Types of dog sports:

Why do dog sports exist?

Many dog breeds were selectively bred by people to perform certain tasks and jobs. In today's modern world, some of those tasks and jobs are no longer needed. However, the breeds they were designed for, still exist. These breeds still harbor a strong desire for performing their jobs. So it can be beneficial for their mental and physical health to engage them. Examples include terrier breeds being worked in "Earthdog Trials", retrievers being worked in "Dock Diving", and hounds being worked in "Scent Works Courses". These sports can be extremely fun and challenging for both dogs and their owners. They can also be fantastic team building exercises that build relationships, trust, confidence, and skill for both owners and dogs. Below is a list of common canine sports;

Herding sports

• Herding

• Sheepdog trial

• Treibball

Obedience sports

• Heelwork to music

• Musical canine freestyle

• Obedience trial

• Rally obedience

Protection sports

• IGP (Previously known as IPO or Schutzhund)

Pulling sports

• Bikejoring

• Canicross

• Carting

• Dog scootering

• Mushing

• Skijoring

• Weight pulling

Racing sports

• Dachshund racing

• Greyhound and Whippet racing

• Jack Russell Terrier racing[5][6]

• Sighthound racing

• Sled dog racing

• Terrier racing

Tracking and hunting sports

• Barn hunt

• Coon hunting field trial

• Earthdog trial

• Field trial

• Hare coursing

• Hound trailing

• Lure coursing

• Nosework

• Tracking trial

• Trail hunting

• Shed Antler Hunting

Water sports

• Dock jumping, also known as dock diving

• Dog surfing, sometimes also used to describe dogs standup paddleboarding.