Dog Sports are any physical activities that involve dogs, both competitive or non-competitive. Some are obviously sports, but for other activities it is questionable. We have listed all that we could find, make up your own mind whether it is a sport or not.
Faster, Higher, Stronger
- Dock Jumping — dogs jump from a dock into a body of water in an attempt to achieve the greatest distance or height.
- Dog Racing — greyhounds chase a lure around a track.
- Greyhound Hare Coursing — hares are chased by greyhounds using their sight rather than scent.
- Sighthound Racing: Sighthounds race over a straight track.
Pulling Things
- Bikejoring — a single dog or a team of harnessed dogs pull along a rider on a bike.
- Skijøring — being pulled either by a dog, a horse or a motor-operated vehicle while on skis.
- Dog Sled Racing — teams of sled dogs pull a sled with a driver. Also called Dog Mushing.
- Weight Pulling: Dogs pull weights over a course.
- Carting: Dogs pull carts or wagons.
- Dog Scootering: Dogs pull a scooter and rider.
Navigating Obstacles
- Flyball — a relay race between two teams of four dogs. Each dog must jump over four hurdles, retrieve a ball by triggering a flyball box pedal and then return over the hurdles to the starting line.
- Dog Agility — dogs have to navigate through a course that has various types of obstacles under the direction of a handler.
- Canine Parkour: Agility Training for Dogs and Owners
Showing Off Skills
- Disc Dog — dog frisbee competitions of distance catching and choreographed freestyle catching. This is competed by a dog and his human partner. The goal is to catch the Frisbee.
- Musical Canine Freestyle — a modern dog sport that is a mixture of obedience training, tricks, and dance that allows for creative interaction between dogs and their owners.
- Heelwork to Music: Dogs perform routines to music.
Playing Sport
- Treibball: Dogs push balls into goals.
- Dog Surfing: Dogs ride waves on a surfboard.
Contrlling Other Animals
- Herding: Dogs control livestock's movement.
- Sheepdog Trial: Dogs herd sheep through obstacles.
Doing What they Are told
- Obedience Trial: Dogs demonstrate training commands.
- Rally Obedience: Dogs navigate a course with obedience commands.
- IGP (IPO/Schutzhund): Dogs demonstrate obedience, tracking, and protection.
Accompaining Humans
- Canicross — a variant of cross country running in which runners have to complete the course accompanied by their dogs.
And More
- Working Trials: Dogs complete various tasks.
- Sled Dog Racing: Dogs pull sleds over snow trails.
- Terrier Racing: Terriers race over a short course.
- Barn Hunt: Dogs locate hidden rats in a course.
- Coon Hunting Field Trial: Dogs track and tree raccoons.
- Earthdog Trial: Dogs navigate underground tunnels.
- Field Trial: Dogs demonstrate hunting skills.
- Hare Coursing: Dogs chase hares in a controlled setting.
- Hound Trailing: Hounds follow a scent trail.
- Lure Coursing: Dogs chase a mechanized lure.
- Nosework: Dogs locate hidden scents.
- Tracking Trial: Dogs follow a human scent trail.
- Trail Hunting: Dogs follow a scent trail outdoors.
- Shed Antler Hunting: Dogs locate discarded antlers.
Related Pages
- More about Dog Sports
- Complete list of sports