Dog Sports are any physical activities that involve dogs, both competitive or non-competitive. Some are obviously sports, but for other activities it is questionable. We have listed all that we could find, make up your own mind whether it is a sport or not.

dog racing sport dog sports

Faster, Higher, Stronger

  • Dock Jumping — dogs jump from a dock into a body of water in an attempt to achieve the greatest distance or height.
  • Dog Racing — greyhounds chase a lure around a track.
  • Greyhound Hare Coursing — hares are chased by greyhounds using their sight rather than scent.
  • Sighthound Racing: Sighthounds race over a straight track.

Pulling Things

  • Bikejoring — a single dog or a team of harnessed dogs pull along a rider on a bike.
  • Skijøring — being pulled either by a dog, a horse or a motor-operated vehicle while on skis.
  • Dog Sled Racing — teams of sled dogs pull a sled with a driver. Also called Dog Mushing.
  • Weight Pulling: Dogs pull weights over a course.
  • Carting: Dogs pull carts or wagons.
  • Dog Scootering: Dogs pull a scooter and rider.

Navigating Obstacles

  • Flyball — a relay race between two teams of four dogs. Each dog must jump over four hurdles, retrieve a ball by triggering a flyball box pedal and then return over the hurdles to the starting line.
  • Dog Agility — dogs have to navigate through a course that has various types of obstacles under the direction of a handler.
  • Canine Parkour: Agility Training for Dogs and Owners

Showing Off Skills

  • Disc Dog — dog frisbee competitions of distance catching and choreographed freestyle catching. This is competed by a dog and his human partner. The goal is to catch the Frisbee.
  • Musical Canine Freestyle — a modern dog sport that is a mixture of obedience training, tricks, and dance that allows for creative interaction between dogs and their owners.
  • Heelwork to Music: Dogs perform routines to music.

Playing Sport

  • Treibball: Dogs push balls into goals.
  • Dog Surfing: Dogs ride waves on a surfboard.

Contrlling Other Animals

  • Herding: Dogs control livestock's movement.
  • Sheepdog Trial: Dogs herd sheep through obstacles.

Doing What they Are told

  • Obedience Trial: Dogs demonstrate training commands.
  • Rally Obedience: Dogs navigate a course with obedience commands.
  • IGP (IPO/Schutzhund): Dogs demonstrate obedience, tracking, and protection.

Accompaining Humans

  • Canicross — a variant of cross country running in which runners have to complete the course accompanied by their dogs.

And More

  • Working Trials: Dogs complete various tasks.
  • Sled Dog Racing: Dogs pull sleds over snow trails.
  • Terrier Racing: Terriers race over a short course.
  • Barn Hunt: Dogs locate hidden rats in a course.
  • Coon Hunting Field Trial: Dogs track and tree raccoons.
  • Earthdog Trial: Dogs navigate underground tunnels.
  • Field Trial: Dogs demonstrate hunting skills.
  • Hare Coursing: Dogs chase hares in a controlled setting.
  • Hound Trailing: Hounds follow a scent trail.
  • Lure Coursing: Dogs chase a mechanized lure.
  • Nosework: Dogs locate hidden scents.
  • Tracking Trial: Dogs follow a human scent trail.
  • Trail Hunting: Dogs follow a scent trail outdoors.
  • Shed Antler Hunting: Dogs locate discarded antlers.