In This Chapter
- Showing off your mixed-breed dog
- Playing games
- Becoming a good citizen
- Having fun outdoors
- Helping others
There are loads of fun activities
you can do with your mixedbreed dog — none of which require a pedigree! From
competition to helping others, you can participate in many activities where both
of you would have fun.
The more events you work for, and
the more titles you earn with your dog, the better you and he work together.
Never buy into the idea that your dog has accomplished all he can — there is always
more to learn! You can also be certain that the more you teach him, the
happier he’ll be, because you’re stimulating his brain and exercising his body.
If you want to help others, you
can enlist your mixed breed as a helper. The first step is to prove that he’s a
good citizen. The next is to train him and prepare yourself as a therapy team
going to schools, hospitals, and convalescent homes visiting those who can’t
have pets. The presence of an animal has great healing power. Just as your
mixed breed keeps your heart whole, merely touching his coat or
receiving a wet kiss from his lips has great benefits for another person. Your
dog will love traveling to places with you, and the attention from everyone is
a huge boost to his ego.
The things you can do and the
places you can go together are endless. Take the time to peruse the
possibilities in the great world of mixed-breed dogs!
Competing with Your Dog at the Classic K-9 Show
The North American Dog Racing
Association’s Classic K-9 Show (www.classick9.com)
is open to dogs of all breeds or mixed combinations. It’s a great venue to
participate in many types of canine sports to earn titles and prizes. These
include high jumping and timed agility.
The Web site is filled with
information on how to join the organization as well as about competing. You can
find an event schedule, so you can check out a show in your area (or at least
close). If you see one in your area, go watch! Being a spectator is almost as
fun as competing — plus, it’ll give you a sense of whether this is an activity you
and your dog would enjoy!
Participating in United Kennel Club Events
The United Kennel Club (www.ukcdogs.com)
is the largest all-breed performance registry in the world. It registers dogs
from across the United States and in 25 other countries. More than 60 percent
of its licensed events are tests of natural abilities such as hunting,
training, and instinct. They emphasize the dog’s performance not appearance.
The United Kennel Club is one of
the few purebred dog clubs that also allows mixed-breed dogs to compete. The
club members believe that this will improve the health and well-being of all
dogs.
The UKC sanctions obedience
trials, agility, dog sport, weight pulling, and terrier races. All mixed-breed
dogs are welcome to compete in these performance classes. They are offered
throughout the year all over North America.
Having Fun at Mixed Breed Dog Clubs of America Events
The Mixed Breed Dog Clubs of
America (MBDCA; www.mbdca.org) is a registry
for mixed breeds. It provides the same opportunities for competitions that the
American Kennel Club does for purebred dogs. The MBDCA doesn’t have the same
conformation-type competition of the AKC (which judges dogs according to a
breed standard, that includes all kinds of mostly appearance-related
attributes). But the MBDCA does have performance events where you can earn
similar titles to those put on AKC dogs, as well as a conformation competition where
the standard is toward general soundness as well as a good temperament and
manners (as opposed to appearance).
In obedience, your dog can earn
titles in Novice (on- and off-leash obedience routines), Open (off-leash
obedience routines), and Utility (advanced off-leash obedience routines), as well
as the title of Obedience Trial Champion. The title initials are the same as
the AKC initials, only with the letters MB in front of them, denoting that the
dog is a mixed breed. For example, the title for Mixed Breed Companion Dog is
MB-CD; for Mixed Breed Companion Dog Excellent, MB-CDX; for Mixed Breed Utility
Dog, MB-UD; and for Mixed Breed Utility Dog Excellent, MB-UDX.
Training Your Dog to Dive
I’ll never forget watching my
first dock diving competition. I loved not only seeing those dogs racing down a
dock and diving, but observing how much fun they and their handlers were
having.
Dock diving is open to all dogs
of any breed or mix. This event has become so popular that it’s featured on
ESPN, called the Big Air Games. Because of the sport’s quick rise in
popularity, the organization Dock Dogs was formed to oversee all the smaller
organizations dedicated to this sport. Its Web site (www.dockdogs.com) features information on
how to get started and a list of events throughout the country. Another great
site for information on this sport is Sport Mutt (www.sportmutt.com).
In order to enjoy dock diving,
you just need to have access to water with either a diving board or dock. Your
dog must love the water. Dogs who have a high desire to retrieve are also
naturals for this sport, because they’ll want to chase down the ball as it
soars over the water.
Currently, there aren’t any
training clubs where you can go to learn how to teach your dog to dock dive.
But the sites mentioned earlier do explain how to train your dog and where to
go for dock diving events.
Joining the Fun at the Australian Shepherd Club of America
Formed in 1957 to promote the
Australian Shepherd Dog breed, it has opened its doors to allowing mixed-breed
dogs to compete in ASCA-sanctioned shows and earn titles as well.
Before Australian Shepherds were
recently accepted as a purebred by the American Kennel Club, they were only
allowed to compete in open matches or at ASCA-sanctioned shows. Due to these restrictions,
the group decided to allow other dogs not recognized by the AKC to also compete
at its shows.
ASCA holds obedience and other
performance events around the country. Visit the Web site (www.asca.org) to
find an event near you.
Camping and Hiking: Finding Fun Outdoor Activities
What’s better than exploring and
enjoying the great outdoors with your mixed breed? At Dog Play (www.dogplay.com), you can find a useful list
of camps and outdoor activities for dog enthusiasts. These camps offer
accommodations, meals, scheduled activities and classes, a chance for dogs to
play with other dogs, and opportunities for you to hike, bike, canoe, and
explore. Whether you go with a special someone or by yourself, you’ll meet many
other dog enthusiasts who share your passion for mixed breeds.
Helping Your Dog Become a Good Citizen
The Canine Good Citizen (www.akc.org/events/cgc/index.cfm)
is a great certificate to work toward with your dog. It proves your dog’s
temperament and control as well as social skills. Since its inception, it has
become a popular goal for many dog owners.
There are even communities that
require all dogs living within that community to be CGC-certified!
Though the AKC is a club for
purebred dogs, it offers the CGC test to mixed breeds as well. You can often
find CGC tests listed in the newspaper, or online at www.akc.org, where there
are listings for each state.
To earn a CGC title, the dog must
pass ten tests of social skill, temperament, and obedience. These tests include
- Accepting a friendly stranger
- Sitting politely for petting
- Being examined for overall health and well-being
- Going out for a walk (walking on a leash)
- Walking through a crowd
- Performing a Sit and Down on command, as well as staying for a short period of time
- Coming when called
- Observing your dog’s reaction to new objects and the presence of strangers
- Observing your dog’s reaction to the presence of other dogs
- Observing how your dog reacts when left alone for a short period of time
Help Your Dog Help Other People
If you’re interested in training
your dog to be a therapy dog (who goes to hospitals and convalescent centers to
bring a smile to people’s faces), the Delta Society (www.deltasociety.org) is the place to
start. You can find out where to take a course in your area. (Courses are
offered throughout the United States and internationally.)
Courses help you select and
prepare animals for visits to nursing homes, schools, hospitals, and
convalescent centers. They also cover how to recognize stress in your dog and
provide information regarding animal health and safety. The Delta Society
course also teaches you about the special needs of specific client groups, such
as children, the elderly, or the physically challenged. This course also covers
the legal codes related to the facilities you’ll be visiting with your dog.
Prior to passing its stringent testing, your dog must be well trained.
When your mixed breed is
certified, you and your dog can visit hospitals, nursing homes, and schools
bringing joy and healing to everyone. You’ll need to make arrangements with
each organization regarding appropriate scheduled visiting times and discuss the
individuals you’ll be working with. The Delta Society stresses preparedness and
patient confidentiality, so this preparation will help you perform a better
service.
Dancing with Your Mixed Breed
Yes, you can actually dance with
your dog. This sport is known as Canine Freestyle, because dancing with
dogs is not based on a specific pattern, but rather on your ability to
choreograph your movements and your dog’s movements in tandem, to music, incorporating
obedience, natural canine movement, and fancy trick behaviors.
Several Freestyle clubs and
organizations hold events all over the United States and some throughout the
world. The two largest clubs are the Canine Freestyle Federation (www.canine-freestyle.org) and The
World Canine Freestyle Organization (www.worldcaninefreestyle.org).
It is now offered by the AKC as a pointearning event, and mixed breeds are
allowed to compete with prior approval of the AKC.
Flying High with Flyball
Flyball is a relay race. At the
starting signal the dogs are sent over a series of four jumps to a box where
they must trigger the release of a ball or beanbag, take hold of it, and race
back to their handlers over the four jumps, carrying the ball or beanbag all
the way. The first team of four dogs and handlers to complete the course wins the
race. Points are assigned according to the dogs’ speed.
There’s a reason this sport is
paired with cheering: It’s fun for your dog, fun for you and your team, and fun
to watch. The sport is open to all dogs — purebred and mixed breed alike.
The North American Flyball
Association (www.flyball.org) is the governing body for this sport. At www.flyballdogs.com,
you can get information about how the game is run, what titles are available, where
to find tournaments, and how to train.
by Miriam Fields-Babineau
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