Tired of grooming n d traditional heel, sit n stay routine. Yes, besides being cute n obedient, ur dog possesses a wide range of natural talents and abilities just waiting 2 b unleashed . If u r looking 4 something more interactive, entertaining n certainly more fun 2 b had with ur pooch, here r some dog sports 2 get into.


Agility - Great 4 active mutts who luv 2 climb n jump all over d home furniture. D only discipline dat actually encourages dogs 2 hurtle at great speeds n scramble over playground like obstacles. Can start with homemade obstacles (eg. PVC hurdles n bamboo weave poles) but 4 d real equipt, u'll need 2 get in touch with d training schools.


Flyball - 1 for d speed demons. Race between 2 relay teams of 4 dogs each, hurdling over 4 low jumps to catch a tennis ball popping out from d flyball box n hurdling back over d jumps with ball in mouth. D flyball box is a rarity here. Without box, can still practice fetching n retrieving ball over hurdles.


Frisbee - Minimal equipt required. Frisbee + jumpy n agile dog = Disc dog. D ideal game 2 b playing in a park or beach setting, very cool indeed.


Musical freestyle - No equipt required, only music n a fairly attentive dog. Great 4 K9s who luv 2 mirror ur moves n perform tricks. Involves a choreographed set of moves (weaving, spinning, side steps) n tricks performed 2 music 2 gv d impression dat u n ur dog r dance partners, sweet.

Granted v arent blessed with dog friendly parks/facilities + d constant humid weather, v still owe it 2 our loyal 4-legged frens 2 indulge in plenty of play n exercise outdoors. Remember why u got a dog in d 1st place ...

Any discussion on dog sports n activities welcomed.

Ha ha u r rite, Msia is still far behind in dog sports n as nairud said mostly hv 2 do by urself. 4 agility, there r a few training schools offering classes with proper equipt. 4 flyball, only know of 1 forum member dat hs made a flyball box ... possibly d only 1 in Msia.

4 frisbee, any padang or open area will do. 4 musical freestyle, at home also can practice ...just switch on ur CD.

If u need any ideas/help 2 get started, just shout.

Agreed, lazing around cn b good fun. Just dat if u dig a little, u'll b surprised 2 find out wat ur dog cn do.

Jumping on tables on chairs is a good start. In fact, there's 1 agility obstacle - d pause table which requires d dog 2 come 2 a sudden halt onto for 5 secs b4 tearing thru d rest of d course. Very testing 4 dogs who dun like 2 stay still.

For some short clips of local pooches attempting d above dog sports, c Groovy clips

Bout 1-1.5k. Thinking of getting a rascal? Dun b fooled by d innocent looks.



This post has been edited by groovemaster: Mar 17 2006, 12:55 AM

Very nice! So she hs bcom more proficient at catching balls...all ready 4 d next flyball session.

Yup, doggie acrobatics n tricks also qualify as dog sports. Here's another ... d somersault

Hey Taro, howlah n why d fierce name in ur avatar . I cant even pronounce it, wat does it mean? Very nice gerbil u hv there.

C my blog 4 some of ur old photos. Also check out 'Me Mates' posting, cn c some familiar faces there.

No upper age limit really n depends on how fit ur dog is. Naturally, dogs will slow down once dey reach retirement age after 7-8 yo, depending on wat breed. Hv read bout Border Collies who continue to do agility even after 10 yo. Some breeds like JRTs dun slowdown much either. Easier in Western countries coz dey also hv veteran class as well if ur old dog is still keen n active. Lower jumps n obstacles will b used 2 cater 4 d oldies.

At d other end of d scale, serious jumps training shld only start ven ur dog is < 1yo.

How old is ur dog n r u thinking of doing some agility?

This post has been edited by groovemaster: Mar 17 2006, 02:34 PM

Yup, imagine if can do so like d old flyball boxes...den can really c d dogs fly!

Haha, ur dogs turn in2 cats already, just lazing around...

Yarman, larger breeds normally retire earlier at 7-8 yo coz dey hv 2 carry lotsa weight around. Dat said, hv seen a local Lab bout dat age still doing some agility...slower but still can jump n perform all obstacles.

Time 2 get another young gun, mayb...

Only old pics lah.

Yarlah, must promote otherwise every time dog event also c fashion show, beauty contest, Mr n Mrs Cutesy, fastest dresser. Nothing against dese events but dun really showcase deir natural abilities lah. Bsides, with my type of face n coat...no chance at all at dese events.

Hope 2 c more variety of events especially relating 2 dog sports so dat d public cn appreciate K9s even more...n more chance of winning some kibble, he he.

Dunno whther dis fella can stay still for a minute or not. U taking part?

Checked out MKA agility at Jln Gasing last Sun, mainly d trainers' dogs trying it out. 1 BCollie 'Chester' looks really fit n agile, very good potential. Dun hv all obstacles but still good enuf 4 fun session. V hd a go n was fun coz d field was spacious, flat n hd a good bed of grass. But Liping said dat d field will b converted 2 a carpark n deir training will hv 2 move back 2 d old Petsunite park in Sth City Plaza. Aisayman , just ven u thot u've found a nice field 4 agility...

Did u go 4 agility last Sat at Ikano? Will b going today if it dun rain.

If Jojo can catch d ball like dat, den her flyball catching skills shld b much improved already.

This post has been edited by groovemaster: Mar 18 2006, 12:56 PM

Thks 4 d support. Yarlah not many games dat is suitable. Fastest eating cannot coz eat like kuching, Longest stay cannot coz stay like JRT, Waggiest tail cannot coz tail stiff like ruler, Beauty contest cannot coz look like monyet, Lookalike cannot coz owner dun look like me.

Only left with Fastest recall n OB-Agi race...anything which involves running can do. Oh tricks also can but not all hv dis. Dogathon hs more interesting events eg. Masterhunt, Tricks, Dogathon race.

Think dey shld also hv agility 4 different weight/ height divisions, den Taro cn also take part. Wat else can he do ... weight pulling mayb?

Actually can set up weight pulling as well. Just need a cart n lotsa weights.

U still waiting 4 d timing ah, dat 1 so long ago. Another trainee, Junior, also didnt get her official time. Wat lah dese ppl. U still doing any agility with Taro?

Yarlah dats why try n promote dog sports, otherwise ppl tot dogs only know how 2 growl, bark, bite n jaga rumah, look cute n pee n poo everywhere. Who wants 2 gv us a dog park?

Eh so confirmed mum2b?

U brought Jo n Russ. Nice, how many dogs went lah? Last Sat, dun hv agility...dey must hv gone 4 F1. Sun was raining cats n dogs, so no agility again . Leg itchy now.

If can catch from flyball box, den good enuf lah.

Only kidding bout d dog fashion shows... v r just being sour grapes as our dogs cant win anything at dese events . So v depend on u n ur dogs 2 keep d flag flying on our behalf. Keep up d good work n share d prizes k.

Shld go 2 Ikanolah, den still can try out some simple obstacles n keep fit. If u can find a small trolley/ cart, den groovy 'll start weight pulling with u.

Not always every week, but normally at 5.30pm on Sat evenings.

This post has been edited by groovemaster: Apr 14 2007, 08:16 PM

Oops, hope d poles didnt fall on him ...

Bsides training ur dog 2 b proficient n pacy at d obstacles, another very important aspect of d sport is 2 train d handler 2 read d course n run it in d most efficient n smoothest manner possible. Only den will u hv any chance of keeping up with ur dog. Ur training school shld b able 2 teach u d moves if dey r for real.