Si vous n'êtes pas à l'aise avec l'anglais, utilisez ceci :
Cet outil vous fournit une traduction automatisée en français.
Canine Couch Potatoes It's Time To Get Your Dog Involved In Sports (rally Obedience)
Sporting events are considered the most engaging activity that any proud owner of a sporting breed can enjoy. Complete and total stimulation for the mind and body, your dog will get the exercise of its life while becoming a smarter and more obedient companion.
Even dogs without registration papers can compete and earn titles in most activities. To compete in the American Kennel Club (AKC) or United Kennel Club (UKC) events, your dog will need an Indefinite Listing Privilege (ILP) or Limited Privilege (LP) number, all of which can be easily obtained through these organizations.
Before you get started though, be sure that your dog is healthy and in good shape. Always have the veterinarian check your dog before starting any sports that require a lot of exertion or jumping. If you have a puppy, wait until it's about 2 years of age (or is cleared by your vet) before competing in activities that can stress it's growing joints, such as agility, flyball, flying disc or sledding.
Rally Obedience
Rally obedience, or rally, is best described as a cross between a rally car race and an obedience trial. Your dog must perform a series of commands, such as jumps and weaves around people or objects, in order as directed by a series of signs on a course.
At each station, the sign states which exercise to perform. Performances are judged on the proper completion of the course within the time limit, but judging tends to be looser than in formal obedience trials. Handlers can talk to their dogs as much as they want and may give multiple commands.
Rally is a great way for people and dogs who normally don't like the rigidity of traditional competitive obedience to have fun and compete. When running a rally course, you must perform exercise such as a halt, right turn, send over a jump and a finish (a finish is a return to a site or the heel position). And like other types of competitive obedience, your dog will need 170 out of a possible 200 points to qualify for a leg.
To compete successfully in rally your dog should be familiar with basic obedience commands and should be able to heel on and off leash. Familiarity with some basic agility obstacles such as bar jumps and weave poles is also helpful.
Rally is a fairly new sport and as of January 1, 2005, you can earn titles through the AKC. Contact the AKC for information and rally events. As in formal obedience, taking classes with a professional trainer is a great way to get started in this sport. Trainers who specialize in obedience are often familiar with the training requirements for rally, which can be found in your local phone directory under dog training.
BONUS : Canine Couch Potatoes: It's Time To Get Your Dog Involved In Sports (Sledding)
Do you live in the snowy, ice-filled regions of the world? If so, consider training your dog to master the art of snow sports, particularly dog sledding.
You may think that dog sledding is a little out of your league when it comes to your dog, but you you'll be surprised to learn that most breeds can mush right along with the husky leaders in the cold region.
Clearing Up The Fallacies
First let's clear up some fallacies when it comes to snow sports for dogs. Any dog can mush as long as it weighs more than 30 pounds and is in good health. You don't need a northern breed (such as a Siberian Husky or Alaskan Malamute) to run a sled team, and unless you're planning long distances you only need one to three dogs.
Being in top shape is important for sled dogs, so before you start, have your veterinarian okay your dog's health, then spend some time jogging with your dog or running it beside a bicycle to get it physically fit. Every dog is different, but in general it's a good idea to begin running him short distances about ¼ mile a day until it has had a chance to improve.
Gradually lengthen the distance until your dog can easily run for 30 minutes a day, five times a week. Once he is able to run up to three miles a day without showing signs of strain (heavy panting, overheating), you can begin to train for sledding.
Sledding Details
Two dogs make a team when it comes to sledding. If you decide you want to do more than mush around the local park, you'll need a minimum of three to four dogs for competitions.
Sledding can get a little pricey when it comes to equipment. You need a sled, gangline (which hooks up the sled to the dogs), X-back harnesses (made of nylon) for each dog, snowhooks (which are sled anchors), snublines (which hold the sled when you're stopped), and a sled bag to hold extra gear.
Most well-seasoned dog sledders do not recommend doing long-distance runs (from 20 to 250 miles) with the breeds that are not naturally bred for this type of activity, such as most sporting dogs like Labrador Retrieves, Setters, Pointers, etc.
Most of these dogs do not have the thick, insulated coats of the northern breeds to protect them in extreme conditions. The average dog may indeed have a lot of stamina, but when it comes to dog sledding, most breeds' physical makeup are not ideal for long-distance pulling.
To be competitive in sledding (for racing distances under six miles), your dogs should have completed a minimum of 300 to 500 miles of training that season before your first race. This seems like a lot, but running your team three miles a day is a good goal to shoot for. If the weather is cool enough, you can begin your training in September, and have the 300 miles under your belt by your first race on December 15th.
In addition to learning how to pull, your dog will also need to learn the standard voice commands in dog sledding: whoa (stop), hike (go), gee (right), haw (left), easy (slow down) and hike it up or a tongue click (go faster). These skills are often best taught when a beginner dog is harnessed up with experienced dogs.
For more information about sled dog events and training, contact the International Sled Dog Racing Association (ISDRA) or the International Federation of Sleddog Sports (IFSS).
Do you live in the snowy, ice-filled regions of the world? If so, consider training your dog to master the art of snow sports, particularly dog sledding.
You may think that dog sledding is a little out of your league when it comes to your dog, but you you'll be surprised to learn that most breeds can mush right along with the husky leaders in the cold region.
Clearing Up The Fallacies
First let's clear up some fallacies when it comes to snow sports for dogs. Any dog can mush as long as it weighs more than 30 pounds and is in good health. You don't need a northern breed (such as a Siberian Husky or Alaskan Malamute) to run a sled team, and unless you're planning long distances you only need one to three dogs.
Being in top shape is important for sled dogs, so before you start, have your veterinarian okay your dog's health, then spend some time jogging with your dog or running it beside a bicycle to get it physically fit. Every dog is different, but in general it's a good idea to begin running him short distances about ¼ mile a day until it has had a chance to improve.
Gradually lengthen the distance until your dog can easily run for 30 minutes a day, five times a week. Once he is able to run up to three miles a day without showing signs of strain (heavy panting, overheating), you can begin to train for sledding.
Sledding Details
Two dogs make a team when it comes to sledding. If you decide you want to do more than mush around the local park, you'll need a minimum of three to four dogs for competitions.
Sledding can get a little pricey when it comes to equipment. You need a sled, gangline (which hooks up the sled to the dogs), X-back harnesses (made of nylon) for each dog, snowhooks (which are sled anchors), snublines (which hold the sled when you're stopped), and a sled bag to hold extra gear.
Most well-seasoned dog sledders do not recommend doing long-distance runs (from 20 to 250 miles) with the breeds that are not naturally bred for this type of activity, such as most sporting dogs like Labrador Retrieves, Setters, Pointers, etc.
Most of these dogs do not have the thick, insulated coats of the northern breeds to protect them in extreme conditions. The average dog may indeed have a lot of stamina, but when it comes to dog sledding, most breeds' physical makeup are not ideal for long-distance pulling.
To be competitive in sledding (for racing distances under six miles), your dogs should have completed a minimum of 300 to 500 miles of training that season before your first race. This seems like a lot, but running your team three miles a day is a good goal to shoot for. If the weather is cool enough, you can begin your training in September, and have the 300 miles under your belt by your first race on December 15th.
In addition to learning how to pull, your dog will also need to learn the standard voice commands in dog sledding: whoa (stop), hike (go), gee (right), haw (left), easy (slow down) and hike it up or a tongue click (go faster). These skills are often best taught when a beginner dog is harnessed up with experienced dogs.
For more information about sled dog events and training, contact the International Sled Dog Racing Association (ISDRA) or the International Federation of Sleddog Sports (IFSS).
