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Dear Yvette,

We were thinking of trying agility with out puppy. It looks fun, but we aren't sure if it is something we should pursue or not. Our family just has a pet, and we love her dearly. Should we think about competing with our dog?

Susan

There are many different forms of competition. Agility seems to receive the bulk of the attention. This is not surprising since the sport has been featured on sports channels. People are usually quite startled at the ability of the competitive dogs.

Other common dog sports include Rally, Flyball and Obedience. Purebred dogs can participate in conformation.

Some people participate in police style competitions such as Schutzhund. But I do suggest that people check with their homeowner's insurance policy before starting training along these lines.

In my opinion, each of these sports have a different tone. Different individuals develop a preference the same way that different human sports appeal to different people.

My personal favorite is obedience. But that does not mean it is the right sport for your family. The only real way to know is to observe a variety of choices. You can try a few classes to see if the style works for you.

When it comes to competing, I do think more people should get involved. Many owners are under the misconception that only purebred registered dogs can participate. That is simply not true. Organizations such as the North American Mixed Breed Registry allow All Canadian Mutts the chance to shine in the ring.

Why should people take the step into the ring? There are many reasons. First, it gives dogs the opportunity to exercise in a disciplined environment. I am all for free play some of the time. But I think that fun activities where the dog learns to mind their handler are essential.

Second, competition pushes one to better oneself. If you watch seasoned handlers, they commonly assess their skills in the same way athletes review their performance. You would probably be surprised to see trainers reviewing video. Great handlers first ask if they made an error before blaming the dog. Corrections in handling errors increases the dog's level of performance.

Competition is not solely about winning. Seeing the skills of other participants can provide a yard stick to measure your own performance. But that is not where you will have the most to gain. A series of score sheets provides you constructive feedback. As you see your scores improve, there is a sense of accomplishment that you and your dog are bettering your skills. There is a great sense of self satisfaction in knowing that you achieved a personal best, even if that score is not a first place ribbon.

When you find the right sport, it is fun for both you and the dog. Ironically, those teams that seem to have the most fun seem to do exceptionally well.

If you are entering a dog sport with the right frame of mind, then absolutely you should look further into various options. Enjoy spending time developing a working relationship with your dog. The ribbons will be a secondary reward that will come if your motives and means are sound.

Perhaps, there is part of me that likes to cheer on the underdog. I like to see family pets with novice handlers do well in the ring.

Yvette is an award winning pet writer and pet behavior columnist. She also is the author of Meeting Milo, a North American dog bite prevention program to reduce the approximately 2 million children bit by dogs annually. She is the owner of AwesomeDogs.ca and works as a behavior consultant in London, Ontario.

This column was originally featured in The Londoner
See more of Yvette... www.awesomedogs.ca
www.meetingmilo.com

Yvette has 2 dogs of her own, KIKI and KAYA. Take a look...

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