Dog sports are a great way to encourage your dog to be active and burn off some restless mental energy. All dogs need some level of exercise and there’s probably a dog sport out there that’s the right fit for your pup. Here are a few popular dog sports for your dog to try:

1. Agility

Agility training is one of the most popular dog sports. This sport takes place on an obstacle course that you lead your dog through. Your dog will be trained to go through tunnels, jump over hurdles, and navigate other obstacles.

As you lead your dog through the course, you will need to have good communication with your dog. This is a great way to build a strong bond of trust with your dog. And, because you lead your dog through the course, it is a great way to exercise with your dog.

Any breed can do agility; just make sure your vet approves your dog for it first. Courses can be tailored to fit any size or activity level and is a great way to give your dog physical and mental exercise. High-energy breeds like Australian Shepherds or Border Collies tend to excel at this sport.

2. Disc Dog

This dog sport goes beyond a simple game of frisbee. In this sport, dog and handler teams are judged on disc-related events such as the accuracy and distance of catching a disc, as well as freestyle routines.

During the competition, a field is broken up into zones by yards. Scoring is based on which zone the desk is caught in. In the freestyle competition, The event is judged on a predetermined point system. The scoring can vary depending on the club, dog group, or association.

To be successful, you, the handler, must be adept at throwing a disc with precision. Your dog should be trained to chase and catch the disc. If you’ve never done this with your dog, you may need to teach your dog to play frisbee first, and then work on disc dog later if they like it. High-energy breeds, like Aussies, Collies, Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, and Belgian Malinois, tend to excel at Disc Dog.

3. Rally

In the sport of rally, also called rally-obedience or rally-o, dogs and their handlers go through a course of specific obedience exercises as fast as they can. You could consider it a mix between traditional obedience and agility. These courses are designed by judges who observe the teams as they go through the course. This is another sport for you and your dog to do together.

Rally-obedience tends to be a little less strict than other traditional obedience sports. This sport is open to all breeds and is a great way for your dog to work on their obedience skills. There are basic commands every dog should know so starting there should help get your dog ready if you decide to pursue this activity!

4. Dock Diving

Dock diving is quickly becoming one of the most popular dog sports. Dock diving (or jumping) is similar to the human sport of long jump or high jump but with water. It’s not the best fit for every dog, but breeds like Labrador Retrievers, Irish Setters, Portuguese Water Dogs, and other dog breeds that love water tend to be naturally gifted at this sport.

In the distance jumping event called “Ultimate Air”, a handler throws a toy from the dock to get the dog to jump as far as possible to retrieve it. The distance is measured in the spot where the dog’s tail meets the water. For accuracy, jumps are usually recorded digitally.

The newer event of “Ultimate Vertical” uses a bumper placed at a predetermined height. As the competing dogs clear the bumper, it’s moved up higher. The winner is the dog who can clear the bumper at the highest height.

5. Herding Trials

Herding is an instinct for a number of breeds, but sometimes non-herding breeds or even mixed breeds will show an aptitude for herding. Since the majority of herding breeds are not raised on farms or ranches, herding competitions are a perfect opportunity for them to channel those skills. It’s also a great activity for some of the most active dog breeds.

Dogs that have the herding instinct will take to the sport and love it! Herding training and trials are the perfect way for these dogs to act on their instinct, get some energy out, and have fun. Herding trials consist of a dog, handlers, a group of animals to herd, and judges. Handlers give instructions to the dogs as they herd the group of animals.

6. Tracking

Dogs have an incredible sense of smell and there are several things dogs can smell that humans can’t. Dogs always want to follow their noses, something you’ve probably noticed on walks.

It’s important to let your dog sniff as it helps them understand their surroundings and not letting them do so could be a way you’re annoying your dog. Because they love to sniff so much, let them have fun and even compete in an activity called tracking.

Tracking trials consist of a test of your dog’s ability to follow a scent. These activities mimic search and rescue missions, which evaluate your dog’s aptitude for following a scent trail left by humans. This sport can be enjoyed by dogs and their humans alike and can even possibly segue into real search and rescue work.

7. Flyball

If you’re looking for a fun activity that helps you meet other dogs and their owners, flyball might be something fun to try. This activity is suitable for almost any active dog that loves playing fetch.

Flyball is a type of relay race consisting of teams with four dogs. A dog runs through a course, jumping hurdles as they go, and reaches the “flyball box”. When the dog steps on a panel, it triggers the mechanism to release a tennis ball.

The dog must fetch the tennis ball, go back through the hurdles, and return the ball to their owner. After that dog has completed their task, the next dog repeats the process. The first team that has all dogs complete the course wins.

8. Canine Freestyle

Canine freestyle is a sport that involves a dog and handler team performing a choreographed dance to a musical number. Much like the name implies, it’s basically dancing with your dog. Since it’s a freestyle dance, any type of movement is permissible, as long as you or the dog are not in danger.

In most routines, typical movements include the dog doing twists and turns, spins, walking upright on their hind legs, performing jumps, and moving in sync with their handler. Canine freestyle requires that the dog has a solid bond with their handler and has mastered cues and commands.

When planning a routine, dogs must learn each specific movement first. After each movement is mastered, you can begin to piece your routine together. Remember to be patient and reward your dog throughout the process. And of course, don’t forget to have fun with it!

9. Lure Coursing

This is a fast-paced sport perfect for active breeds. This sport was developed as an alternative to chasing a live animal, which was most commonly hares. Dogs chase a lure across a course, usually a field. There sometimes are obstacles involved, as well.

This activity was commonly limited to breeds like Whippets, Rhodesian Ridgebacks, or Greyhounds. Despite the Greyhound’s reputation of being great at racing, they’re actually one of the laziest dog breeds. However, involving them in this sport will help exercise them well. Now, this sport is open to any breed that loves to chase and allows them to act on that instinct in a safe and controlled environment.

10. Fast CAT

If your dog is a speedy runner, Fast CAT might be the sport for them! CAT stands for course ability training and Fast CAT is a timed 100-yard course. Instead of racing, dogs run one at a time, decreasing the chance of distractibility. Dogs chase a lure to encourage the best speeds. Although this is an AKC event, you can always train your dog to do it even if you don’t plan to compete if you think they will enjoy it.

11. Scent Work

Scent work is a great option if you’re looking for a low-impact sport for your dog. This is particularly a good sport for older or senior dogs that need some physical and mental stimulation. Mental stimulation is very helpful to keep your dog from getting bored.

During the competition, dogs sniff out certain objects, like cotton swabs dipped in a particular scent, and alert their handlers. Handlers must be in tune with their dog to recognize when they’ve found something.

If you think this sport is a good fit for your dog, you can begin training with some fun indoor scent games for dogs. Even if your dog doesn’t officially compete, it’s a great way to occupy them and let them use their nose!

12. Carting

Some of the largest dog breeds were trained working dogs and pulled carts through rough terrain. Now, most of these breeds don’t pull carts anymore, but there is a carting sport. During a carting competition, dogs pull a cart around a course. Carts are often filled with supplies and dogs must follow their handlers’ cues to adjust speed or direction.

Carting can take a good bit of training. While any physically able dog can pull a cart, there are certain breeds that are a better fit. Breeds like Bernese Mountain Dogs, Saint Bernards, and Newfoundlands are the most common carting dogs.

These are just a few popular dog sports for your dog to try. Remember, your dog doesn’t necessarily have to compete, but it is a great way for your dog to get some exercise and have fun! Plus, it can help keep your dog from getting bored while letting them release excess energy. It can even be a good outlet to help manage prey drive in dogs.