Dogs are one of the few animals in the animal kingdom that humans have managed to domesticate. To keep them in good health, make them more docile or even distract them, it is essential to make them discover dog sports. Dog sports vary from one canine breed to another and above all remain fun games to be tested without too many constraints.
There are plenty of sports your dog or bitch can do. From agility to dancing dog, through hunting sports, all are beneficial in one way or another depending on their specificities. Your choice can therefore be determined according to your goals.
Discover in this article the sports activities for your dog, the tips for training it and the many benefits it can benefit from if a master selects the ideal discipline specific to each.
Agility is a dog sport that combines play and obedience. It is suitable for young dogs as well as more mature dogs, and it is often practiced in competition. As for obedience, it is simply a set of exercises that aim to improve dog obedience.
You and your dog can also participate in obedience competitions. By combining agility and obedience, your dog will be receptive to your commands and your statements. This is a useful skill in a training project, for example, or any similar project.
Cani-scooter, Canicross and cani-compagnie: a trail for the dog
The cani-scooter is a dog sport adapted and accessible to any type of dog, regardless of breed, age and size. It consists in having his scooter pulled by one or more dogs.
The principle is the same as with the canicross, which allows you to run while being connected to your dog by a belt and a harness. the cani-mountain bike on the other hand is the fact of having his bike towed by one or two dogs. For its part, the cani-kart is exercised with dogs (4 or 6 on average) which drag a non-motorized machine equipped with all-terrain wheels.
Also, the cani-paddle is a sporting activity that takes place on the water, especially at sea, in a river or on a lake with a board. In this specific case, the master remains standing while paddling, while his four-legged companion can be seated or standing.
Finally, the cani-rando or the cani-walk is a sport suitable for all types of dogs. This sport allows your four-legged companion to develop his endurance, and to learn to use his paws well. In practice, cani-rando can sometimes be difficult for some dogs, especially on terrain or in an environment requiring significant efforts. It is a leisure activity that does not require any special sports skills.
Herd, sled, team or mondioring sports: for sporting dogs
The herd sports bring together all the canine sports activities practiced for a competitive purpose. They develop obedience, gentleness and initiative in your dog. As to sled sports, they take place on land as well as in snow. The process of the game provides for categories of age, weight and distance to be covered. If your dog is 50cm or more at the withers, he may experience the thrill of the team. This sport is generally practiced with several dogs, each of which acts in coordination with the others in order to tow the vehicle.
Regarding the mondioring, it is a competitive sport designed to confront the best international trainers. This sport brings together three disciplines: relaxations, jumping exercises and biting exercises. Note that these group sports are sports activities that bring your dog or bitch to work in the company of other animals. They then allow your four-legged companion to develop group work capacities, as well as aptitudes which will be beneficial to him for life in society or for team competitions.
Disc Dog or Flyball: rather frisbee or dog ball?
the disc dog Where frisbee dog is a sporting activity during which your dog must catch up, possibly with acrobatic movements, a frisbee in flight launched as far as possible by its owner. The disc dog is a competitive dog sport and includes disciplines such as short distance, freestyle, long distance and circle.
the flyball is a variant, which allows the owner to improve his relationship with his dog, by doing himself a minimum of physical exercises such as catching a ball and jumping a hurdle. Unlike agility, the owner does not have to run alongside his dog. This dog sport is accessible to all dogs regardless of size, age or breed. It is a fun and friendly sport for both the dog and its owner.
Dancing dog, obérhythmé or Dog Yoga
The oberhythmic, still called dancing dog, is a dog sport suitable for all dogs and which stimulates their intelligence. Your workouts allow you to strengthen your bonds with your little budding dancer. The idea behind this sport was to set up and learn choreography with your dog with or with her bitch. One of the advantages here is that you don’t need special equipment. You can even train almost anywhere. Your living room can act as a training track. You can also enjoy the good weather by using your garden or the lawns of your favorite park.
the dog yoga is also an excellent sporting activity. Originally from the United States and uncommon in France, dog yoga develops your dog’s ability to concentrate and observe. It should be noted that the dog is content to observe his master and learns to remain quiet.
Hunting sports: gall-trial, digging, sight pursuit on lure and digging
the gall-trial is first and foremost a dog sport intended exclusively for hunter breed dogs. For the dog, it consists in hunting and rediscovering its most natural predatory instincts. This dog sport is very rewarding for the dog and his master.
As to digging up, it is also an activity specific to the breed of hunting dogs. As its name suggests, it consists of digging up a hunted animal that has taken refuge in a hiding place. It is a very common activity for hunting dogs.
In the same vein, the pursuit is also a sporting activity for dogs exclusively reserved for the greyhound breed. It often gives rise to competitions where it consists of a zigzag race whose purpose is to catch a lure.
the digging is a dog sport where the dog is called upon to dig to find truffles. He develops the physical capacities of the dog while familiarizing him much more with his master. This activity can be done in the plantations or in the woods of natural truffles.
What are the health benefits of dog sports?
It is indisputable that sports have a positive impact on dogs, and even on their masters. However, their benefits manifest themselves in different ways and in different ways.
- For the sedentary or somewhat athletic master: they also allow him to keep in shape, to keep a good physical condition, while providing muscular reinforcements to his dog. They promote the positive learning of his dog education, the conviviality and the enriching exchanges of the dog clubs.
- For the well-educated dog: when the well-educated dog regularly performs the dog sports indicated for his breed, he develops automatisms and good behaviors. This allows him to let off steam, to spend his excess energy, to boost his heart, his muscles and his life span. If in addition, he is regularly followed by a veterinarian, and benefits from a balanced and digestible diet, he will always remain in good health and will remain a pleasant and happy companion.
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On the other hand, the team sports promote your dog’s integration into his environment, and help him become more familiar with other dogs and / or with people. If he is well trained, playing sports with his dog develops a certain temperance in him, which allows positive reinforcement of the dog, better complicity with his master, top socialization and effectively trained proprioception.
TO REMEMBER ! Depending on his training, your dog will adapt to all dog sports indicated for his breed, and he will even enjoy it. However, you must take certain necessary precautions so as not to slow down your growth and that of your muscles. Therefore, it is often advisable towait for the puppy to finish growing. It is also necessary to seek the opinion of veterinarians in relation to his health, to ensure that he is sufficiently fit to regularly participate in sports activities supervised or not by a professional, a dog sports coach, a dog club.