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Fun Things for You and Your Dog to do Together

These days there are a lot of activities for you and your dog to explore. the American Kennel Club offers quite a few. The Association of Pet Dog trainers offers activities for purebred and mixed breeds alike. A GOOGLE search can find a plethora of doggie doing’s. These days there are a lot of activities for you and your dog to explore.

CANINE GOOD CITIZEN: CGC is a certification program that is designed to reward dogs who have good manners at home and in the community. The Canine Good Citizen Program is a two-part program that stresses responsible pet ownership for owners and basic good manners for dogs. All dogs who pass the 10-step CGC test may receive a certificate from the American Kennel Club. Many dog owners complete CGC training and testing as a prerequisite to therapy dog certification.

RALLY: Rally is a sport in which the dog and handler complete a course that has been designed by the rally judge. The judge tells the handler to begin, and the dog and handler proceed at their own pace through a course of designated stations (10 - 20, depending on the level). Each of these stations has a sign providing instructions regarding the next skill that is to be performed.
Rally provides a link from the Canine Good Citizen program to obedience or agility competition, both for dogs and handlers. In addition, rally promotes fun and enjoyment for dogs at all levels of competition.

OBEDIENCE:

Obedience is a sport that progresses through 3 levels with each one becoming increasingly advanced. The three levels are:

1. Novice, in which the dog can earn the C.D. or Companion Dog title
2. Open, in which the dog can earn the C.D.X. or Companion Dog Excellent title
3. Utility, where the dog can earn the U.D. or Utility Dog title.

Titles are earned by entering obedience trials and earning 3 qualifying scores .

Dogs are intelligent creatures and they enjoy having a purpose in life and some form of "work" that provides intellectual stimulation. Obedience training is a fun activity that can satisfy the need to learn and greatly enrich the lives of both you and your dog.

AGILITY:

Agility is the fast-paced event where dogs race against the clock over an obstacle course that includes jumps, tunnels, weave poles, and other obstacles such as an A-frame, dog-walk, and chute.

In agility, the dog works off-lead and the owner and dog must communicate quickly as they move from one obstacle to the next.

TRACKING:

The AKC's tracking tests allow dogs to demonstrate their natural ability to recognize and follow human scent. Tracking is a fun, outdoor activity that provides great exercise, fresh air, and fun for both dogs and their owners.

OTHER ACTIVITIES:

Herding tests and trials
Lure Coursing (for sight hounds)
Earthdog events
Coonhound events
Hunt tests (sporting dogs)
Field trials
Canine Freestyle
Flyball

These are just a few of the fun things you and your dog can do together. There are other organizations in addition to the AKC that offer events for dogs. You can find lots of information on the internet.

And don’t forget the simple, informal things like a long walk or a game of fetch. So, get out and have some fun with your dog.

About the Author:

Ann Priddy is a Dog Behavior Consultant and owner of Priddy Positive K9s in Richmond Virginia. Get consulting online at www.geocities.com/priddypositivek9s