Energy to Burn

Some dogs have so much energy to burn. They are always on the go looking for mischief in all the wrong places, digging holes, dominating their owners, obsessively demanding that you throw their ball and if you ignore them … they jump up with their muddy paws, nuzzle you with their wet and sticky noses and claw you with their evil talons. If this sounds like your dog then you may like to know how to burn up that excess energy by participating in some of the novel dog sports that give aerobic exercise and brain exercise at the same time – now that’s good therapy for any bored, super-active pooch.

Agility Training

Agility training is one very good choice. Agility training is one of the best known sports for dogs and in many ways, is the canine equivalent of horse show jumping. Dogs are progressively trained to run an obstacle course where they perform many skills such as weaving though pegs, climbing A-frame obstacles, jumping hurdles and even racing through canvas tunnels. It provides the benefits of intense aerobic exercise and skilled brain work in the one event.

Agility Dog Club of Queensland

Flyball

The novel sport, Flyball, is also an interesting activity for dogs and their owners.

This competitive sport involves two teams of dogs running over a series of hurdles to locate a tennis ball in a frame at the end of the course. The dogs must then return the ball to their owners, via the same hurdles.

There, another keen dog waits in relay for its turn. All breeds of dogs can enter Flyball competitions. The event encompasses all things dogs love such as chasing balls, and jumping, catching, retrieving, competing and striving to please their delighted owners.

Visit the Australian Flyball Association Website

Lure Coursing

For dogs with energy to burn, lure coursing is another fun event to put on the list. Lure coursing stems from the strong urge some dogs have to hunt and chase. Years ago dogs were encouraged to hunt live animals but that would never be allowed today, and rightly so. Instead, dogs chase a bunch of plastic strips or a plastic bag which is tied to a rope. The rope is pulled around an irregular array of spindles and pullies and the enthusiastic pooches charge after the ‘lure’. Dogs are judged for their enthusiasm, their ability to follow the lure as it twists and turns, on their speed and on other characteristics. However, the owner’s enthusiastic yelling and screaming is not taken into account!

QLD Lure Coursing Association website