Keep your dog physically and mentally healthy
With summer only a few weeks away, I’m getting excited thinking about all the outdoor activities – running on the beach, playing fetch in Central Park. Summer is the season of dog sports: agility, dock diving, flyball, disc dog and more. Back in my day, I was the king of canine agility. They called me The Flying Wally.
If you’re looking for fun dog sports that you and your dog can experience together, here are my top 4 picks:
1. Dock diving
Does your dog enjoy the water and playing fetch? You may want to give dock diving a try.
Also known as dock jumping, this is a dog sport in which dogs jump from a dock into a body of water. Similar to human long jump and high jump in track and field, jumps are measured by distance and height. The distance jump is called “Ultimate Air” and the high jump is “Ultimate Vertical.”
2. Agility
Looking to give your dog a physical and mental workout? Canine agility is great for dogs of all ages and breeds. With varying degrees of difficulty, some courses are designed to accommodate dogs with special needs and health issues.
A popular spectator sport, agility is a competition that takes place in an obstacle course. Dogs are led by their owners and are trained to make jumps, and go through tunnels and walkways.
Agility is great team building and bonding exercise for pets and their owners.
3. Flyball
Want a unique way for you and your dog to socialize this summer? Flyball is an excellent way for your dog to spend time with other dogs, and for you to meet other dog owners.
Flyball is a relay race with teams of four dogs. Each dog takes turns running and jumping over hurdles towards a box that releases a tennis ball. The dogs must catch the ball and run back to their handlers while carrying the ball. The first team to have all four dogs cross the finish line, without making any mistakes, wins. If a dog drops the ball, or the next dog starts early, penalties are applied.
4. Disc Dog
Looking to take your Frisbee catch with your pup to the next level? Sign up for a disc dog competition.
A disc dog competition is a dog sport in which both dogs and their owners compete in events such as distance catching and choreographed freestyle catching.
This is the perfect summer activity if you have a high energy, athletic dog.
Whatever sport you and your dog decide to try, remember my favorite quote from Mark Twain: “It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dog.”
Now go get ‘em!
