On 6 April we celebrate the International Day of Sport. This year 2024 it is the eleventh edition and it is dedicated to Development and Peace. This day has a particular meaning as it reminds us of the importance of sport and physical activity not only as a source of fun, competition or entertainment, but above all as a tool for promoting fundamental values and achieving social objectives and well-being.
Let’s take this important occasion to talk about the fundamental importance of sport in our dog’s life, and how sporting activity can improve not only his health, but also ours and our relationship with our fur-riends.
Even for our four-legged friends, sporting activity is a fundamental part of their lives.
The most popular dog sports
Recently, many types of sports to do with animals have become popular, for example dog activities that we can undertake with our dog.
There are truly many sports specifically conceived for our trusted companions, which we can naturally do together with them. Here are some examples that will entertain and make us and our companions feel good selected with the advice of Chiara, Dog Educator,
Dog Trekking
Let’s start with one of the most natural and easier sports to do with animals: a day of trekking along the paths in the middle of nature with our four-legged hearts. Hiking in the mountains or in natural areas can represent an extraordinary experience for you and for your fur babies. During these adventures, dogs can enjoy the beauty of walking in nature, jumping between rocks, sniffing here and there, running with us through the meadows, and playing in a larger and freer environment. The variety of smells and stimuli given by nature keeps their minds lively and active, offering an engaging and rewarding experience. A walk at high altitude together with our Fido is one of the most interesting dog sports to do together. Dog Trekking is now enjoyed by many people who want to spend a relaxing day surrounded by nature, sharing emotions and strengthening the relationship of trust with their dog.
The endless freedom of the mountains together with your best friend. Breathtaking!
Dog dancing
A truly fun sport discipline to the rhythm of music, which arrived in Europe in the early 90s, first in England, then Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland and finally in Italy as well. It consists of a sequence of controlled and cooperative behaviors to be carried out in harmony with our dog, a series of exercises and actions based on a song, in order to create a real choreography. A way to create perfect harmony between dog and his caregiver while having fun together. It is suitable for any breed (sweet mixed breeds included!).
Dog Dancing is a sport that combines elegance, coordination and perfect harmony between the dog and his pawrent.
Agility Dog
Agility is a stimulating dog sport in which the dog and his handler work together to overcome a series of obstacles placed along a pre-established path (which can vary from a minimum of 15 to a maximum of 22), with the aim of finish the course in the shortest time and possibly without errors. This dog activity was inspired by the horse trail, this sport tests physical, mental and cooperation skills. Dog Agility according to the regulations of the FCI (International Cynological Federation) is a sporting discipline accessible to all dogs, as long as they have basic education and obedience elements, are in good health and above all carry out adequate training given the remarkable physical requirements needed. It is especially suitable for agile and fast specimens of small appearance, such as Border Collie, Shetland Sheepdog, Jack Russell, Poodle, Cocker Spaniel, Belgian Shepherd…
Participants are divided into four categories identifiable based on the wither height “small”, “medium”, “intermedium” and “large” and they face tests of increasing difficulty based on the category for which they are competing (according to the FCI regulation there are three categories). All dogs aged 18 months or older, not pregnant or breastfeeding, can participate in competitions. The obstacles on the course can vary depending on the difficulty of the various qualifications, but they mainly are: the jump, the long jump, the circle, the dogwalk, the A-frame, the seesaw, the weave poles and the tunnel.
The key words for this sport are collaboration and trust, precisely because together we work towards a common goal, which can only be achieved if the dog is taught to follow and listen to the handler and if the handler is able understand the strengths of their four-legged friend legs to create a unique understanding!
Your Fido will love racing through the obstacle courses in the shortest time possible!
Mantrailing
The name itself suggests what this dog sport consists of. Mantrailing enhances one of the dog’s fundamental abilities, the most developed sense: the smell. In 2004 in Germany there was the first diffusion of this activity which in 2012 was even approved by the district court of Nuremberg, which ruled in favor of the use of detection dogs as attempt, specifying the requirements.
But what does it consist of? A mantrailing dog is specifically trained to follow the scent trail of a single, particular person. Thanks to their developed sense, in fact, dogs can track down hidden or missing people, retracing their steps and the traces left along the way.
One of the best known uses of Mantrailing is through the police forces, where rescue dogs are involved in finding fugitive criminals or missing people, in wooded but also crowded environments or in hidden places where perhaps no useful traces have been found for the investigation.
A person’s scent trail is unique. In fact, the dog is trained to perceive everything that makes up a person’s fingerprint, i.e. the thousands of cells released per minute by an individual, those that make up the epithelia or the tissue that covers the human body, but also sweating, breathing, a trail of blood and chemicals present for example in a cosmetic such as a cream.
Nowadays, Mantrailing dog sport is highly appreciated, and we can also enjoy it with our four-legged friend. It consists of smelling a scent belonging to the person, to continue searching for this person along a path of increasingly greater difficulty and length. Along the route, the dog is connected to his handler through a leash with a minimum length of 5 m. It is important that the handler influences him as little as possible and that he leaves him free to gain experience which is necessary to carry out and independent and accurate work. It is an activity suitable for dogs of all breeds and all ages, even those who are especially skilled. It is a fun and rewarding discipline for both the dog and the owner.
“I can confirm I have a trail to follow!”
Disc Dog
Also known as Frisbee dog, it is a leisure dog sport in which our task is to throw a Frisbee so that our fur baby will pick it up: he can catch it in the air or on the ground. It began in the early 1970s and its popularity developed simultaneously to that of the sport of Frisbee. This dog activity is certainly ideal for keeping him fit, but also for testing his particular skills, such as the ability to jump, run and catch the Frisbee in motion. From a game born by chance more than fifty years ago in an ordinary park having fun with friends, it has become a recognized dog sport that has given rise to exceptional world champions.
As for the Agility, the dog must be in good health and followed by a professional instructor precisely because, being a very dynamic sport, we can minimize the risk of injuries only by relying on experts.
If you see a dog hanging in the air, he’s probably busy catching his beloved Frisbee.
Obedience
Obedience Training is a discipline created to evaluate the abilities of man-dog in performing routine exercises, in order to create controlled and collaborative behavior between us and our dog. Accessible to all specimens registered in the Herd Book and over 12 months old. Obedience for dogs is about obedience, born from an association registered in the United States, the “American Kennel” club, it is a fundamental dog sport for those who want to give their fur babies a good education, which facilitates relationships and regular daily dynamics. Among the exercises we find for example the recall, the “sit” and the “down” as distance positions, the “stay”, the jumping over an obstacle, and also the behavior of the dog without a leash alongside the handler, who will have to follow him carefully between stops and turns.
A discipline suitable for breeds such as Border Collies or Shepherd Dogs such as Malinois – Belgian Shepherd – Swiss Shepherd – German Shepherd… selected over hundreds of years for close collaboration with man in obedience through vocal or gestural commands.
Obedience is the basis of a collaborative and synergistic relationship between the fur baby and his owner.
Nosework Scent Detection
The main character of this sport is the sense of smell. This dog sporting activity consists in teaching our four-legged friend to recognize a specific smell. It was born in 2006 in the United States through a group of Detection Dog Trainers who developed the research of substances on a sporting level, such as essential oils of different scents. It is aimed at emphasizing and testing the dog’s olfactory abilities through a sporting review of the activities of law enforcement dogs (such as anti-drug, anti-explosive, etc.) and therefore measuring the dog’s ability to memorize, search and signal a specific odor.
It is therefore a very well-known discipline in the world of dog units and can be done by any breed without age limits.
“Now I will show you that I’m endowed with the best smell!”
Canicross
Canicross is a dog sporting activity that involves the dog and his handler who run together, tied by an elastic rope called “bungee line”. This activity combines running with the pleasure of sharing this experience with your dog. It must be approached with awareness, making it a fun experience and not a human competitive obsession mandatory for the dog. During the activity it is therefore essential keeping under control the signals that our four-legged friend sends us at all times and learning to recognize when the activity for him becomes heavy or problematic.
The secrets of Canicross are simple: all you need is a bungee leash and the desire to spend quality time with our dog.
Sports activities that strengthen the bond between dog and human
These are just some of the many sporting activities that involve dogs. In addition to being an excellent opportunity for exercise, they can definitely strengthen the bond between the dog and his owner.
How?
- Sharing experiences: by exercising together, you will develop special memories and bonds that only you two can share.
- Improving communication: you will learn to better understand your dog’s body language and respond to his signals, improving mutual communication.
- Strengthening the trust: the dog will learn to trust you as a guide and reference figure and you will consequently learn to trust him, a bond is strong just when the trust is mutual!
- Overcoming challenges and achieving goals: facing obstacles and new difficulties will make you stronger and united in your special bond.
In general, playing sports with our fur babies will allow us to spend quality time together. This has special meaning for you both as it helps you to create deep and lasting bonds.
Dog physical exercise for recovery therapies
Rehabilitation for dogs can be an activity required for multiple reasons, such as injuries, surgeries, neurological diseases or simply to maintain their general well-being. Let’s always remember to consult your veterinarian or a physiotherapist before carrying out any rehabilitation activity for your dog.
Here are the main exercises for dog rehabilitation.
Walking
If your dog can walk, controlled walks can help build strength and improve mobility. Make sure you maintain a slow and controlled pace, taking breaks when necessary.
Strength exercises
Strengthening exercises are essential in helping dogs develop and maintain muscle strength, which is especially important when we’re talking about dogs undergoing rehabilitation from injury or surgery.
Balance exercises
Performing balance exercises on unstable surfaces is a great way to improve the stability, coordination and body awareness of our four-legged friend. For example, using pillows and unstable carpets can stimulate the stabilizing muscles and improve proprioception, i.e. the dog’s ability to perceive the position and movement of his body in space.
Stretching exercises
Stretching exercises can exponentially help improve flexibility and reduce muscle stiffness. For example, you can guide your dog through gentle stretching exercises for the affected muscles.
Hydrotherapy
Hydrotherapy can be an excellent way to help your dog move without putting too much pressure on the joints. This type of rehabilitation may involve supervised swimming or walking on an aquatic treadmill.
For us humans, hydrotherapy is a very important activity for the gradual recovery from an injury and this applies to dogs as well.
The most important aspect is to always stay close to our fur babies during the rehabilitation period, to make them feel our support and to perceive in real time the development of his health condition.
Why is sport so important for dogs?
As with us humans, sport can bring a lot of benefits to our fur babies. Here are some of the most relevant:
Physical health
Regular exercise is crucial to your dog’s overall health. Sport helps maintain ideal body weight, improves cardiovascular resistance and promotes flexibility and agility.
Mental well-being
In addition to keeping your dog’s body fit, physical activity also stimulates the mind. Sport can in fact offer a form of relief for accumulated energy, helping to prevent negative behaviors caused by boredom or frustration.
Bond with his “pet mate”
Participating in sports with your dog can be an excellent agreement for staying healthy and at the same time strengthening the bond with your four-legged friend. Shared physical activity can create a positive experience that strengthens the relationship of trust and mutual affection.
Socialization
Taking part in dog sporting events offers our dog the opportunity to interact with other dogs and people, helping them to socialize and adapt to different situations.
Learning
Physical activity can give you the opportunity to face new challenges and to learn new skills. It stimulates dog’s mind and helps him to develop self-confidence.
Develop proprioception
Thanks to sport, the dog can develop greater awareness of his body: physical activity, especially if carried out in certain aspects, helps to increase coordination, proprioception and prevent brain aging.
Fun
Dog sports can be extremely fun for both the dog and the owner. Interaction and involvement in sporting activities can bring joy and satisfaction to us and our four-legged friend.
In addition to competitions and goals that can be achieved, the most important aspect of sport with your dog remains only one: well-being and fun.
The benefits of dog sport for humans
That’s right. Playing sports with your dog brings many benefits to us too, both physical and mental:
Physical exercise
Doing sporting activities with your dog, such as running, walking, playing Frisbee or doing agility, often involves physical effort for both of you. It helps to improve our fitness, burn calories and maintain a healthy body weight.
Mental well-being
Interacting with your dog during physical activity can reduce stress, anxiety and improve general mood thanks to the production of endorphins, the feel-good hormones.
Improved cardiovascular health
Regular exercise with your dog can help to improve the health of the heart and cardiovascular system, reducing the risk of heart disease.
Responsibility and routine
Having a dog can help us establishing a regular exercise routine and promoting a greater sense of responsibility.
Bonding with the dog
Sport shared with our dog not only improves our physical and mental health, but also strengthens the relationship with our four-legged friend.
Sport is a precious opportunity to build a valuable bond with your pet.
So, do not hesitate to involve your dog in sporting activities suited to his abilities and interests, to experience unforgettable adventures together and strengthen your unique and special bond.
