Page 28 - 3rd-quarter-2017

Dog Sports

By: Talia Galvez
Broadly, the term “dog sports” can pretty much meant just any activity dogs can participate in. However, for the purposes of this
article, I will attempt to categorize the various activities into discrete groups, and give a brief explanation or definition.

CONFORMATION - FREESTYLE HEELING -
This is the activity most commonly A handler composes a routine
available here in the Philippines. involving different positions and
Conformation showing involves the variations of heeling, set to music. A
exhibition of dogs, ranging from a dog must stay close to their handler
single breed to different breeds within at all times, as the term “heeling”
a single group with similar purposes implies.
(10 groups in total), to an all-breed
show, with various breeds representing
all the different groups competing. A
judge considered knowledgeable of
https://pxhere.com/en/photo/1372409 dog standards will evaluate each dog, https://positively.com/dog-behavior/tricks-sports/dog-sports/canine-freestyle-
and judge them against their respective heel-to-music/
standards, awarding certifications, up to MUSICAL FREESTYLE -
a Best in Show, as he or she sees fit. Similar to freestyle heeling in that a
handler also composes a routine to music,
it varies in that it also incorporates other
obedience commands and tricks. They are
not limited to just heeling, and can move
JUNIOR HANDLING - away from their handler.
(also known as Junior Showmanship)
also falls under conformation. However,
it varies from regular conformation
shows as it’s the handlers who are
judged. Handlers are considered “junior
handlers” if they are below 18 years old.
In competition, they are often divided by
age groups, and by breed size. They are
judged on their presentation skills, and
on how well the JH can follow a judge’s
instruction, as well as how well they
interact with the dog they are handling.
At times, they can also be asked to
switch dogs with other JH’s dogs, to see https://aminoapps.com/c/pets/page/blog/musical-freestyle-dog-sport/1Ju6_
how well they can cope with handling ujo4oXm37md4z6R4EdLLlx7R
dogs unfamiliar to them.
http://www.ykc.org.uk/content/compete/ RALLY OBEDIENCE -
handling/getting-started-in-junior- A handler and dog must navigate a
handling-stakes/ course preset by a judge, with signs
posted with obedience commands
OBEDIENCE SPORTS - at different stations. They must
stop at each station and execute the
Sports wherein a dog and handler must command posted there.
work together in tandem to showcase
the handler’s ability in training his/her
dog, and the dog’s ability to follow the
commands with ease and precision. http://www.crazyjumpers.info/obedience/index.html

AGILITY -
A handler has to guide and direct the dog,
http://www.wollongongdogsports.org/ whilst off lead, through a preset obstacle
course they must memorize. Handlers
are permitted a brief walk-through of
the course prior to the start of the trial
to learn the run. They are judged on both
OBEDIENCE TRIALS - time and accuracy. Obstacles comprise of
jumps, tunnels, weave poles, tables, and
A handler is given obedience commands contact obstacles. Some organizations also
that his dog is expected to execute. There use hoops.
are three levels of OB trials, with increasing
difficulty: Obedience Championship,
Companion Dog, and finally, Utility Dog. The
difficulty and number of commands increase
with each level of competition Commands
and exercises include sit, down, stay, long sit,
long down, stay with absence of handler, and
heeling, both on and off lead.
https://www.thespruce.com/boarding-and-training-an-overview-1118211
https://pxhere.com/en/photo/1372409