Dog Competition Basics: What You Need to Know

Both rewarding and hard work, participating in any major sport with your dog provides an excellent opportunity for bonding, physical and mental exercise, and fun.

But getting started in the dog competition world can be daunting. But as experts in the industry, we have all of the answers for breaking into rally competitions, obedience competitions, agility competitions, and much more!

Building a Bond with Your Competition Dog

Dog competitions and training for events should be centered around building a secure bond with your dog. Instead of coming to training with an obedience-focused approach (i.e., simply teaching your dog commands), think of dog sports and competitions as an opportunity to build an incredibly strong connection between you and your dog. Doing this allows your dog to fully trust you, which is an absolute must when performing challenging skills.

Building this kind of bond with your dog is easier said than done. Here are a few strategies to get you started in your practice:

• Always make training a fun and rewarding experience. Positive enrichment is the best way to motivate your pup.
• Spend ample time with your dog outside of training. This includes going for your morning workout, running errands (don’t forget to treat them to a pup cup from your favorite coffee shop!), or even watching TV.
• Focus on building trust. This means being consistent with rewards and leading them into positive experiences.

The Main Types of Dog Competitions

Still exploring the many dog competitions that you and your four-legged companion can get involved with? There are tons of options to choose from. While not an exhaustive list, here are some of the most popular sports and competitions:

• Obedience competitions: As the name suggests, obedience competitions judge dogs on their ability to do commands like heel, stay, come, retrieve, jump, and more. These events may sound easy, but they require intense training.
• Rally competitions: Rally competitions take obedience to the next level. In rally sports, dogs heel with their owners through a course labeled with various obedience signs. Dogs and owners must stop at each sign and perform the necessary behavior (like turn around or take two steps forward).
• Agility competitions: You’ve likely seen agility events on TV. In these competitions, dogs and trainers run through a series of jumps, tunnels, weaves, A-frames, and other obstacles. Dogs and handlers who complete the course the fastest take home the top prize.
• Herding events: Dog herding competitions have been held since the 1800s! These events judge herding breeds’ overall abilities. We sell a selection of leashes, collars, and E-Collars designed to help your dog succeed in the event and the training sessions leading up to your competition.
• Nosework: Every dog has a great sense of smell, but nosework competitions are when the dogs who can detect specific scents the best get a chance to shine. In nosework competitions, dogs are tasked with sniffing out hidden scent articles and alerting their handlers when they’ve found the required scent.
• Dock diving: If you have a dog that loves water, this is the sport for you! These competitions involve dogs running down a dock and jumping off the end. The dog that jumps the farthest wins; it’s just that simple!
• Flyball: In flyball, teams of dogs race through a series of hurdles, press a pad that releases a tennis ball, catch it, and return it to their owners. The team that completes the course the fastest wins.

Each of these types of dog competition events has its own set of rules and standards that are important to study before getting involved.

Thankfully, if you’re in between several types of competitions or sports for your dog, there are clubs and facilities across the country that offer trial or drop-in sessions to see what is right for your K9.

Training Equipment for Dog Competitions

When attending these drop-in or trial classes, you will need to come prepared with the necessary handling equipment. And in between classes, you’ll be expected to practice skills with your dog (especially when enrolled in agility). Depending on your chosen sport or field of competition, you may need to invest in equipment for home use.

What are some of the handling and training items you’ll likely be expected to have? If you plan on diving into the world of obedience competitions and commands, a hand clicker will almost certainly be mandatory. Additionally, for those who are serious about competitions, your instructors may ask that you purchase dumbbells, a platform, targets, and more.

Thinking about trying rally competitions? One of the best ways you can prepare is with professional-grade training materials, including the Ring Ready Book.

Agility competition is the most equipment-intensive field that your dog can enter. Commonly used training items include tunnels, weave poles, balance-improvement gear, competition kits, and jumps.

In addition to scent training articles, you’ll want to have some dog tracking equipment if you’re training for nosework competitions. This includes high-quality harnesses and long lines designed specifically for tracking.

Once you’ve attended your first class or session in any discipline, your instructors will let you know exactly what competition supplies will be needed from J&J Dog Supplies.

Ensuring Proper Nutrition for Dog Competitions and Beyond

Whether you choose to immerse yourself in the exciting world of dog competitions or dog sports for the long-term, or just one session, maintaining your dog’s health is essential for a long, happy life.

The routine physical and mental activity provided by competitions can offer the exercise and conditioning that ensures mobility and balance for years to come. Pro tip: When preparing for any competitive field, giving your dog nutritional supplements and recovery and rehab products can be extremely helpful.

Want to learn how to compete? Check out upcoming local events from the American Kennel Club (AKC) website to learn more.