Dog Sports and Titles

Ever thought about higher education…..
for your dog?

Ever seen a dog with all kinds of letters before and/or after his name?

Wonder what they mean?

There are many activities that can gain your dog awards and recognition in the form of titles.  They can be a lot of fun for both dog and owner.

Looking for one of these events in your area? Click HERE for DogShow.ca.

Check out the CKC’s Top Dogs in a variety of sports HERE.

Conformation Shows: All breeds recognized by the CKC are eligible to compete. Each dog is judged against a “Breed Standard” that outlines the appearance and temperament of the ideal specimen of each breed.

Den Trials: The dog tracks the game by scent to a constructed den (lair, burrow, tunnel), enters the animal’s tunnel and then works (barking, engaging etc) the animal until the vermin either bolts (flees) from the earth or until the owner digs down to the den in a real hunting situation. The trench or path is scented with i.e. rat scent. A caged rat serves as the simulated quarry at the end of the trench where the dog can see and smell but not physically touch or harm the rat.

Sledding: Sled dog sports, often referred to as “mushing,” have great versatility in the number and range of events. The particular formats practiced in a given area are largely dependent upon tradition and climate. The Nome style of the sport is performed with a dog sled, in which the driver (known as the musher) pushes the sled, runs along side of the sled, or rides on the sled’s runners. Nome style is the most traditional form of dog powered sports, especially in North America, where it takes its name from the city in the state of Alaska by the same name.

Field/Hunting Tests: Pointing, retrieving, and flushing tests are all part of the hunting and field tests available to a number of dog breeds. Lure coursing titles, in which a sighthound is tested on its ability to follow a lure, are also available. The titles in this category are available to members of the Sporting and Hound groups of dogs as noted below.

Flyball: A relay race in which two teams of four dogs each race side-by-side over a 51 foot long course. Each dog must run down their lane, clear 4 jumps, trigger the release of a tennis ball by pushing a pedal, retrieve the ball, and run back down the lane. The next dog is released to run the course when the previous dog has crossed the start/finish line. The first team to have all 4 dogs finish the course without error wins the heat. Points are awarded based on the speed of the team.

Herding: Herding titles are given to dogs after they pass various tests of their ability to perform this function. These trials are open to various breeds as noted below.

Obedience: All breeds are welcome to earn obedience titles, and in fact all dogs should participate in at least the basics of obedience to learn the standard commands needed for everyday life and polish their manners!

Rally Obedience: Rally Obedience is a fun dog obedience sport, open to ALL dogs, purebred or mixed breed as well as physically challenged dogs and/or handlers.

Rally Obedience goes beyond basic heeling by including over forty obedience movements with the sits, turns and paces of traditional heeling. It also requires a brisk pace, positive attitude and happy demeanor.

Rescue: Rescue titles are available to Newfoundland Dogs only and involve tests of the Newf’s breed purpose, water rescue. Rescue titles are available to other breeds through the tracking titles in Obedience.

Scent Hurdling: Scent Hurdling is a relay race with 4 dogs on a team. The course consists of a starting line, 4 hurdles spaced 10 feet apart and a box. The first hurdle is 4 feet from the start line and the box is 12 feet from the last hurdle. The first team dog jumps the hurdles and attempts to find their own scented dumbell from among the four that have been placed on the box. When the dog finds the right dumbbell he runs back over the 4 hurdles and crosses the finish line so that the next team dog can be released.

Schutzhund: The dogs and handlers work as a team in the three categories of the Schutzhund (protection) program: Tracking, Obedience, and Protection. The exercises consist of the following:

• Tracking: The dog must retrace the path of a person (400-1500+ yards with 2-4 turns) after 20-60 minutes have elapsed and be able to find 2-3 lost articles, regardless of weather conditions.
• Obedience: The dog must follow the handler’s orders to heel, jump, retrieve, retrieve over a 6 foot wall and send away, both on and off the leash. The dog must not be intimidated by any distractions, including the sound of a gun or a group of strangers milling about.
• Protection: The dog must, without handler assistance, respond properly in critical situations, like finding and warning his handler of a hidden person, preventing an assault on his handler, and stopping the villain from escaping. The dog must distinguish between a harmless bystander and a potentially dangerous person. He must display courage but restraint on his own when the agitator gives up.
  

Tracking: Tracking, as you might expect, involves following the scent trail left by a human being (or other animal) that has passed along a certain route. Following a track is one of the many useful things dogs can do to help humans. Hounds track game, rescue dogs track lost children, police dogs track suspects, well trained pets can find lost items. Many dog owners are involved in tracking with their dogs as a hobby (for fun) or as a sport (to earn titles), or both. All breeds are eligible.

Canadian Canine Good Citizen Certification: A certification program that tests and identifies dogs that have the training and demeanor to be reliable family members as well as good-standing community members. The program tests dogs in simulated everyday situations in a relaxed atmosphere and is open to both purebred and mixed-breed dogs.

Therapy Program: The Therapy Dog Program takes a volunteer and their dog into hospitals and other organizations on a weekly basis. Through regular visiting, a bond is created between the client, dog and volunteer. The medical profession has for many years widely acknowledged that petting and stroking pets can have a calming effect, lower blood pressure and relieve tension.