Get out with your dog

Many of us are looking for fun and interesting ways to get outside and exercise. Why not try something new and include your dog? After dogs have completed basic obedience training, most of us don’t think of teaching them anything new. Once they are housebroken, can go for a walk without dragging us down the sidewalk and learn to come when they are called, we’re happy. We don’t always realize how much more our dogs can do.

Agility: Most people have seen agility competitions on TV. Dogs fly through the course, weaving around poles, zooming through tunnels, leaping over jumps. Novices won’t be as fast or accurate as the dogs on TV and some dogs will initially be wary of the equipment, especially the see-saw which moves while the dog stands on it. But most dogs, with the encouragement of their owners, will be able to master many of the obstacles and have fun learning new physical and mental skills.

Flyball: This is a great activity for dogs that are enthusiastic fetchers. If your dog incessantly drops a ball in front of you, waiting for you to throw it so he can bring it back, this may be the sport for him. Dogs perform a series of jumps, retrieve a ball from a special contraption that shoots it out so they can catch it, and run back with the ball. They are on a relay team with three other dogs. In competition, dogs are timed, but even if your dog is not a speed demon this is a fun activity for the two of you. Everyone, canine and human, has a great time.

Rally-O: The “O” stands for obedience. This sport is a timed event in which dogs complete a number of different stations where they must go over a jump, do a perfect down-stay, heel to their handler in a figure-8 or perform other tasks. Unlike traditional obedience trials which are performed without a leash and in which verbal encouragement is prohibited, dogs new to Rally are on a leash and owners can talk to them as much as they want. This event has been called a cross between agility and obedience and is as much fun to watch as it is to participate in. Young handlers are welcome in the ring, so it can be a great experience for your kids handling the dog in competition.

Besides being fun activities where you’ll meet other dog enthusiasts, these sports all have something else in common: They require some basic obedience training to get started. So spend the winter filling in the gaps in your dog’s training with obedience classes. Then when the nice weather rolls around, you’ll be ready to broaden your dog’s horizons by starting in on one of these sports. You’ll discover your dog’s untapped potential.