Canine Sports & Games

Book excerpt: For every dog there is a sport that provides a perfect outlet for his intelligence and energy. A smart, focused Border Collie or Corgi might be an excellent agility athlete, while a scrappy little terrier satisfies his tunneling instincts in Earthdog trials. An eager-to-please, alert Poodle or Golden Retriever might shine in obedience, while a crowd-loving Whippet or Pit Bull mix thrives on the excitement of disc dog events. All-American mixed breeds can prove their mettle in almost any sport; find the right fit for your dog and watch him shine! Canine Sports & Games presents the full range of possibilities and identifies canine abilities, instincts, and personalities that work well with each sport. Not sure about competitive sports? Swimming, hiking, and skiing are excellent opportunities for humans and their dogs to have fun together. And Canine Good Citizens, therapy dogs, and search-and-rescue dogs earn the respect and love of the people whose lives they touch. Enthusiastic owners will find suggestions for every kind of canine. Basic training and obedience are necessary before beginning any organized sport. Fundamental commands, nutrition and fitness, and injuries and aging are all covered in an overview that prepares readers and their dogs for the challenges of competition. The heart of the book is a sport-by-sport examination of 19 games, obedience competitions, and tests of instinct. Each sport is described in full, with information on history, complete rules, required equipment, how to begin training, safety reminders, related organizations, achievable goals and titles, and amusing or inspiring anecdotes Ñ everything dogs and their people need to get down to some serious playtime! Praise: "Kristin Mehus-Roe delightfully Ñ and thoroughly Ñ unleashes the true nature of dogs: born jocks and masters of movement." ÑArden Moore, editor of Fido Friendly and author of The Dog Behavior Answer Book "From flyball and disc-throwing to freestyle and herding, Canine Sports & Games makes it all look easy. Even better, Kristin Mehus-Roe recognizes the sometimes dormant athletic abilities that rest within all of us, from human couch potatoes to pit bulls and poodles." ÑKen Foster, author of the best-selling memoir The Dogs Who Found Me and Dogs I Have Met