#akc is so much more available for most sports

[whatisshelties]

I still find it ridiculous that my (known) mixed breed has more AKC titles than my last two dogs combined.

[elvenferretots]

Hey! I'm the anon who asked about the dog training resources. I've bookmarked all the books and looked up Hannah and what not! I dont have a dog just yet- planning on rescuing when we finally move unto our house- but I love being prepared. I've just recently started following you, so I'm not sure if you'd be able to help fully- but do you have any tips and resources on training dog sports? Or any Tumblr users you can redirect me to that may be able to help?

That’s so awesome, Anon! It’s so exciting, getting prepared to adopt a dog. I waited to answer this because I wanted to use an actual computer to add links. Depending on the dog sport, I can probably point you to a resource or someone who knows where to start!

Any AKC sport can be found on their website. That’s a great place to start if you are in the US. Other countries all have their own kennel clubs, and their websites should have the basics on registration and titling (mixed breeds can also participate in most sports as long as they are altered!). FDSA is a great place to start for foundations in a lot of these.

Traditional Obedience: This is my favourite sport! It’s all about precision and teamwork, but does not require intensive speed. This is the stuff that Hannah Branigan’s book is about, and what most training clubs teach above “pet” classes. Your local kennel club or training club is a great resource for this sport, especially if you are able to attend a trial. You can see how the sport works and network with the local community. @theadventurek9 has titled her aussie in obedience (and also does disc, agility, dock diving, and Rally)! You can always shoot me specific questions about this sport and I can point you somewhere or put something together with TenSoon.

Rally-O: Rally Obedience is a lot of heelwork, and is judged less strictly than traditional obedience. You are allowed to cheer on and guide your dog in early levels. Signs guide you through the course, and you can get the first AKC title online this year. Details for online titling are on the website. This is a super fun sport to train, and also likely available at local training clubs. I really like this sport for clicker training and building teamwork. TenSoon and I are not experts, but here’s a video of us doing a practice course in my yard. The signs can be confusing, so I recommend taking a class online or in person if it’s your first sport, but FAQ and all the signs are here. Some of the signs are hard and some are self-explanatory, but training a heel (dog walks with you, shoulder to your left leg), front (dog comes and sits straight in front of you), stay, tucked sit, down, and kickback stand are an excellent start. You can find those in the Awesome Obedience book. I like classes, because there’s a lot of ways to teach, and an instructor can find a way that jives well with you and your dog. You can also always shoot me specific questions about this sport and I can put something together with TenSoon.

Tricks: You can get trick and stunt dog titles for your dog! The book 101 Dog Tricks is the go-to resource for training, and you can title through Do More With Your Dog and tranfer titles to AKC, or title directly with AKC. My first dog was a trick and stunt dog, and it’s a lot of fun. Clicker training can help with more complicated tricks. Most dogblrs teach tricks.

Disc: Disc is just frisbee for dogs! I post the most about disc, because it is just so fun. There are several associations for the sport, so local disc clubs will often play with many. The titles from UpDog transfer over to AKC. I really like Flying Dingo Dog Training videos on YouTube for foundations! This is a sport you really don’t need classes or anything for. You just need you, your dog, and some discs! Less mobile dogs can compete in UpDog with rollers, so as long as your dog likes to fetch, it can play.

Tracking: Your dog follows a scent to an end goal! This is TenSoon’s favourite sport.There are several kinds of tracking, and Ten and I do AKC-style. I took FDSA classes on this at Gold level, and honestly, it was spendy but worth the money to be able to submit video for critique. This sport requires a lot of setup, but most of your training will be alone. Once you have the procedure down, you just keep setting tracks and increasing difficulty. The whole sport is on-leash, and involves learning to trust your dog and think ahead. Then if you run into a problem, you can bring it to someone who has a few more miles in the sport. I’m always happy to talk tracking. @konmari-dogs and @rustpup both track with their springer spaniels. Bitesport people also train tracking, much more meticulously. @shotinthekidney may have some input, as well as @werewolvesinthewoods; although I know tracking isn’t always a bitesport favourite to teach.

Scent work: Unlike tracking, a dog does not follow a trail for scent work, but rather looks for a certain scent in a container. It’s similar to what drug detection dogs do. It’s an ideal sport for older or less mobile dogs, so I’m holding off on learning this one until I have to retire my dog from other sports. I don’t know any dogblrs who do scent work, but The National Association of Canine Scent Work has an instructor directory and FDSA almost always has classes. 

Barnhunt: Like scent work, but the dog finds a contained rat in a barn around obstacles. I don’t know any dogblrs who participate, and have no desire to encourage my dog’s prey drive like that (or keep him from peeing on the hay, which is a disqualification). But I know a TON of dog people, especially terrier people, love this sport! Any dog can play, and title with AKC through the Barn Hunt Association. I know @doberbutts has had some positive experiences with barn hunt, even if it isn’t his sport, and may be able to point you to where to start.

Dock Diving: If your dog loves to swim and fetch, dock diving is the perfect sport! If you have access to a dock, you can train with just a dog and a toy, encouraging longer and longer jumps. Dog pools are also available at some training facilities, which may offer rented pool time or lessons. NADD titles are recognized by the AKC, but there are other organizations as well. @pseudopoodle and @twobigears dock dive. @spanishmal also used to do some dock diving, I believe? She does lure coursing, mostly, which is only open to sighthounds. But if racing sounds fun to you, FAST CAT is an option that her gorgeous dobermans did and is open to all dogs. 

Agility: This is a super popular sport! It’s fun and fast and flashy, and training can be good exercise. It’s entirely off-leash and is not a great match for overly reactive dogs or dogs with mobility issues. If you have a herding breed or mix, this may be a great match, but all breeds can play. I don’t really have any interest in agility, but know a lot of dogblrs who do: @dndogs @thepastisthepast2 @pawsitivevibe @twobigears @canisitsnotlupus just to name a few...

Weight Pull, Mushing, and Carting: @pulldogs does weight pull with a popular breed for the sport (apbt’s). @malinwoman also does for-fun weight pull with her malinois. Just like it sounds, your dog pulls weight on a special pulling harness. A lot of bully breeds and high drive dogs enjoy weight pull, and it can good to burn a lot of energy in a leashed dog. Any size dog can compete, and you should see those little dogs go! Carting is a sport I am interested in that involves the dog pulling a cart like a pony, with either a rider or freight; @smoothexpression carts, and FDSA may offer a class in the near future. Bernese Mountain Dog and rottweiler clubs often hold carting events, but it can just be fun to do in your neighborhood or to help with chores. @darkwood-sleddog mushes and backpacks, and has a ton of valuable information on those sports, as well as the equipment and training involved!

Sorry if I missed any dogblrs or sports! There are a lot more dog sports out there, but these are some of the most accessible that have a following on Tumblr. Most others are either going to be breed-specific and likely unsuitable for a rescue dog (bitesports, conformation, herding, retrieving, barnhunt, earthdog, etc.) or obscure and hard to get involved in as of yet (treibball, wall climbing, mondio OB, etc.). Hopefully that covers the bases you were looking for. Good luck, and if you need something more specific, my ask box is always open!