Canine sports are becoming increasingly popular among responsible dog owners. As well as being a great pastime, it’s great for the dog-owner relationship!
Nowadays, dogs often live alongside us as pampered “houseplants” without a job to do.
In the past, there was a function for each breed, and they really did work for their daily bread! Today, however, life for urban dogs is a bit like a luxury prison.
They get full service and participate in programs (if any) that often do not meet their real needs.
And if they cannot release their pent-up energy because of inadequate dog ownership, if they have nothing to do and are confined to forced rest, this leads not only to behavioural problems but also to health problems.
Canine sports
Consciously (mentally) exhausting your dog is just as important as, for example, eating right, or even better!
Another important thing to know is that physical exercise alone is not enough! I wonder how many people know themselves when, even after a three-hour walk home, the dog is controllable for about twenty minutes, after which it is just as agile, excitable and sometimes even more out of control than before the long walk.
It’s not enough to put a dog on a treadmill and let him tire himself out. That’s not dog sport!
We need to give them the space to satisfy their instincts and exploit their genetically inherited abilities. This may mean varying needs depending on your dog’s breed and habits.
It is also important to exercise your dog’s brain. Giving him mental challenges that he can still solve will give him a sense of achievement. In addition, it is important that your dog participates in these activities with you, and that you are the one who determines the course of events and the beginning and end of the joint action.
Coordinated, group work, “joint action”, led by the dominant individual – in this case the owner – is one of the most important parts of a dog’s life.
