K-9 Sports

Agility

Patterned after horse show jumping, agility courses are made up of obstacles the dog and handler negotiate together. Winning and placing in competition, as well as earning agility titles, depends both on correct execution of the obstacles and on the time it takes to complete the course.

Arson Dogs

Another name for arson dogs is accelerant detection dogs, because the dogs work by detecting and alerting to even the smallest trace of petroleum-based fuel. As with other dogs whose work may be used in a court case, the handler’s role is critical to the effectiveness of the dog in finding evidence that can detect a fire’s cause and bring the criminal to justice.

Beagle, Basset Hound, and Dachshund Field Trials

Rabbit hunting with Beagles has a long history. American Kennel Club-affiliated Beagle Field Trials have been held for over a hundred years. Basset Hounds and Dachshunds also have field trials where dogs earn titles hunting rabbits.

Cancer Detection by Dogs

The ability of dogs to detect cancer in humans by scent made news again in 2005. A leading medical journal in Britain published the results of a formal study demonstrating that dogs can be trained to identify bladder cancer. The overall average success of the dogs was 41 percent, higher than state-of-the-art x-ray and CAT scan machines.

Conformation Showing

“Show dog”! As people see more dog shows on television, the idea of showing the best dog in the world—your own!—can become intriguing. What is it like to be involved with dog shows? How is a show dog different from any other dog?

Coonhound Trials

Hounds have been developed and refined to hunt the local animals under the local conditions, whatever they might be. Climates, terrain, and the animals to be hunted all vary. Thus the hounds vary, too. Several breeds are eligible for the AKC's Coonhound Bench Shows, Field Trials, Nite Hunts and Water Races.

Customs and Border Protection Detector Dogs

Of 70 dogs tested for detection work, typically one dog is found to be suited. Dogs come from vendors, animal shelters, rescue groups, and donations by private owners. They can be of either sex, and must be between 1 and 3 years of age.

Draft and Carting Tests

Draft and carting tests are non-competitive, and every precaution is taken to make them safe for the dogs. Most actual cart-pulling by dogs these days happens in public settings such as parades, so test rules specifically state that carts can be decorated.

Drug Dogs in Schools

Trained dogs and handlers work in school systems to detect and even more importantly deter the presence of drugs, alcohol, weapons, and explosives. Both law enforcement and private company dog-and-handler teams perform this job.

Earthdog Tests

The word terrier comes from the Latin “terra,” “earth,” because this going-to-ground function is integral to a terrier’s nature. Barking and digging are fun for these little guys and going after critters is natural to them. The AKC earthdog events allow terrier owners to put their dogs to the task they were bred for, and earn titles in the process.

Goose Dogs

When an individual, business, or government entity hires a handler to bring a dog and control the geese, dog training and care does not fall to the property owner. Instead, the dog has a trained handler and the full-time work such a dog craves. The dog handler keeps the dog in training, which also results in the most humane handling of the geese and the dog.

Herding Dog Heritage

Herding dogs need jobs. Misdirected herding instincts can result in dogs herding your other companion animals, family members and guests. People often find the early manifestations of off-target herding behaviors funny, but much less funny as the dog gets more and more vigorous.

Livestock Guardian Dogs

Livestock guardian dogs (also called livestock protection dogs) have proven they can work successfully with all kinds of livestock, but perhaps most and best with sheep. Sheep represent easy prey for wolves, coyotes, stray dogs, and other predators.

Lure Coursing for Sighthound Breeds

Keep in mind that coursing if done by humans would qualify in the extreme sport category! The hounds give it their all, with no thought to protecting themselves from injury or overheating. Precautions to protect the dog are the handler’s job, with the strong support of the rules and the other people present.

Man-Trailing Bloodhounds

It might seem then, that using a Bloodhound to find a missing child would risk the child’s safety. Not so. The lost child blessed by early call-out of a man-trailing Bloodhound and handler has a vastly improved chance of rescue. On locating the child, the gentle hound will want only to be the child’s new best friend.

Obedience and Rally Competitions

Obedience and rally training is an excellent structure for learning to train a dog. It gives you a common language with your dog. Whatever you want to do with dogs, obedience training is a great way to start. The trials give you concrete feedback as to how well you are doing at training your dog.

Pointing Breed Field Trials

If Pointer or Setter breeds interest you, learn about these special events called field trials that have shaped both the appearance and the behavior of the breeds that participate in them.

Pointing Breed Hunt Tests

Hunting Tests are noncompetitive, with the goal of qualifying rather than winning. The three levels are Junior Hunter, Senior Hunter and Master Hunter. A dog need not earn a lower title in order to enter and qualify for a higher one.

Protection and How Your Dog Can Do It Best – Big Sky Dog Training does not advocate Protection Training for the Companion or Sport Dog.

Dogs can provide protection in a variety of ways. The critical factor is to prepare and manage the dog to provide the right kind of protection for your situation. Confusing your dog in this matter can lead to true tragedy, in more ways than one way.

Reading Dogs

The dogs who do this job accompany their trained handlers to school and library programs that help children improve their reading skills. With the help of the dogs, reading programs of this kind can build children’s confidence in their own reading ability and help them learn to love reading.

Retriever Field Trials

Thanks to their great popularity, Retriever Field Trials are likely held close enough to your area for you to attend as a spectator. It’s a great way to consider whether you’d like to participate in such events, or perhaps consider a retriever as a hunting companion. Watching the dogs at the work they’ve been selectively bred to perform also greatly helps to understand their day-to-day behavior if you choose to live with a retriever.

Retriever Hunting Tests

Retriever hunting competition calls for more and more refined performances and judging that can distinguish which of the specially bred and superbly trained dogs will take the prize. By contrast, retriever hunting tests do not pit dogs against one another to determine a winner. Instead, dogs are judged by a standard to determine which dogs qualify.

Schutzhund – Big Sky Dog Training does not advocate Schutzhund Training in its’ purest form  for the Companion or Sport Dog.

Schutzhund is a competitive sport in which dogs and handlers use skills for obedience, tracking, and protection. Originally designed to test for the best German Shepherd Dogs to breed for police and military work, Schutzhund titles are still valued for this proving ground.

Search and Rescue Dogs

The mission of the search and rescue dog and handler is to find lost people, alive or deceased. The dog and handler function as a team, and spend a great deal of time training together to prepare. In most cases the team is part of a larger team to provide each dog and handler with the necessary help to become and stay mission ready.

Sled Dog Racing

Both professional and amateur dog owners participate in the sport of sled dog racing. Skillful skiers can work with one dog in skijoring. People with less than a team number of dogs can join with other interested hobbyists to make up a mixed team.

Tracking

The noncompetitive nature of tracking is ideal for a sport that sparks many people to go into search and rescue or other scent work with dogs. In a real search it takes everyone working cooperatively in order to cover the territory as thoroughly and quickly as possible. Everything that builds esprit de corps among the handlers can save lives, so the AKC is to be applauded for keeping the sport of tracking cooperative rather than competitive.

Water Rescue Dog Tests for Newfoundlands

Other retrieving breeds are related to the Newfoundland and can surely be taught most of these skills (depending on the size and strength of the dog being trained). How many lives might be saved by water rescue dogs, with more of them on the job? Handler and dog work as partners in most of the exercises, though the dog also learns to independently rescue the handler or others.

Water and Ways It Affects Dog Behavior

Water is critical to a dog’s survival. Because a dog depends on water for the somewhat inefficient canine body cooling mechanism, a crisis can come quickly. Water is great exercise for dogs with certain orthopedic problems and is sometimes used as part of physical therapy. It’s also a good idea to give your puppy basic baths so that getting into water holds no fear for the dog later.

Weight Pull Competitions

The popular sport of weight pulling is open to all breeds, but especially suits dogs bred for draft work, such as the Saint Bernard, Greater Swiss Mountain Dog, Alaskan Malamute, and Samoyed. Weight pulling also attracts owners of physically powerful breeds such as the American Pit Bull Terrier and the American Bull Dog.

Weight Pull Competitions

The popular sport of weight pulling is open to all breeds, but especially suits dogs bred for draft work, such as the Saint Bernard, Greater Swiss Mountain Dog, Alaskan Malamute, and Samoyed. Weight pulling also attracts owners of physically powerful breeds such as the American Pit Bull Terrier and the American Bull Dog.