Content
- Dog sports: list of the most popular sports
- herding dog: herding
- Schutzhund Brazil or IPO
- Agility
- Canine Freestyle: Dance With Your Dog
- canicross
- dog entertainment
even if the canine sports seem activities dedicated exclusively to dogs, the truth is that they require great involvement on the part of the caregiver. In fact, not only must the animal be trained to perform the selected activity, but also, in many of them, the owner must participate.
In this article by Animal Expert you will meet the most popular canine sports and practiced. Some of them are destined to competition through stipulated regulations, while others can be freely practiced in authorized spaces or that present the necessary conditions. Do you want to meet them? Continue reading PeritoAnimal, discover the canine sports we selected below to find out which one suits you and your furry companion the best.
Dog sports: list of the most popular sports
If you are interested in knowing what the sports played with animals most popular, in this article we'll describe each one and explain a little about how they are:
- Herding dog: herding;
- Schutzhund or IPO;
- Agility;
- Canine Freestyle;
- Canicross.
In addition to being excellent for your pet's development, they are a great way to avoid canine obesity.
herding dog: herding
Herding or herding is an exciting sport in which the guide must direct the dog to move the cattle in a certain direction. This is perhaps the most complex of canine sports in terms of the training dogs need.
In general, sheep, ducks or cattle are used to carry out the exercises, always without harming any of the animals. Likewise, the most suitable breeds of dogs for the practice of this canine sport are those classified in the group 1 according to FCI, which is the herding dog.
Schutzhund Brazil or IPO
Schutzhund is one of the sports played with older animals and popular. It requires a lot of concentration, effort and collaboration between the dog and its guide. Initially, it was born with the aim of testing German Shepherd Dogs and verifying if they were suitable or not for the job. Currently, all breeds can practice, with the Belgian Shepherd being the most common and it is used both to train working dogs and to enjoy a canine sport and to compete.
O schutzhund brazil is composed of three parts: obedience, tracking and protection. In this way, we see how this canine sport is mainly aimed at training protection dogs. For this, in addition to training the animal to track, it is essential to train the dog to attack only when strictly necessary. In this sense, we only recommend the practice of this canine sport to experienced tutors, as incorrect training can lead to aggressive behavior. Also, if you intend to use the schutzhund for a practice that does not coincide with sports or work, such as a police dog, do not Animal Expert do not recommend.
Although Schutzhund is a sport, many people consider Schutzhund dogs to be dangerous because they are trained to attack. However, practitioners of this canine sport think otherwise and say that Schutzhund dogs are safe and stable. As we discussed, if the sport is practiced properly, the objective is to protect and not attack.
Agility
Created in 1978 as an entertainment for intermediaries at the prestigious "Cruft’s" dog show in London, the agility it soon became a new sport for dogs. It is currently the canine sport that has gained greater popularity in recent years. It's like a canine variant of riding competitions and, in fact, its breeder was a horse racing enthusiast.
This sport consists in the preparation of a track with a series of obstacles which the dog must overcome through his guide's orders. The order of these tests is random and the tutor does not know it until minutes before the beginning of the exercise.
This canine sport is open to all dog breeds, regardless of their group or size. Of course, it should only be practiced with a dog that does not suffer from any illness or physical discomfort that prevents him from performing the tests without feeling sorry for himself. On the other hand, it is recommended that the participant be over a year old and have basic internalized training.
If you're thinking of getting into this sport for dogs, don't hesitate and check out our article that explains how to get started in agility.
Canine Freestyle: Dance With Your Dog
The canine freestyle or dog dancing it is one of the newest and most spectacular canine sports. Fascinating and captivating, it consists in presenting a musical choreography between the dog and the owner. It is one of the most difficult canine sports as it takes the creativity and skills of trainers to the extreme.
Although one of the main goals of canine freestyle is to carry out creative, original and artistic dance steps, some organizations like the Freestyle Canine Federation require the presence of a series of mandatory movements. As each organization has its list of mandatory moves, we advise you to consult the competition information in question. You most common movements in all of them are:
- Heeling: the dog walks with the owner, regardless of position;
- Front work: Exercises performed in front of the owner (sitting, lying down, walking on two legs, etc.);
- Step changes: the dog speeds up or slows down;
- Walk backwards and sideways;
- Twists and turns.
canicross
In this canine sport the owner and the dog run together, connected by a rope attached to the owner's waist, through a specific belt and to the animal's harness, are the canicross equipment. To carry out the activity, it is essential that the dog wears a harness and not a collar.
Although there are currently Brazilian canicross circuits and championships, this canine sport can be practiced freely, in any forest, trail or path, without the need to compete.In this way, it is not only possible to have fun with the dog, but also to strengthen the bond between the owner and the pet. If you want to know more about this sport for dogs, don't miss our article telling you all about canicross.
dog entertainment
although the canine sports mentioned above are the most popular, they are not the only ones you can practice with your dog. Next, we'll show you a list of other dog sports:
- Drafting;
- Flyball;
- Mushing;
- Messaging;
- Skijoring;
- Competition obedience;
- Trickdogging;
- Frisbee for dog;
- Mondioring.
Do we leave out any canine sports? Do you practice other activities besides those mentioned? Leave us your comment and we will add your suggestion.