Conformation:“Conformation” is the official name for “dog shows.” While they may seem glamorous, the true purpose of conformation showing is to evaluate breeding stock. The dog’s conformation—his overall appearance and structure—is an indication of the dog’s ability to produce quality purebred puppies, and that is what is being judged in the ring.
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Field Trials and Hunt Tests:Field trials and hunt tests rely on the natural hunting ability of the "bird dog" or pointer. Field trials judge dogs against each other in a competition for the best hunter, while hunt tests measure the dog's ability as an individual. There are multiple classes for these events ranging from natural ability to a skilled precise hunter that can point and retrieve game.
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Rally:Rally is a companion sport to Obedience. It too requires teamwork between dog and handler along with performance skills similar to obedience. Rally provides an excellent introduction to AKC events for new dogs and handlers, and can provide a challenging opportunity for competitors in other events to strengthen their skills.
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Agility:Even if you don't recognize it by name, you have probably seen an agility competition. Designed to demonstrate a dog's willingness to work with his handler in a variety of situations, agility is an athletic event that requires conditioning, concentration, training, and teamwork. Dogs and handlers must negotiate an obstacle course while racing against the clock. Agility is a great form of exercise for both dog and handler, and a fun way to bond.
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Coursing Ability Test (CAT):The Coursing Ability Test (CAT) is an introductory event fashioned after the sport of lure coursing. It tests a dog’s basic coursing instinct or hunting-by-sight ability. The dog chases an artificial lure, and the test is a non-competitive pass/fail event with dogs run one at a time. To pass the test, a dog running alone must pursue a lure, completing the course with enthusiasm and without interruption within a given time.
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FastCAT:The FastCAT is similar to the regular CAT, but is a straight 100 yard dash. The dog is handled by 2 people; One at the start line, and one at the finish. To pass the test the dog must chase the lure for the full 100 yards. This event is timed and the dog's speed is converted into miles per hour (mph). The speed in mph is the number of points the dog obtains. You earn titles by reaching point milestones. For example, you receive your first tile, BCAT, at 150 accumulated points. The next title is DCAT, at 500 points. The final and highest title is FCAT at 1000 points. This is a great introductory sport for anyone who has a dog with prey drive, as it requires little to no training.
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Canine Good Citizen:The AKC’s Canine Good Citizen (CGC) program is the gold standard of behavior for dogs in our communities. CGC is part of the AKC Family Dog Program and many dog owners choose CGC as their first step in training their dogs. It also provides a great foundation for getting started in dog sports. The dog and handler are tested on every day outing situations such as meeting a stranger, getting groomed, walking through a crowd, or having a stranger hold the dog.
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Dock Diving:Dock Diving is a fun, exciting but easy to do sport with simple rules: You throw your dog’s favorite toy into a pool while he waits on a dock about 40 feet long. On your command, he runs along the dock, flings himself off the end of it, lands in the water and grabs his toy. The goal? To have the longest jump possible, which could be as short as two feet for beginners, but could be as much as 30 feet for those more experienced! No matter how far your dog jumps, you’re guaranteed to have a blast – and you may get a little wet! Diving Dogs is a great activity to share with your best friend!
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Barn Hunt:Modeled after the job of terriers, in Barn Hunt dogs and their handlers work as a team to locate and mark rats (which are always safely held in aerated tubes) hidden in a maze of straw or hay bales. Dogs must be willing to enter a straw bale tunnel, climb on a bale, and need to distinguish between a real live rat, a tube of litter, and an empty tube.
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Trick Dog:If you and your dog love to be the life of the party and show off your tricks, then this sport is for you! AKC Trick Dog titles are a series of tests where your dog must consistently perform tricks like shake, speak, jumping through a hoop, walking on a balance beam, and doggie push ups. Titles range from Novice to Elite Performer, with each level increasing in difficulty.
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Scent Work:The sport of Scent Work is based on the work of professional detection dogs (such as drug dogs), employed by humans to detect a wide variety of scents and substances. In AKC Scent Work, dogs search for cotton swabs saturated with the essential oils of Birch, Anise, Clove, and Cypress. The cotton swabs are hidden out of sight in a pre-determined search area, and the dog has to find them. Teamwork is necessary: when the dog finds the scent, he has to communicate the find to the handler, who calls it out to the judge.
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