City of Asylum

Why not get off the couch, grab the leash and get some fresh air with your couch potato canine? Here are 10 activities for you and your pooch to enjoy that doesn’t involve the big blinking box in your living room:

1. Agility Training: You lead your dog through a series of obstacles in a race for time and accuracy. You can set up your own course in your backyard for casual fun or get involved in agility classes and competitions.

2. Competitive Obedience: Train your dog to execute a setoff predetermined tasks to be evaluated against others. This one will not burn a lot of calories; however, it will strengthen your relationship with your dog and give you a challenge at the same time.

3. Disk Dog: Commonly referred to as Frisbee Dog, disc dog competitions require you to throw discs for your dog to catch. Events at these competitions include distanced catching and choreographed free style catches. You can try this one at home as well.  
   
4. Dock Jumping: Dogs compete for distance or height from a dock into a body of water. Owners are allowed to throw a toy into the air to encourage the dog to chase if they would like. If you and your dog get good at this sport you may end up on ESPN’s Great Outdoor Games.

5. Pack Hiking: While there are no other dogs to compete against pack hiking is extremely popular amongst dog owners and their canine companions. The sport is so popular that sporting goods manufacturers make hiking packs for dogs so they can carry their own supplies.

6. Field Trials: These are competitive events where hunting dogs compete against each other. These trials are typically organized by kennel clubs and are more complicated than some of the other sports on the list. These trials are better for suited for retrievers, setters, pointers and other hunting type breeds; however, any breed can compete in the amateur trials.

7. Flyball: This is a dog team sport in the fact that it is run as a relay in teams of four dogs. Dogs race through a line of hurdles 10 feet apart to a spring loaded box that releases a tennis ball when the dog presses the lever. They must then bring the ball back to their handler. Any old mutt can compete in this exciting sport. Hurdles are adjustable and set at the shoulder height of the shortest member of the team.

8. Musical Canine Freestyle: This is exactly what it sounds like, doggie dancing. This is a modern dog sport that mixes obedience, tricks and dance. This sport truly enhances creativity between you and your dancing darling. You can practice in your living room while Dancing with the Stars is on or you can take it to the ring and compete with other dancing dog owners.

9. Sheepdog Trials: If you have seen Disney’s Babe then you know all about this sport. If you are not familiar, it is a competitive event for herding type dogs where they move sheep around obstacles and ultimately into an enclosure. While herding dogs are the most popular dog to use in this sport some competitions allow other breeds, but sadly no other species…sorry Babe.

10. Weight Pulling: This is a sport where dogs pull a sled or cart loaded with weight a short distance across a soft surface. Dogs are attached via special harnesses to distribute the weight and minimize injury. Sled dogs and pit bull type breeds excel in this sport which gives an alternative to the unethical, immoral and illegal “sport” of dog fighting.

Article generously provided by pet-super-store.com a site featuring dog fences, dog training collars and dog ramps.