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What can I train with my dog?

Many people buy a dog with the aim of expanding the family with a new family member without any thoughts on training. But something that is very fun and that will definitely strengthen the relationship between you and your dog is to train together! There are many different dog sports and we at Petster are sure that there is at least one sport that you and your dog would appreciate. Below you will find a brief description of a few different dog sports that you and your dog can try:



Nosework
In dog sports nosework, the dog is allowed to use one of its main senses - the smell. The dog uses his nose to find different scents in different environments - a sport inspired by police dogs and customs dogs. Nosework is a sport that stimulates the dog both physically and mentally when, together with his leader, searches for the different scents. It is a sport that originated in an American doghouse where nosework was used as activation when the dogs were waiting to find their new home. The great thing about this sport is that it is practiced both inside and out - so if you want to test on yourself then there are nosework kits that you can buy home to test yourself!



Agility
Agility is an extremely popular dog sport that has over 100,000 starts each year. A sport that involves getting through an obstacle course so fast it just goes without any flaws. These can be obstacles such as a tunnel, balance beam and slalom that the dog must cope with. Agility is a fast-paced sport that many dogs think is incredibly fun to exercise. The sport is about a strong interaction between you and your dog and requires a lot of training.



NOTE! Agility is a demanding sport - your dog should be at least 12 months before testing on the sport. This is so that the dog's body must have grown clear so as not to suffer any damage.



Obedience
Obedience is a sport that tests cooperation, precision and adherence between you and your dog. When you practice obedience, your dog should learn to perform various tasks where some are close to you and some are at a distance. For example, the dog may be able to pick up items on command or jump obstacles.



Rally Obedience
Rally obedience is a sport where the collaboration and joy between you and your dog is the focus! Here it is about getting through a path with different signs illustrating different steps to be carried out. For example, it may be that the dog should sit, walk slalom or turn 360 degrees. The name is not about going in a "rally" speed - it's about going through a lane where the dog should follow your directions.



A dog sport that suits all dogs - at any level! It's about strengthening your cooperation and having fun. You do not have to perform all the tasks perfectly but the greatest demands are placed on the cooperation between dog and driver. If it sounds exciting, there is a plethora of videos on YouTube about the sport.



How do I get started?
Do you find it difficult to get started? Contact your nearest dog club and ask if they might have a try-on opportunity so you can try the sport? Or maybe you dare to sign up for a beginner's course? The dog clubs also have the opportunity to meet like-minded people - maybe you will find a future training buddy?