Playing with your dog is one of the best things you can do to strengthen the bond you share. The members of Paw Prints Dog Club invite you to take a moment to browse through some of the activities that we enjoy with our best friends.
Agility
Dog Agility is a fun sport for dog lovers of all ages. Dogs run off leash on a timed course designed by a judge, with the handler directing them through one obstacle after another. Agility involves strategy, precision and speed.
Barn Hunt
Barn Hunt is a new and quick growing sport that is based on the dog’s ability to rid rural properties and structures of destructive vermin. But, do not worry! The rats used in Barn Hunt are never harmed and are often beloved family pets who enjoy interaction with the dogs from the comfort and safety of their aerated tubes. Barn Hunt is an excellent sport for dogs of all ages and physical abilities, including tripod dogs and those who are deaf. Dogs course their way through tunnels of hay bales searching for the rat whose aerated tube is hidden from sight.
Behavior Training
Behavior training is a wonderful starting point for all dogs, whether you plan to participate in sporting events or not. Dogs can learn foundation skills of sit, down, stay, in addition to reliable recalls, and the skills necessary for a sport dog.
Dock Diving
Dock diving is a water sport where dogs and their handlers are positioned on a raised dock from which the dog jumps into a pool of water to retrieve a toy or bumper. Dogs can participate in air retrieve (for height competition), speed retrieve (for timed competition), and splashes (for distance competition).
Flyball
Flyball is an exciting dog sport in which dog teams run a relay race against each other. Dogs begin at a start line and race toward a box that releases a tennis ball which the dog retrieves and heads back to the finish line, jumping over hurdles in both directions.
Herding
Herding dogs help to control or direct herds of cows or sheep out to pasture and back to the barn. At a “Sheepdog Trial” also known as a “Herding Event” or “Stock Dog Trial,” dogs compete in moving sheep around a field, through fences or gates, and into enclosures under the direction of their handlers. A Herding Dog learns to control livestock by nipping at their heels, or through barking at or circling them.
Lure Coursing
Lure coursing is a thrilling sport for dogs who love to give chase! A mechanically operated lure is dragged across a field in a preset course of either 600 or 300 yards. A dog’s performance is judged on the basis of enthusiasm and stamina.
Nose Work
Nose work is a canine scent detection activity that utilizes the dog’s phenomenal sense of smell. Dogs learn how to search for specific odors (birch, anise or clove) and to alert the handler when they have found the source of the odor. When dogs become proficient at finding the designated odors, a distraction odor (often food) will be introduced to encourage the dog’s performance ability. Nose work is the civilian counterpart to law enforcement canine scent detection training. Many of our members enjoy participating in nose work trials sanctioned by the NACSW (National Association of Canine Scent Work). Recently, AKC began to offer nose work trials in which a fourth odor (cypress) has been incorporated.
Obedience/Rally/Rally FrEe
Some of our members enjoy participating with their dogs in Competitive Obedience. Dogs must respond reliably to its handler on each command, such as sit, down, stay, come and heel. At a Competitive Obedience trial, the dog/handler team will perform a variety of obedience exercises which are evaluated and scored by a judge.
For those who would like to add a little fun to the sport of dog obedience, “Rally Obedience” (also known as “Rally” or “Rally-O”) is just the ticket. A dog sport that is based on obedience, Rally-O is performed on a pre-designed course where the dog/handler team follow signs that instruct the team what to do. Many of our members enjoy competing with their dogs in this interesting and challenging sport. The dog follows the handler in heel position around a designated course of anywhere from 10 to 20 signs and follow the instructions on each sign. Unlike regular obedience, instead of waiting for a judge’s orders, the competitors proceed on their own through the course.
Rally FrEe (Rally Freestyle Elements) is a unique sport combining trick behaviors with Canine Musical Freestyle with the format of Rally-Obedience. It emphasizes the precise execution of fundamental freestyle and obedience skills while encouraging creative and novel behaviors on a Rally-Obedience style course.
Trick Dog
Any dogs can learn new tricks — even old ones! Teaching your dogs tricks can be fun and frustrating at the same time. But, if you have patience, persistence and consistency, you will get there. Teaching tricks is a great way to bond with your dog and you can have fun showing them off. You can even earn trick dog titles!