Dedicated to the Health, Education, and Performance of Poodles
Dedicated to the Health, Education, and Performance of Poodles
Carting/drafting: Draft Dog Tests were originally developed to mimic the tasks of the traditional carting breeds such as the Newfoundlands and Bernese Mountain Dogs. The Canadian Kennel Club competitions are now open to all breeds. The tests begin with basic obedience exercises. The dog then hauls a wheeled cart or wagon off-lead, following the instructions of the judge. Backing up, turns, and a change in speed are included. For the final portion of the test, the dog must pull a freight load over rougher terrain that includes natural obstacles. At the advanced level, backpacking exercises are included.
Weight pulling with dogs is similar to horse or tractor contests that require moving a load a certain distance in a specified amount of time. Dogs wear a harness and pull a weighted cart on dirt or a sled on snow. The initial weight the dog pulls is determined by the weight of the dog, allowing any size dog to complete.
Titles are offered by the UKC and the International Weight Pull Association.
Coursing: The Coursing Ability Test (CAT) tests a dog’s basic coursing instinct or hunting-by-sight ability. The dog chases an artificial lure, usually a plastic bag. The test is a non-competitive pass/fail event, and no placements are given. To pass, a dog running alone must complete the course with enthusiasm and without interruption within a given time. Dogs under 12 inches run a course half the distance of larger dogs. Tests are offered by the AKC and the CKC (Canadian Kennel Club) which calls them Chase Ability Tests.
FAST CAT is a timed 100 yard dash. The dog’s time is converted to MPH. Dogs, again running alone, earn points based on their speed. Titles are awarded when the dog attains the required points. This is another non-competitive event with no placements.
The UKC offers a similar event, called drag racing, with two kinds of courses: flat runs and steeplechase, which has 4 hurdles the dogs must jump.
Dock Diving: AKC recognizes North American Diving Dogs (NADD) titles. Dogs compete in jumping for distance or height off a dock into a body of water. In distance jumping, the dog runs down the dock and leaps into the pool, chasing a toy thrown by the handler. The distance from the edge of the dock to where the dog hits the water is measured. In air diving, the dog jumps for a toy suspended at increasing heights.
Additional organizations that offer dock diving include the UKC (Splash Dogs), Dock Dogs, American Diving Dogs, and Ultimate Air Dogs.
Canine Freestyle: Musical freestyle has been compared to pairs dancing or figure skating, although the pair in this case is a dog and owner. It is based on obedience heeling and has some required moves and various optional ones including spins, circles, jumps and sidesteps. The routine is choreographed with a musical score; costumes for dog and handler contribute to the theatrical impression. The aim is for the music, costume, and natural style of the dog to all complement each other to create a polished performance.
Titles are offered by the Canine Freestyle Federation (CFF), the World Canine Freestyle Org. (WCFO), the Rally Freestyle Elements (RFE) organization, and the Musical Dog Sport Assn.
Rally FrEe: Rally-FrEe is a unique sport combining trick behaviors of Canine Musical Freestyle with the format of Rally. It emphasizes the precise execution of fundamental freestyle and obedience skills while encouraging creative and novel behaviors on a Rally style course. The handlers receive the course 7-10 days before the event so they can plan and rehearse the required behaviors. Each level has required skills the dog and handler must demonstrate. The performance can be live before the judge or video-taped and submitted.
In all classes, a dog-and-handler team navigate a course of 15 stations and perform the behaviors indicated on each station’s sign. The start sign will indicate the initial position of the dog relative to the handler, but it is not judged. The finish sign is judged and always asks that the dog take a final bow.
Rally FrEe titles are offered by the Rally Freestyle Elements organization.
Treibball: Treibball is based upon livestock herding. The dog pushing inflated fitness balls into a goal area resembling a soccer net where the handler stands and directs the dog. By substituting different sizes of fitness balls for livestock, it makes it possible for dogs to participate for whom herding livestock is impractical or inaccessible. As the dog progresses to the mid-level of classes, the number of balls increases from five to eight, and the distance the dog moves those balls to the owner at the goal line increases to the full field length (depending on the class/division in which that dog would compete).
The American Treibball Association governs the sport.
The Miscellaneous activities are one of the several areas from which points can be accumulated to achieve the VIP Versatility Certificate or Versatility Certificate Excellent or Versatility Certificate Master award.
To learn more about all things Poodle, and to support health research for this wonderful breed, please consider becoming a member of VIP.
