Dog sports keep canine companions active

By Beth Leermakers

Inspired by the Winter Olympics? If your dog is more athletic than you are — or even if she’s not — dog sports may be the perfect opportunity to have fun with your furkid while satisfying your craving for competition.

A friend who actively (and successfully) competes in the North Texas dog sports community — with rescue dogs — shared advice and training resources. Madeleine stressed that people can compete and win in dog performance sports with a rescue or mixed breed dog. You don’t need a pure-bred, high drive dog like a Border Collie or Malinois. If your dog is older, not super active, or has a disability, she can still compete and do well in nose work and barn hunt. Madeleine says, “No one should miss out on such a fun and vibrant community because they have a rescued dog.” Mixed-breed dogs can compete in nearly all venues under “all American dog” or “mixed breed.” 

Whether you’re looking for a high-octane adrenaline rush or a low-impact way to bond with your senior pup, there’s a dog sport for every temperament. While organizations like the American Kennel Club (AKC) and United Kennel Club (UKC) are well-known, other groups also host competitions: UKI (UK Agility International; events are held in the US), Australian Shepherd Club of America (ASCA) and United States Dog Agility Association (USDAA).  

If you are ready to move from the backyard to the podium, here are five popular sports to consider:

1. Agility. An obstacle course for dogs, agility involves directing your dog through a timed sequence of jumps, tunnels, weave poles and “contact” equipment like teeter-totters and A-frames. Agility is a true partnership sport that relies on split-second communication — and is a good workout for you and your pup. Agility is Madeleine’s favorite sport because “it’s a strategy game. The dog masters the obstacles a lot faster than you master the handling!” 

DFW-area agility training:

 • Lucky Dog Training Center in Keller (www.luckydogtrainingcenter.com; 817.741.3647; info@luckydogtrainingcenter.com)

• All FUR Fun in Addison (www.allfurfundog.com; 214-257-8159; info@allfurfundog.com; 

• Meagan Johnson (RAD Dog Training in Valley View, TX: https://raddogs.as.me) 

• What a Good Dog (multiple locations; the Frisco location is excellent per another dog rescue friend)

2. Dock Diving. If your dog loves the water, dock diving is the ultimate “splash-down” sport. In this competition, dogs run down a dock and leap into a swimming pool to retrieve a toy thrown by their handler. The goals vary by division: some focus on “Big Air” (distance), while others measure “Extreme Vertical” (height) or “Speed Retrieve.” 

DFW-area training and dock rental: 

• The Leap (indoor facility in Valley View, TX offers lessons and dock rental: www.theleapdog.com; theleapdogpool@gmail.com)

• Wax ‘n Splash (Waxahachie; lessons and dock rental; contact through Instagram at Wax_and_splash)

• Dallas Diving Dogs (south Dallas; 214-789-3162)

3. Rally. If your dog is food-motivated and eager to please, obedience competitions may be her forte. Rally (or Rally-O) is a mix between traditional obedience and an obstacle course. You navigate a series of 10 to 20 stations, each with a sign instructing you to perform a specific maneuver like a 360-degree turn, a sit-stay or a pace change. You can train your dog at home, following an online course, or go to Pets West Aledo (https://www.petswestaledo.com/dog-training; 817-615-9121) or Lucky Dog for rally training. 

4. Barn Hunt. Barn Hunt taps into a dog’s instinct to hunt vermin. Dogs must locate rats (safely enclosed in aerated tubes) hidden in a straw/hay bale maze. Terriers and dachshunds excel at this sport, but any dog that can fit through an 18″ wide by bale-height tall tunnel is eligible to compete. According to the Barn Hunt Association (barnhunt.com), barn hunt is “a great sport for older dogs, and older people too! Tripod dogs can compete, and so can deaf dogs. Blind dogs and dogs in wheeled carts can compete in Line Drive.” Lucy’s Doghouse in McKinney (pam@lucysdoghouse.org) offers barn hunt training, with classes starting on April 6. 

5. Nose Work. Nose Work (or Scent Work) is modeled after the training used by professional detection dogs. Instead of searching for narcotics or explosives, your dog is trained to find specific essential oils hidden in various environments — interiors, exteriors or even on vehicles. This sport provides immense mental stimulation, making it a good fit for high-energy dogs who need a “job” or reactive dogs who need to work individually without other dogs in the ring. You can train your dog for nose work at home, following an online course, or head to Lucky Dog in Keller. 

Ready to Try a Dog Sport?

According to Madeleine, you should be prepared to 

• Live online. Groups like Texas Agility and DFW Barnhunt post classes and trials online. Other groups and facilities (like Wax ‘N Splash) don’t have a website but are on Facebook or Instagram.  

• Spend time driving to trials (and training classes). Driving more than two hours to a trial is common. 

• Spend money on entry fees (often $15-$35 per run). 

But the fun, bonding and — if you’re on your game — ribbons make the investment worthwhile!