What Kinds of Dog Contests Are There?

A 2009/2010 survey by the American Pet Products Association (APPA) shows that 45 percent of American households own a dog. Entering contests with their dogs is a favorite pastime of many pet owners. These shows draw more than three million entries each year and include breed shows, tests of instinct and trainability such as obedience trials, field and agility trials, hunting and tracking tests, herding trials, and canine good citizen tests.

  1. Dog Breed Shows

    • Kennel club-registered dogs compete in breed conformation events for breed champion status. In these shows the dog's overall appearance is judged against the ideal breed standard, and puppies bred from dogs with champion status bring much higher purchase prices for breeders. The biggest national breed show is the American Kennel Club (AKC) / Eukanuba annual championship, in which only the top 25 dogs of each breed compete by invitation against dogs with international status.

    Working Dogs

    • Registered dogs in the sporting, hound, working and herding groups take part in competitions that test their ability to perform the tasks for which they are bred. The pointing breeds, for example, are members of the sporting group and these are tested for their ability to hunt during gun dog trials. According to the AKC regulations for the gun dog stake in pointing breed field trials, "a Gun Dog must show a keen desire to hunt, must have a bold and attractive style of running, and must demonstrate not only intelligence in quartering and in seeking objectives. It must also have the ability to find game." Similar contests are available for retrievers, herding dogs, hunting dogs and others.

    Obedience Trials

    • Dogs of all breeds may take part in obedience trials, which are intended to demonstrate the dog's ability to follow specific routines and commands from their handlers. The sport of obedience has competitions at several levels, and a dog that has successfully completed a certain level is awarded the Companion Dog designation.

    Agility Trials

    • Dog agility is a popular sport in the U.S. The United States Dog Agility Association (USDAA) claims to have more than 25,000 registered competitors from over 200 breeds. In agility trials dogs are expected to clear jumps, pass through tunnels, slalom between parallel sticks and go over ramps. The dog with the best round in the fastest time is usually the winner, depending on the criteria for the contest.

    Other Contests

    • Other contests held regularly for dog lovers include the sport of flyball, which is a relay race with teams of four in which the dogs jump hurdles and then step on a spring-loaded box to release balls that they must catch. Dog dancing is also known as canine freestyle, and is heelwork set to music. In dock jumping, dogs compete by jumping off a dock into a body of water and being judged on the distance jumped. Events such as the ugliest mutt or the cutest puppy competitions are for dogs of mixed breed or those without any special training. Whatever dog you have, there is likely to be a contest in which it can take part.