as soon as man figured out how to talk, he started to boast. No matter what we have we like to think it is the best and that includes our dogs. In conformation shows dogs are judged on their structure and looks. In theory conformation shows are used to evaluate the dogs for breeding, yet most seem to show so they can claim they have the best dog.
Conformation showing looks easy: you just trot your dog around the ring and then set them up for the judge to take a look. I have never tried it, but I have been assured it is tougher than it looks.
If you want to try out conformation showing you must have a purebred, registered dog. There are conformation shows both in Canadian Kennel Club shows and United Kennel Club shows. Probably the best place to start is with handling classes which are run by many of the training centers. There you can learn the rules and find out the tricks of how to show your dog.
For those under age 18 there is Junior Handling. In Junior Handling the competition is on how well you handle the dog instead of on the dog's conformation. Click here for more information Junior Handling.
Alberta Dogs keeps a listing of upcoming Alberta CKC conformation shows. Check out the events areas to find a show to watch: Dog Shows.
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 or to find a club look at the North American Flyball Association site: http://www.flyball.org.
Herding
The name for this sport says it all. In herding dogs herd sheep, cattle or other livestock. Border Collies excel at this sport, but other breeds in the herding group such as the Australian Shepherd and the Australian Cattle Dog still retain their instinct. It is easier to do this if you own a parcel of land and some livestock, but people do work other people's animals. Information on the Alberta Stock Dog Association can be found at the following web site: http://www.albertastockdog.com. Information on the Working Australian Shepherd Club of Alberta-Stockdog club can be found at: http://www.albertaworkingaussies.com/.
Retrieving (Birds)
Grant De Pauw and one of his dogs at a fun retrieving trial. |
At one time dogs did retrieving out of necessity. Now is has become a sport and dogs bred to retrieve love it immensely. Some people acquire a retrieving dog to make life easier when they go hunting. Others hunt to see their dog work. There are trainers who will get you started on retrieving with your dog. Check out the training section of the dog services section of this Alberta Dogs: Training . There are also clubs which get for people who like to work their Retrievers in the field: Retriever Clubs . If you want to watch a Retriever trial, there are Retriever trials and tests all around Alberta for different types of Retrievers. Check out the events section of Alberta Dogs in the spring and summer for upcoming trials: Other . |
Search and Rescue
I remember someone telling be how eerie it was to search for someone, probably already dead, down a deserted country road in the half-light of sunset. It takes a dedicated volunteer and a special dog to do Search and Rescue work. The search and rescue people I met do not sleep in on Sunday mornings; they get up so they can train their dog with the rest of the search and rescue team. This team of dedicated volunteers is on call twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week for when someone is in trouble.
The search and rescue dogs I have met are high energy and love to retrieve. If you are considering doing search and rescue work the best place to start researching is the Canadian Search Dog Association's web site at http://www.canadiansearchdogs.com/ . There is also the Search and Rescue association of Alberta web site at http://www.sardaa.ca/.
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 Alberta 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. To find out when the shows are check out our Dog Shows page. |
Kelsey (Ch. & O.T. Ch. Carry-On Wylderose Legacy SHDCh, FbD), an English Cocker Spaniel, flies over the hurdles. Kelsey is owned and loved by Gaylen J. Boutet of Willowcroft Reg'd English Cocker Spaniels. |
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. A more detailed
explanation can be found at: http://www.dvgamerica.com/whatis.html
. For for information on Schutzhund in Canada check out http://www.gsscc.ca/.
Here is a link to the Alberta Schutzhund Association activities: http://dogtraining.meetup.com/46/.
Sledding
I have never navigated a team of huskies but it must be incredible fun. Every year when I read about the Iditirod race I have the impulse to acquire a team. 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: http://www.seppalasleddogs.com/training.htm.
Northern Alberta Mushers Association promotes sled dog sports as a family activity in the Edmonton area and their web site can be found at http://www.tgx.com/nama/nama.html.
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. The following site lists some dog sled tour companies in Alberta: http://www.dogsledrides.com/alberta.php
An offshoot of sledding is skijoring. It combines sledding and cross country skiing. A nice skijoring site is: http://www.Skijorama.com
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: http://www.deltasociety.org/. For information on doing pet therapy in Alberta check out the Pet Therapy Society of Northern Alberta: http://www.pettherapysociety.com/.
The Chimo Project uses animals in therapy sessions to help the clients achieve their goals such as reduction in anxiety and depression or increased participation in therapy. The Chimo Project offers therapy certification for volunteers with dogs and cats with daytime, evening or weekend availability. Especially needed are dogs that can do agility and fetch, and volunteers with daytime availability. For more information check out their web site at www.chimoproject.com.
Tracking
If your dog always has his nose to the ground then maybe tracking is for you. In tracking dogs follow a human scent laid on the ground and indicate lost articles. Most dogs really enjoy tracking and it is a very natural activity for them. If your dog is registered with the CKC then you can work toward tracking titles.
It is hard to find tracking classes, although if you watch for posters in doggie places you may find a seminar. If you are interested watch in the upcoming events section of Alberta Dogs, I will post any tracking seminars or classes I hear of.
A classic book on tracking is Tracking Dog: Theory & Methods by Glen Johnson, 1977. It is available at Amazon.ca.
Dog Clubs
Most of the clubs listed in Alberta Dogs are either associated particularly with one dog sport, or associated with a particular breed. These clubs just like doing lots of things with their dogs:
Southern Alberta Working Herding Dog Association
This club's mandate is to educate its members in all things canine. It is open to all breeds and they focus on educating members on the various activities you can do with your dog. For more information check out their web site at: http://www.geocities.com/sawhda/index.html.