What have you done w/your dog?

Question

Ever done anything more than feed it?
Are you aware of all the activities available?

Herding?
Coursing-lure *&* real?
Field trials for pointing & retrieving & HOUND breeds?
REAL hunting? For rabbit,fox, or coyote or coon or lion & bear & boar? Upland bird?
Treeing contests?
Weight pulls?
Drafting?
Earthdog? REAL hunt/working w/terriers & dachshunds?
Protection?
Obedience?
Agility?
Conformation?
Racing?

Are you aware that millions of people & their dogs DO such?
That the dogs LOVE it?

Answer 1

I have to admit to knowing very little about most of the activities you mentioned, but would be very grateful if you could point me in the direction of more information (I'll definitely try to find out more about lure-coursing but would appreciate it if there's any sources of info you could recommend).

I have a retired racing greyhound and as much as I love to walk him and allow him off lead, there is only one place near me that is sufficiently well fenced in for me to trust him. Unfortunately it is not a particularly large area so I don't see him REALLY sprinting for very long before he has to stop.

Although I'm working on it, his recall is not yet perfect and I have doubts that my voice will ever be more interesting to him than the rabbits he can smell.

Obedience is something I am also working on, but I accept he'll never be show quality.

I live in the UK, where REAL coursing is illegal, but lure coursing is something I'd love to see him do.

Finally - THANK YOU for highlighting these activities and giving us something to look up.

Answer 2

Well, both my my current chihuahuas are champions (confirmation); My oldest Chihuahua's father was a champion but also did obedience and agility (at 4-H...when I was a kid).

In addition, I currently own a 9 month old GSD puppy who I will be doing obedience, tracking and want to try herding. I also intend on certifying us as a Search and Rescue team in the future. but we have not started any serious training other than basic obedience and starting tracking training...she's not mentally ready for serious work.

Another great activity which you did not mention is Flyball. And, there is a new organization called Dog Scouts of America. My GSD and i are members. Our troop does Geocaching mainly but also has bi-monthly meetings where we do planning, let our dogs play and organize educational events (i'm presenting the basics of first aid to the group).

Dogs who are involved in fun activities are very happy dogs...and it's a great bonding experience for you as an owner. I was raised at Dog Shows (confirmation/obedience) and am now exploring the performance events in addition to confirmation.

Answer 3

I've taken my 110 pound puppy through the first course of obedience training and this summer after he turns 1 I will probably take him through a second obedience class and then a third class that teaches dogs how to be therapy dogs.

I have been through a couple obstacle/agility courses with my puppy and he loved it, but at 6 months he could barely fit through some of the tunnels and stuff so agility is out for him.

Answer 4

Have shown all my dogs except the greyhounds in conformation, competed in obedience, the newfie was in weight pulls, the (retired) greyhounds have raced, the afghans and pharoah hound went lure coursing regularly, but the most awesome thing of all was taking my Beardie herding. Watching this dog, who at the time had never even seen a sheep, explode when his leash was taken off was amazing to see! The untrained border collies were better at it than he was, but, like the instructor said when he saw him, we've got a Beardie, we're going to have some excitement now!

Answer 5

Conformation - although I don't have anything to show right now unless I show specials. I don't do that much, especially if the dog doesn't enjoy it. I do have a bit ch that absolutely LOVES to show and is very.......perky, in the ring. She is 6 now though, and not in the shape she once was. (Neither am I!!!!)

Coursing, I sure wouldn't mind going OFC sometime though.

aglilty - with my little Crested, am thinking of starting a Whippet

obedience - I have one elderly ob dog left. She was one of the best working dogs I have ever had with many, many HITs. And she AIN'T a Golden or Sheltie either! She has been an absolute BLAST to work with! No more hairy dogs for me though. I doubt I will be racking up very many HITs with Whippets!



Terrier -

asfa.org

AKC has trials in some places as well. Not here though, so I am not very familiar with the rules.

You GH would probably love it. Make sure he is in hard condition if you are going to be running him. Many trials will have practice runs after the trial on the first day and that is a good way to try it out.

Answer 6

If you're preaching, you're on the right track Tyke. Most dogs NEED a job to do. Personally, I have done just about everything. And I train for others, (protection, search and rescue, handicap assistance, police K-9, drug detection, as well as basic and advanced obedience). All of my dogs are off-leash trained, we herd daily (we have horses and cows), I also do agility with two of my dogs (one is 15 years and lost her hearing, but she's still the bomb on a course!) and my high-caliber dogs are all police k-9 trained. So good on ya! Keep 'em sharp!

Answer 7

I've taken my dobie through 2 obedience classes, Canine Good Citizen Certification, Therapy Dog International certification, and she's one of the representatives of our local dog park. I also take her camping quite often during the year in several national parks. We go 'hunting' often, where she finds the deer and runs them down, but we don't hurt the animals. She's also been in a few local lure coursing races open to all breeds and has won a couple times.

Answer 8

Earth dog with Audrey (JRT mix) She tried a demo at a Terriers in Paradise event and used to be a little bit tentative in the beginning (to be anticipated) however definitely went through the newbie "tunnels." She's obtained the build for it, perceived to experience it, and seems to have the power for it. I appreciated the workforce considering the fact that the main rat was once truly a pet of one of the JRT house owners who was quite into earth canine activities -- so nothing would occur to the rat (don't snigger!) Why now not? We moved, life acquired in the way, and many others. -- all the traditional excuses. ADD: Rally also -- once more with Audrey. I rather loved the exercises, Audrey did well in the classes (she's going to do some thing when the ol' deal with bag comes out)

Answer 9

You are so right. There is nothing more miserable than a bored dog!! I have a service dog that works everyday. I am training one dog in obedience to obtain his CGC and then I will concentrate on drafting and weight pulling. As a kid I went on rabbit trials and I dont know who loved it more the owners or the dogs?

Answer 10

Well, I have never had a dog that was NOT trained to do real work. In the last 27 years EVERY dog I had was trained to do explosives detection, narcotics detection, police service dog, KNPV, NVBK etc. ALL of these disciplines require advanced obedience, tracking, article search, building search, area search, and a lot of bite work. I do not keep dogs as pets, they are working animals. They are the happiest dogs I know because their lives have a purpose, their eyes are bright, their attitude is great and they live a filling life instead of sitting around all day burping with boredom.