Agility is a sport where your dog must run through an obstacle course. His performance is judged by how quickly he can complete the course without any faults (knocking over a hurdle, skipping over an obstacle, etc). Your dog is off-leash, and you run alongside him – outside the obstacles – directing him with only your voice and body signals.

Agility is a great sport for high-energy dogs. Breeds and mixes of all sizes are encouraged to give it a go, though dogs that are fast and lighter o n their feet tend to be the best at this sport.

For more information, visit the United States Dog Agility Association.

The Canine Good Citizen Test is an American Kennel Club certification program that is open to dogs of all ages, breeds, and mixes. To receive a Canine Good Citizen certificate, your dog must pass a ten-step test evaluating his basic obedience skills and manners. The Canine Good Citizen test and training classes for the test are available throughout the year around the country.

For more information, visit the American Kennel Club.

Disc dog refers to different competitions involving you, your dog and a flying disc. There are a myriad of different disc activities such as distance competitions, freestyle, and a “throw and catch” race against the clock.

For more information, visit:

U.S. Disc Dog Nationals
K9 Disc

Dog parks are designated, fenced-in areas for dogs to play off-leash. Generally, in order to enter a dog park your dog must be licensed, up-to-date on shots, and free of any communicable diseases. Many parks also prevent females in heat and un-neutered male dogs. Dog parks provide your dog with a great opportunity to romp freely while learning to socialize with other dogs. This is a great physical and mental workout for your dog. Unfortunately, however, dog parks can also be a risky place. Dog fights can and do happen, and you can never insure against an overly aggressive dog (of course, if your dog can be aggressive around other dogs, you should not bring him to a dog park), or that play between dogs will not escalate into a fight. Similarly, despite many parks’ rules regarding only bringing in healthy dogs, not all owners can be trusted to abide by the rules. Thus, dog parks can also be risky for parasites and diseases.

For more information, visit Dog Park.

Drafting is often used as a catch-all term referring to activities where y our dog is pulling a wagon, cart, sled, or other similar device. Draft competitions may be designed to judge different criteria, such as, the amount of weight a dog can pull or the length of time a dog can pull. Though draft activities are typically associated with working breeds and working breed mixes such as Bernese Mountain Dogs and Newfoundlands, if you find the appropriate size harness and pulling vehicle any dog can have fun with draft sports. However, it is generally agreed that you should wait until your dog is fully grown before doing draft activities.

For more information, visit Dog Infomat.

These are fun programs for terriers and Dachshunds that take advantage of the breeds’ natural inclination to dig and hunt for quarry. In Earthdog tests, your dog will have to negotiate an underground tunnel and locate quarry – either a decoy or a live rat that is protected from injury by barriers and has access to food and water. The quarry is not injured during earth dog trials.

The AKC sponsors these events and, among other requirements, competitors are limited to certain breeds – mostly small terriers and dachshunds.On the other hand, there are some local clubs that are open to all breeds. In addition, you could create your own informal club.

For more information, visit the American Kennel Club.

Flyball is a fast-paced team sport combining retrieving, jumping and racing. In a flyball match, two teams, composed of four dogs each, compete against each other. The two teams race next to each other along separate 51 foot courses. Each dog on each team must run down his course, hurdling the jumps in his path until he reaches the end of the course where he steps on a box that releases a tennis ball. The dog catches the ball and runs back with the ball over the hurdles to where he began, signaling the next team-member to begin the course. The fastest team wins.

Flyball is a great sport for high-energy dogs with a strong work drive. Herding dogs such as Border Collies and terriers seem to be particularly fond of this sport, but any breed or mix could give it a try. Size doesn’t matter as the hurdles as set for the shortest member of each team.

For more information, visit The North American Flyball Association.

In herding events, your dog’s ability to herd livestock is tested.

For more information, visit Herding on the Web.

Lure coursing is the perfect sport for most sight hounds. Dogs are judged on criteria such as speed, enthusiasm, endurance, agility and accuracy as they chase a mechanically operated lure through a course.

Unfortunately, many lure coursing competitions are open to only certain purebred sighthounds. This does not mean, however, that there are not local clubs open to all dogs. Or you can create your own informal club.

For more information, visit The American Sighthound Field Association.

There are numerous organized competitions that test your dog’s obedience skills in a variety of ways. The American Kennel Club is a good place to start if you have a registered purebred dog or the American Mixed Breed Obedience Trials if you have a mixed breed dog.

For more information, visit:
American Mixed Breed Obedience Registration
American Kennel Club

Schutzhund is a sport that tests your dog’s skills in tracking, obedience, and protection. The sport originated in Germany, and grew out of a breed evaluation test for German Shepherd dogs.

For more information, visit the United Schutzhund Clubs of America.

There are many programs through which you and your dog can volunteer to visit nursing homes, hospitals, and other places where interacting with your dog will bring happiness and comfort to people. Most organizations require your dog to be evaluated and attend specific training courses in preparation for therapy work.

For more information, visit:

The Delta Society
The Good Dog Foundation

Tracking trials (was this supposed to be trials or trails) ask your dog to follow a scent trail through various twists and turns of a trail. This is a great sport for your dog if he loves to use his nose, and you love to spend time in the great outdoors.

For more information, visit the American Kennel Club.