Lure Coursing is a timed sprint, where your dog chases a lure (usually a white plastic bag) down a field. The lure moves fast through a course, controlled by a motorized wire and pulley system. The speed of the lure is adjustable based on the speed/interest of the dog. Your dog’s time is ‘clocked’ at the end of the course, and you learn their MPH speed.
Some coursing events are limited to specific sighthound breeds (Greyhounds, Whippets, etc), but AKC and UKC offer events that are open to all breeds; AKC FastCAT and UKC Precision Coursing.
If your dog perks up at the sight of a rabbit or squirrel running across the field, your dog will enjoy this event! There is no formal training needed, this event relies on your dogs natural instinct to chase.
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No formal training needed
If your dog loves to chase, you will see the joy in his eyes during this event 🙂
This can be a loud sport, as some dogs bark with anticipation.
Dogs must be 12mo of age or older to compete (fully developed joints, no longer a puppy)
Example of a FastCAT Trial
Organizations
American Kennel Club (AKC) FastCAT – for all breeds
American Kennel Club (AKC) Lure Coursing – only for Sighthounds
Flyball is the only dog sport where you compete as part of a team (with other dogs & handlers). Two teams of four dogs each race side-by-side over a 51 ft long course. Individually a dog runs down a series of jumps, triggers a flyball box which releases a tennis ball. The dog grabs the ball and returns over the jumps. When the dog returns the next dog on the team starts, like a relay race. The fastest team wins.
If you have a dog that loves to run and fetch this might be a sport to try! There are regional clubs that hold classes and tournaments.
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Fun and exciting sport to watch
Flyball is a great way for dogs to burn off energy!
This is a loud sport, as the dogs are often barking with anticipation.
Dogs must be 15mo of age or older to compete (fully developed joints, no longer a puppy)
Example of a Trial Search (NACSW)
Organizations
North American Flyball Association (NAFA) – US and Canada
AKC recognizes titles from NAFA
United Flyball League International (U-FLI) – US and Canada
Agility is a fast pace sport where the dog and human handler navigate a course of obstacles. The team successfully completing the course with the fewest mistakes and the fastest time wins!
Dog Agility was first introduced in the UK back in the 70’s and made it’s way to North America in the late 80’s. Agility is probably the most well known dog sport, as competitions are fun to watch and often televised at the National competition level.
For dog owners competing in Agility, many of them have been training from 1 to 3+ years before joining their first event (called Trial’s). There are many layers to this sport, both for the handler and the dog, which require a lot of training to master. But the bond between dog and owner is priceless.
Types of Training Classes:
Recreational Agility or “just for fun” classes – these courses are casual and intended to introduce the equipment while also having fun training and bonding with your dog. These classes can sometimes be found at your local ‘big box’ pet and boarding stores. These can be good classes to get a high level understanding of the sport and determine if it is something that you and your dog enjoy – and want to pursue at a competitive level.
Professional Training – If you are interested in attending trials in the future you may want to search for a trainer that has or does compete. Finding options near you and a training that matches your learning style may take some digging. Of note, the various Agility organizations use different types of obstacles (e.g. you will see barrel or an arch in NADAC trials), so look for a trainer that matches the type of Trials you are interested in.
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Agility is a fast and exciting sport!
Finding the right Trainer that aligns to your goals is important (e.g. Do you want to compete? Or are you looking for a casual activity to grow your dog/owner bond?)
Puppies can take classes and learn foundation work, but to compete dogs must be 15 months or older.
Dogs should be crate trained, as they will be crated when they wait their turn for the field
Getting ready for your first trial, or looking to spice up your gear?! Below are some of my favorites and why!
For the companies that provide affiliate links, I use them to help support growth of this site, so if you purchase through a link, thank you!
Harness
Wearing different gear when learning and performing in dog sports helps the dog context switch, and know what their “job” is. ie, I am in my Nosework harness, I know that I am going to be doing some sniffing.
Harnesses are popular search attire for activities when your dog is leading the way. If your dog already wear’s a harness as their normal attire, you might want to purchase a different one, with different straps or pressure points (so it feels different).
This type of harness is popular for nosework. It is easy to put on / take off. The first link is the one Kai is wearing in the title picture, it has velcro sides where you can purchase a velcro patch to add your dog’s name. It was purchased back in June of 2021, and it looks like they have made an additional strap between the chest and belly strap in the latest version).
The second link is a favorite for my brother’s dog. It has thicker straps (no velcro), but has lasted them 4 years and counting!
Leash / Long Line
In nosework the dog is guiding the way, so you want to provide independence and slack to move freely. (And no, you cannot use a flexi-lead). There are many different types of material, thinkness, and length depending on what suites you and your dog. I started with a nylon leash, but found it was too think and dirt and debris would get stuck on it. Popular choices are biothane and leather.
Regarding length, I tried a few and my personal sweet spot was 20ft. Many people also end up in the 10′ – 15′ range.
My current favorite long line is made of biothane material from the company Lambwolf Collective. Biothane has a nice feel, light, easy to clean, waterproof, and doesn’t tangle (much). If you are looking for other brands, colors or sizes there are also many options on Amazon and Etsy.
I found this at my local doggie boutique store, and has been my go-to bag! The middle section is held together with a magnet, so it is very easy to open and close. And It has 2 pockets, so I have a place to put my doggie bags. My only wish is that it was easier to clean the bag.
As of writing, the item is not in stock in amazon – so be on the look out at your local shops 🙂
Which led to this other type of pouch. I also heard good reviews for this type of pouch because it is easy to clean and versatile because you can hold wet treats as well. I use it as a ‘backup’ because I found it not as ‘easy’ to reach in and out of this bag, and I liked having the extra pocket for doggie bags
In addition to Barn Hunt, the North American Dog Sport Association (NASDA) also has two games where dogs search out live rats. The goal of these trials are to mimic, as closely as possible, historic field, hunting, and search dog work. As such, the search areas typically mimic those events – in an open field, warehouse, barn, etc. The well socialized rats are contained safely in special made quarry boxes.
These events are very friendly to new comers. You and your dog do not need any formal training to join an event/trial. At the beginner levels, your dog’s natural curiosity and drive for odor will generally guide your dog to the Rat.
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No formal training required to start Trialing, very friendly to newbies.
There are also Puppy classes/trials
Great for dogs and handlers of all ages
There is also a Brace event where two dogs work as a team (off leash) to find the quarry
Example of a NASDA (Urban Location, Level 2) Trial
Barn Hunt is based on the hunting and teamwork skills used by Ratcatchers and their dogs who traveled the countryside ridding farms, barns, crop storage areas, and homes of destructive vermin.
Dogs are trained to identify the scent of a Rat (kept safely in a ventilated tube) in a barn-like area, the ring uses stray/hay bales to create climbing and tunneling pathways. The sport tests the speed, agility, hunt drive, scenting ability, surefootedness, control and responsiveness to handler direction. Barn Hunt is a very inclusive sport, open to all breeds (purebred, mixed breed, with or without a vermin-hunting history) and tripawds.
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High drive dogs generally _love_ this sport
Great for dogs and handlers of all ages!
Handlers under 18 can enter the Juniors program
The rats are bred for the Barn Hunt environment (comfortable handled in tube, being around dogs and people, friendly)
In the sport of Nosework (also called Scent Work) dogs enjoy the challenge of locating a scent and communicating with their handler where the scent is located.
Dogs are trained to identify a variety of scents of Anise, Birch, and Clove. The scent is placed on a cotton swab(s) and hidden from the dog and handler. It is up to the dog to find the scent, and handler to communicate to the judge that the source has been found.
I haven’t met a dog that didn’t love nose work, as it turns their favorite activity (sniffing) into a rewarding game! It is also a great sport for newcomers to dog sports, as there are many nosework organizations – so you are likely to find trainers and events/trials near you! There are also a variety of online training courses, if you want to try this sport in the comfort of your home.
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Great for dogs and handlers of all ages!
Great mental exercise for dogs
You can practice anywhere that allows dogs (at home, local parks, Home Depot!)
Helps build your dog’s confidence
Even great for:
Reactive or Sensitive Dogs (Some trials suggest your dog wear a red bandana to indicate that your dog needs more space)
Dogs with mobility challenges, that might exclude them from other sports (e.g. older dogs, or tripawds)
Example of a Trial Search (NACSW)
Organizations
National Association of Canine Scent Work (NACSW) – United States
Nosework at Home: Easy Activities to Start Training Today
Are you curious if your dog will like this sport?
Nose work (also called scent work) is a great activity for all dogs. Young or old, insecure or bold! If your dog like’s to use their nose (and what dog doesn’t!?) they will probably like this sport!
For newcomers to dog sports, this is a great one to try, as the two largest organizations (NACSW and AKC) have nationwide coverage, and it is pretty easy to start out at home and see if this will be something to pursue further.
(Outside of performance events, nosework activities are great for providing your doggo with mental exercise. The activities are also great when there is bad weather, or if you are feeling under the weather! It keeps your dog exercised without exerting a lot of (human) energy.)
Snuffle mat’s are made from felt and have lots of nooks and crannies to fit treats or kibble. Try using the snuffle mat for dinner, instead of the normal bowl. My pup is usually more excited about dinner when he needs to search for it. For a DIY version, lay out a flat towel, and start rolling the ends, drop kibble into the cracks every couple turns, after it is all rolled up, lay it on the ground for your dog to unravel. (if it is too easy, try tying the ends into a big knot or adding some knots for complexity)
Puzzles
Puzzle games are also a great way to feed treats or kibble (I usually like to add both to increase excitement). There are ranges of difficulty; start with a low or intermediate, and work your way up. If your budget allows, alternate the puzzles; your dog is smart and doing the same puzzle day after day will be too easy.
Save those amazon boxes! And even better, those boxes that ‘slide’ open. Just like those russian stacking dolls. Make the equivalent from boxes you have around your home. Start with the smallest box and put in some super tasty treats, put that into a larger box, and then into an even bigger box. Don’t expect to reuse these items… Sometimes the fastest way to the treats is doggy destruction!
*All items shown are products I have personally purchased on Amazon. If you purchase through these links, thank you!, it helps support the website
Games
Games are a great way to build your dog’s drive, practice focus, and grow the owner/handler and dog bond!
“Get It”
“Get it” is an interactive game that stimulates the dogs prey drive and is a good building block for obedience and focus skills. Your dog will learn:
a cue for how this treat will be delivered
gives your dog an OK to get a treat on the ground
and it serves as a ‘reset’ for training work
Use your cue (Get It), pause, then do a gentle underhand treat throw. They will run to pick up the yummy moving treat. If your dog tracks the treat well, try throwing further at higher speed. End state goal is for your dog to understand that “Get It” means there is a treat about to be thrown. Your dog will likely run very quickly to go after it.
To really stretch his legs, throw it in one direction, and after he picks it up, cue and toss it in the opposite direction.
If you have a smaller dog and they aren’t tracking the treat in the air well, try throwing it bowling style closer to the ground.
“Find It”
This is a great game to play around the house – in essence you hide a treat around the house, and your dog uses his nose to sniff it out.
Gather up a handful of treats.
Keep your dog in a sit/stay or hold onto his collar and place the treat a few feet away.
Say your cue (“Find It!”, “Where Is It?”, or your cue of choice) and release the dog to get the treat!
Once get gets it – partake in his joy for playing the easiest game ever! “YAY!”
The next time place it a little further away but still a place where he can see your hand place it (corners or behind an object is good), saw your cue and let him free to find the cookie!
Repeat with greater and greater difficulty.
My dog doesn’t have a great “stay” when I am out of line of sight, so when we play I put him in his kennel and hide the treat or treats around the room. Open up the kennel, “Find it!” and he is off sniffing!
This video also gives a great description for the game and steps for a dog new to the game.
