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This month's topic:
The Wonderful World of Doggie Sports: Part 1
While we humans may view play as a recreational activity or hobby, play to a dog is much more important. Through play, dogs occupy themselves, develop coordination and strength, and learn about their environment. Play is essential to a dog's development both physically and mentally. As a dog owner, you can utilize this need to play and make it the basis for teaching your dog the fundamentals of obedience training. But what can you do once you and your dog are ready to move past basic obedience work? Getting involved in sports such as agility and flyball are a great way to provide a healthy, active dog with a physical and mental challenge beyond basic obedience and can be useful for dogs who have become bored with other forms of dog training. Many dog sports are also appealing to owners because they can be mastered by both pure and mixed breed dogs. Even people who have no intention of competing formally with their dogs find that sports such as Frisbee, flyball, and agility engender confidence in their dogs and allow them to "blow off steam" in a constructive, rather than destructive, manner.
So, how should you prepare yourself and your dog to participate in a canine sport? First, establish a daily routine with your dog which incorporates specific play times. This way your dog will not drive you crazy trying to engage you in Frisbee play, for example, while you are getting ready for work. Between play sessions, specific sports equipment such as Frisbees, retrieving barbells, etc. should be stored where your dog cannot see them.
All dogs, regardless of breed, age, or abilities, should be examined by a veterinarian prior to beginning any vigorous athletic activity. Some dogs may be prone to hereditary or developmental bone problems which will limit the amount of stressful exercise they can tolerate. You will also want to get your dog into shape and prepare him to participate in the sport you've chosen. Just as you would not begin a three-mile run without warming up first, you cannot expect your dog to be ready for a new sport without physically preparing him. You can warm your dog up with a vigorous walk or trot before you begin training in any new sport. If you are interested in having your dog participate in agility, for example, it will also be important for you, the owner, to be in good physical shape. Keep in mind that you will be trotting alongside your dog, guiding him through the steps needed to complete any agility course.
It is also important to remember that your dog will naturally want to please you, so you don't want to push him too hard. Instead, allow him to develop his abilities and hone his innate skills. It is more important for your dog to have a good time with the sport you have chosen, socialize, and get some exercise, than be pushed to achieve the highest jumps, fastest retrieves, or best catches. By keeping your dog mentally alert through play and exercise, you will allow him to hone his skills and develop his potential. However, not all sports and games are suitable for all dogs, so it is important to determine which activities best suit your dog and you. So how do you choose the right sport? First, consider your dog's breed.
There are more than 400 different dog breeds all of whom can be subdivided into categories based on their innate abilities (herding, tracking, hunting, etc.). If you select appropriate games and sports for your dog based on its particular abilities and individual preferences, you will discover that you have greater success and your dog will be a more enthusiastic partner. So let's take a look at the different breed categories first:
Sporting Dogs: Members of this group thrive on high intensity athletic activities. Retrievers, Setters, and Spaniels, for example, excel at retrieving games such as fetch and hide and seek, and are excellent swimmers. These natural abilities combined with their desire to please create an ideal agility or flyball participant, as well as the perfect jogging partner.
Herding Dogs: Members of this group, such as Collies and Shepherds, often excel at agility, for example, due to their innate athletic abilities and the fact that they were originally bred for endurance, stamina, and grace. Their natural herding tendencies and unique jumping style often make them stand-outs in Frisbee competitions as well.
Working Dogs: Representative members of this group are Rottweilers, Huskies, and Newfoundlands. These dogs are quick learners who can readily master almost any sport, including those such as carting, mushing or sledding which require strength and endurance. However, caution must be exercised when working with some of these breeds; while you want them to have a good time, you must be careful not to encourage their natural, protective instincts.
Terriers: All of the terriers, large or small, are renowned for their self-confidence and high activity levels. They enjoy the challenges that many sports provide and are often fearless competitors. The sport you choose for your terrier will depend a great deal on his individual personality and physical prowess.
Toy Breeds: While these smaller breeds such as the Maltese, Shih Tzu, and Pomeranian are bright and agile, care must be taken to modify the equipment used in the typical agility course, for example, to meet their size restrictions. For a lot of the toy breeds, joint problems are common and prevent them from enjoying many vigorous athletic activities.
In summary, while almost any breed of dog can be taught to participate in one of the many canine sports, not all dogs will excel. In addition, some breeds have a tendency to develop skeletal problems and should not be pushed to exercise strenuously. For example, dogs with shortened muzzles and flat noses, such as Pugs and Bulldogs, often find most sports too stressful as all-out exercise makes it difficult for them to breathe, especially during warm weather.
Finally, you will need to assess your own dog's personality and temperament when choosing a sport. In general, all dogs can be described as dominant, self-assured, timid, or even fearful. One dog may exhibit all of these personality traits depending on the situation. As a rule, dominant dogs are the hardest to train; they challenge authority and require a firm hand and consistency in training methods. It's fine for these dogs to engage in competitive games and sports as long as you define when the game begins and ends and what your expectations are. Self-assured dogs readily welcome new experiences but will also require a firm hand as they too test boundaries and challenge their owners. Timid dogs require experienced trainers in order to realize their potential. Consistency is still the key, combined with a gentle, but firm tone. Don't be misled by a timid or shy dog; he is often very good at manipulating you in order to achieve his goals. Taking on a sport together will strengthen the bond between you and your shy dog and help him to gain self-confidence. Fearful dogs often find competitions which challenge them alone (without direct interaction with other dogs) to be confidence boosting. For example, seeking, retrieving, and agility are all individualized sports.
Next month we will look in depth at some of the more popular canine sports such as Frisbee competition, flyball, and agility.
