Is your dog antsy for a new adventure? Perhaps you’ve noticed their boundless energy, intuition to care for those in need, or eagerness to learn new tricks. If this describes your dog, it may be time to consider exploring the world of dog sports and activities. From adrenaline-pumping dog agility competitions to the caring and impactful experience of canine therapy work, every dog can have his or her day. Before you dive in, the Wales Animal Clinic team has prepared this beginner’s guide to five popular dog sports, with tips on getting started.

Why should dogs participate in sports or activities?

Organized dog sports and events offer benefits for dogs of all shapes, ages, breeds, and mixes. They can not only earn your dog a ribbon or a title, but also provide deep benefits that enhance your dog’s quality of life. Benefits include:

  • Helping your dog stay fit and healthy
  • Engaging your dog’s mind, which can reduce boredom and destructive behaviors
  • Strengthening the dog-owner bond
  • Fostering dog-handler trust and better communication by learning to work as a team
  • Providing opportunities for fun, play, and social interaction, which can relieve stress and anxiety and promote greater well-being
  • Promoting healthy rest, which leads to improved behavior and physical health

Preparing your dog for a new sport or activity

Before you dream about standing in the winner’s circle with your dog, ensure they are physically and behaviorally prepared. Start your dog off on the right paw by establishing their readiness for the desired activity. This includes:

  • Physical assessment — Your veterinarian can advise you on whether your dog is a suitable candidate for high-impact sports, such as agility, dock diving, and flyball, or if gentler activities, such as scent sports or therapy work, would be more appropriate.
  • Basic obedience and manners — Well-socialized dogs with previous obedience experience are easier to manage in busy training environments and less likely to be scared or reactive toward other dogs, handlers, or equipment. If your dog hasn’t participated in previous training, start with a basic obedience or manners class and work toward attaining your dog’s Canine Good Citizen title.

5 beginner-friendly dog sports and activities

More than ever, there is an activity for every dog. Organized sports and events have grown to include more beginner-friendly options and activities ideal for calmer dogs, senior dogs, and physically limited dogs. Here is a brief sample of offerings from the dog sport world for eager canines and their human handlers.

  • Dog obedience — Competitive obedience is what many owners first imagine when they think about dog sports. Considered the foundation for all canine events and activities, obedience is a demonstration of focus, control, and teamwork for the dog and handler. In addition to showcasing essential behaviors, such as sitting, down, heeling, staying, and recall (i.e., the dog coming when called), obedience strengthens the dog-owner bond and helps build your dog’s confidence and self-control.
  • Therapy work — If your dog is calm and affectionate, enjoys meeting new people, and isn’t bothered by novel situations and stimuli (e.g., unfamiliar smells, sights, and sounds), they may excel as a therapy dog. Canine-assisted therapy is a powerful way to provide comfort and companionship to those in need, and a deeply rewarding experience for the dog, handler, and therapy recipient.
  • Dock diving — Water-loving dogs will enjoy making a splash in dock diving. Dock-diving dogs are required to jump off a raised dock into a pool of water to retrieve a thrown or suspended toy. Dogs are judged on the distance and height of their jumps and can achieve various titles and national rankings. Dock diving tests your dog’s athleticism and agility and satisfies their desire to retrieve.
  • Dog agility — Agility is a fast-paced obstacle course where handlers direct their dogs over jumps, tunnels, and ramps. The sport is always performed off-leash, so requires significant trust and teamwork. Agility also requires that dogs be in peak physical condition and is not recommended for dogs with chronic conditions such as arthritis, obesity, intervertebral disc disease, or hip dysplasia. 
  • Scent sports — Dogs with a nose for adventure will excel in scent-based sports, a rapidly expanding category that includes nose work (i.e., scent work), barn hunt, shed (i.e., deer antler) hunt, tracking, terrier-only earth dog classes, and lost item recovery. These sports are generally safe for dogs with physical limitations and older dogs. Some of these sports are conducted on leash and are ideal for dogs without a strong recall.

Engaging in dog sports isn’t only about winning medals but also promotes your dog’s overall well-being. Whether you’re looking for a fun way to keep your dog active, strengthen your relationship, or simply learn something new, dog sports offer endless possibilities. Start your adventure with a visit to Wales Animal Clinic, and remember—have fun, no matter what activity you try! Contact our team to schedule your dog’s pre-sports exam.