More AKC Sports for Purebreds and Mixed Breeds

Therapy as well as Search and Rescue dogs can receive American Kennel Club (AKC) titles based on their real-life jobs. Other purebreds and mixed breeds also can earn AKC titles by using their natural abilities for detecting scents, herding, drafting, swimming and retrieving. The events summarized below and those included in my two previous posts should provide ample thought for considering a new sport for your furry best friend.

Unless specifically stated, the following sports are open to purebreds and mixed breeds registered with the AKC’s Canine Partners program.

Scent Work (also commonly referred to nose work):

The AKC promotes this sport as designed to mimic the “task of working detection dogs to locate a scent and communicate to the handler that the scent has been found.” Dogs and handlers work together to read each other’s reactions, and unlike tracking, handlers may guide their canines when necessary. Dogs are trained to detect specific odors and alert when the odors are detected by pawing, barking, pointing with their noise etc. in the Odor Search Division. Canines must alert to odors within a specified time.

Dogs search for odors in a container, on or in an object indoors, on or in an object outdoors, and in a container buried in the ground. Competition for each type search starts at the Novice level, progressing to Advanced, Excellent and Masters, as the difficulty of the searches increases. Three qualifying scores are required for a title in each class. Elite titles require more qualifying scores.

Canines also may compete in the Handler Discrimination Division, which has four classes. Canines must find their owner’s scent on one or more scented articles such as a cotton glove or cotton ball. The novice class involves a container search; Advanced, an interior search; and Excellent, an exterior search. Masters searches encompass work in any search environment. Three qualifying scores are required for each title.

The Detective Class is the most difficult competition. Dogs must earn ten qualifying scores for work in many environments and must find numerous hides, with odors from the Odor Search Division.

Cart/drafting dog:

Numerous breed clubs, including those of the Bernese Mountain Dog, Bouvier de Flanders and Rottweiler, offer competitions involving drafting or pulling carts with varying weights and distances. The clubs’ rules vary. Some, such as those of the Bernese Mountain Dog Club of America, also require a dog to heel, come when called, and stand for harnessing, for its novice draft dog title. According to an AKC representative, the AKC only recognizes titles awarded to dogs of the particular parent breed club sponsoring the event. However, any breed or mixed-breed may compete and earn a title issued by the sponsoring club.

 

Coursing Ability Test (CAT:)

All canines may compete to earn coursing ability degrees as long as they are at least a year old.

Dogs run individually as they chase a lure and must complete the course with enthusiasm and without interruption in a set amount of time. Canines receive their Coursing Ability (CA) degree after three passes, earn a Coursing Ability Advanced (CAA) title after ten passes, and a Coursing Ability Excellent (CAX) after 25 passes. The length of the course and time required depends on a dog’s height.

Fast CAT:

Dogs individually run a 100-yard dash, lured by a toy or white plastic bag. Canines earn points based on their mph speed multiplied by a handicap, set by a dog’s height, to determine how many points they earn. Canines earn titles by accruing points. In 2017, a greyhound and a whippet were the fastest competing dogs, clocking in at 39.41 mph!

Farm Dogs:

Canines must pass a twelve-exercise test that demonstrates that they can deal with various farm-type situations, such as jumping on a hay bale, walking past livestock without disturbing them; sitting while their handler feeds livestock; and walking among farm equipment. The AKC says the test doesn’t assess herding ability but focuses on whether the dog is controlled and biddable.

Search and Rescue:

Dogs that have worked at least five search and rescue missions and have been certified by an AKC certification organization, earn AKC titles.

Therapy Dog:

Canines must be certified and/or registered by an AKC recognized therapy dog organization and complete a required number of visits for titles: Therapy Dog Novice, requires ten visits; AKC Therapy Dog, 50 visits; Therapy Dog Advanced, 100; Excellent, 200; and Distinguished, 400 visits.

THE FOLLOWING EVENTS RESTRICT ENTRIES TO SPECIFIC BREEDS:

Earthdog:

About 27 small terrier breeds, as well as Dachshunds and Miniature Pinchers, may compete in this event, which the AKC promotes as an outlet for excess energy and natural instincts. Dogs earn titles after they qualify numerous times by entering a den or dens, and hunt for a caged rat. The length and the complexity of the courses increase correspondingly with classes that advance from Junior to Senior to Master.

Herding:

These trials test a dog’s herding ability. They are only open to herding breeds and a few others, including the Norwegian Elkhound, Rottweiler and Samoyed. Canines compete at various levels and earn titles commensurate to the difficulty of the herding situations. Stock used are sheep, cattle or ducks.

Lure Coursing tests and trials:

Fifteen breeds of sighthounds, including Afghans, Basenjis, Borzois, Greyhounds, Ibizan Hounds, Irish Wolfhounds, Italian Greyhounds, Pharaoh Hounds, Rhodesian Ridgebacks, Salukis, Scottish Deerhounds and Whippets, are eligible to compete.

Dogs individually chase a white lure, such as a plastic bag, as they run through a field with at least four turns over a minimum 600-yard course. Qualifying dogs earn a Junior Courser (JC) title after two successful runs under two different judges. Before JC dogs can compete at a higher level, an AKC judge must certify that they are ready to compete. The more advanced levels require that two dogs run at the same time, and canines not only earn additional titles with a specific number of qualifications but also points towards a Field Championship. Dogs may receive Senior Courser, Master Courser, Field Champion and Lure Courser Excellent titles.

Field Trial and Hunt Tests: These trials are limited to fully registered and/or limited registered canines in certain breeds.

Pointers, setters, Weimaraners, Vislas, Wirehaired Pointing Griffons and Brittany Spaniels may compete in hunt and/or field trials for pointing breeds.

Retrievers and Irish Water Spaniels are eligible for hunt tests and field trials for Retrievers; and Cockers, English Cockers and Springer Spaniels may enter Spaniel Field Trials and Hunt tests.

These tests include retrieves on land and in the water but hunt tests and field trial rules vary as do the type of fowl used to retrieve. For instance, retriever hunt tests typically involve ducks, pheasants or chukars while spaniels may retrieve pigeons for junior tests but not for higher levels tests which use pheasants, chukars or partridges.

Bassett Hounds and Beagles may compete in their respective breed field trials which allow other hound competitors. Dachshunds compete at their own hunt test. These breeds track the scent of rabbits and hares.

Temperament Testing:

Since the beginning of 2018, the AKC recognizes a Temperament Test title awarded by the American Temperament Test Society (ATTS). This ten-part pass/fail test, conducted by the ATTS, is open to all dogs more than 18 months of age and assesses behavior towards strangers, sudden noises or visual movements, and threatening strangers. National breed clubs must ask the AKC for approval for the test, and titles are handled through the Parent Club Performance Events titling program This test is only open to AKC registered dogs or those canines listed in the Purebred Alternative Listing (PAL) program. So far, the AKC has only approved the American Staffordshire Terrier for the test.

 

ACHIEVER AWARD:

Under its 2018 pilot program, the AKC awards an achiever certificate to dogs that have placed, qualified or titled, depending on the sport, in three different sports. Performances that count towards the three-sportrequirement include:

• a placement in a conformation class;
• a CGC, CGCA or CGCU certificate;
• qualifying scores in: Agility, Obedience, Rally, ACT, Lure Coursing, Farm Dog, Tracking, Field or Hunt Trials, or Earthdog;
• title, as recognized by the AKC, from the Barn Hunt Association, North American Dive Dog, or North American Flyball Association; and
• Search and Rescue and/or Therapy Dog titles.

 

Under this 2018 pilot program, at least one title/qualification/placement must have been earned since December 1, 2017 and the two others within the past three years.

 

For more information about these sports, check out the AKC’s website for its rules and regulations. Now may be the perfect time to try a new activity to keep your furry-best friend entertained and happy. Good luck and have fun!

Related Posts: https://www.caryunkelbach.com/akc-sports-for-all-dogs/  and

https://www.caryunkelbach.com/akc-performance-events-part-1/

GLOSSARY:

ANDD: Advanced Novice Draft Dog

ABNDD: Advanced Brace Novice Draft Dog

BN: Beginner Novice

CD: Companion Dog

CGC: Canine Good Citizen

CGCA: Canine Good Citizen Advanced

CGCU: Canine Good Citizen Urban

CH: Conformation Champion

DD: Draft Dog

JHD: Junior Herding Dog as tested by the American Herding Breed Association.

NDD: Novice Draft Dog

MBDD: Master Brace Draft Dog

MDD: Master Draft Dog

PCD: Preferred Companion Dog

RN: Rally Novice

RE: Rally Excellent

TKN: Novice Trick Dog