Can't Decide What Dog Sport To Do.

[Dobermanic]

Hi DobieMum

It's nice to chat with another Dobermann mum I don't meet many out and about.

Does your girl enjoy k9 nose work? I think mine would love it. I already hide her toys around the house and ask her to search for them. She can find them in cupboards and in some very tricky hiding spots.

Sledding also sounds like fun and great for fitness.

In the lure coursing do you race against all breeds or is it broken up in to groups?

Agility seems to be very technical and a lot to teach. I think my girl would enjoy it but am a bit unsure on how she would go off lead. The temptation to play with the other dogs would be hard for her as she is very social.

I suppose they would get used to training on lead around the other dogs to begin with. She is getting better in obedience and can do some work with out the lead.

Thanks for sharing your experiences with your dogs :)

[Mrs Rusty Bucket]

In the lure coursing do you race against all breeds or is it broken up in to groups?

Mostly lure coursing runs are done one dog at a time. Sometimes in straight line lure coursing - two dogs who live together might run together but mostly they go separately.

Agility seems to be very technical and a lot to teach.

It is if you try to get a competition level performance the first time you try. But it gets broken down into tiny pieces that any dog with a willing trainer can achieve eventually. And I get bored with heel sit heel sit heel sit... bored bored bored - and I think the dog does too - hence the nicking off...

Ie if the dog is very excited by what you're doing - and you've practiced gradually introducing distractions... then you and your dog can run a course without nicking off or go sniffing.

But it doesn't happen instantly. Hence the foundation training. Eg a fantastic stay no matter what, and a fantastic release to you... ie crate games teaches this.