Chickentrain's Dog Q&A

[chickentrains]

I still cant even throw a proper roller. Deacon is NOT fast enough to catch one in the air, but is happy to retrieve a roller (If I manage to even throw one properly)

 

[ShrekDawg]

1. I CANNOT believe that that GSD got best in show in a different show (idk about this one but if it places I will die)
2. I'm not sure if a sport that physically exercises the dog would be better, or if one that exercises their mind would be better. They obviously all use elements of both, but there are some that lean one way or the other.
I've sorted some into groups:

Physical:
Agility
Disc

Mental:
Obedience
Scent work/variations of finding and bringing/variations on hide and seek

Both:
Rally
Treibball
Freestyle

Doesn't work for my situation:
Flyball
Dock Diving
Herding
Canicross
Skijoring
Schutzhund

Wrong dog breed:
Lure Coursing
Tracking
Carting
Weight Pulling

There is no wrong dog breed. Any dog can do those last 4. Even chihuahuas. and agility is a lot of mental stimulation too cause they have to learn the course and obstacles and pay attention to the handler to do the right obstacle in the right order at high speeds and it get distracted. That takes a lot of concentration.

But yeah, any dog can do any sport. For the most part. There are some where they really can’t or only certain breeds are allowed to sign up but those are pretty rare.

Anyway, point being, if you are interested in a sport, look into it. Don’t limit yourself or eliminate them because you think only certain breeds can do it or whatever. Most have a huge variety and lure coursing has actually become quite popular lately as a way to burn off energy, etc. in all dogs.

Something I’ve noticed lately is that you seem to be kind of I guess restricting or limiting yourself a lot. Or like seeing things in black and white I guess might be better? And therefore restricting yourself. Like oh this breed can’t do this or this is the wrong thing or whatever.

Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing and research and planning is good and I love that. Most people don’t do it. But I would just say to try not to restrict yourself or assume things or generalize everything.

Most dogs can do most sports so if you’re interested, give it a try and don’t cross anything out. And I would also say to wait and see what your dog likes and go from there. Maybe he will tell he’s gonna be good at something. You don’t have to have the exact sport picks out in advance.

I know it can be fun though and I definitely have done that too but the dog may surprise you and be good at something obscure. And Goldens especially LOVE to please so they are good at basically anything as long as it’s done with you.

This isn’t intended to be mean or anything at all, btw. Just to hopefully help.

 

[ShrekDawg]

I'm thinking that until he's fully grown, I'll start with obedience and trick training, as well as some hide and seek work, then see if i want to branch into agility, freestyle, or disc later

That sounds like a good plan. Although if b honestly you can start foundations and ground work and stuff for most sports as puppies. You just don’t introduce jumping until like 18 months but it’s good to start the basics. And glad to see you’re branching out.

 

[chickentrains]

Any dog sport is mentally stimulating IMO.. I didn't even see that post

 

[chickentrains]

I'd really like to try FASTCAT with deacon but the offleash part scares me. He'd get distracted and run after a dog. I don't think he'd run with a muzzle on, either. Took me a year to train him just to walk in one

 

[chickentrains]

 

[black_cat]

There is no wrong dog breed. Any dog can do those last 4. Even chihuahuas.

Not sure that a chihuahua could physically pull weights but ok then lol

and agility is a lot of mental stimulation too cause they have to learn the course and obstacles and pay attention to the handler to do the right obstacle in the right order at high speeds and it get distracted. That takes a lot of concentration.

That makes sense!

But yeah, any dog can do any sport. For the most part. There are some where they really can’t or only certain breeds are allowed to sign up but those are pretty rare.

Anyway, point being, if you are interested in a sport, look into it. Don’t limit yourself or eliminate them because you think only certain breeds can do it or whatever. Most have a huge variety and lure coursing has actually become quite popular lately as a way to burn off energy, etc. in all dogs.

That one was put in that category, but I also can't regularly get to a field or practice that sort of stuff, and I'm worried that if I trained poorly for chasing, we'd have issues with chasing the chickens and other stuff on walks (like how poorly trained bitework causes dogs to bite random stuff)

Something I’ve noticed lately is that you seem to be kind of I guess restricting or limiting yourself a lot. Or like seeing things in black and white I guess might be better? And therefore restricting yourself. Like oh this breed can’t do this or this is the wrong thing or whatever.

I do that a lot, feel free to give me a kick in the rear lol

Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing and research and planning is good and I love that. Most people don’t do it. But I would just say to try not to restrict yourself or assume things or generalize everything.

Most dogs can do most sports so if you’re interested, give it a try and don’t cross anything out. And I would also say to wait and see what your dog likes and go from there. Maybe he will tell he’s gonna be good at something. You don’t have to have the exact sport picks out in advance.

That makes sense!

I know it can be fun though and I definitely have done that too but the dog may surprise you and be good at something obscure. And Goldens especially LOVE to please so they are good at basically anything as long as it’s done with you.

That's why I love goldens so much- they just care about you so. much. so. much. love.

This isn’t intended to be mean or anything at all, btw. Just to hopefully help.

No, it isn't at all!

 

[ShrekDawg]

I'd really like to try FASTCAT with deacon but the offleash part scares me. He'd get distracted and run after a dog. I don't think he'd run with a muzzle on, either. Took me a year to train him just to walk in one

Yeah I really wanna try it eventually either with my brother’s dogs or Brew eventually LOL

 

[chickentrains]

Yeah I really wanna try it eventually either with my brother’s dogs or Brew eventually LOL

Yess it seems so fun

when I get my new dog it will open such a BIG door! sport places won't allow us b/c of liability and insurance. Even if he where muzzled the whole time.

 

[black_cat]

Any dog sport is mentally stimulating IMO.. I didn't even see that post

Agreed, but I see some as purely mind based, and some as having much more physical aspects
that might just be me habitually categorizing things, though