Training dogs is fun. Obviously I like training dogs or one hopes I would have found a different direction in life. And I’d like to believe that my dogs think training is fun too. Indeed, I go to a good deal of effort to make it fun for them. So how about dog shows and competitions? Do my dogs enjoy that?
Most competitions take place away from your familiar environment, in the presence of strange dogs who may or may not be social, and with a whole lot of stressed-out people. Most events take place without the food and toys and games that make it fun for the dog. Traveling, extensive period of crating, and a complete disruption of the routine may also be a hallmark of competition – from the dog’s point of view.
So what does the dog get for it? A hamburger a few hours later? One to one interaction with their owner and handler?
It’s an interesting question. In my opinion, my dogs that were trained for competition did benefit, but indirectly. When competing, I train much more regularly and with a plan. Competition focuses me and drives me forward. There is no doubt in my mind that my dogs benefitted from that, because they truly love to work. But the dog shows? Those were for me.
So the way I see it is this…. dog shows are for me and training is for both of us. I get to show the results of whatever I learned and I get to progress my skills. My dog gets intense quality time every day. As long as my dog is okay with the dog show, not necessarily loving it but okay with it, then we continue. In exchange, they got the joy of regular training and interaction – it was a good deal all around.
But what if the scenario were different? What if my dog had a sensitive temperament and found the presence of other dog stressful? Or, as an interesting corollary, what if my dog’s behavior were such that it caused other dogs to find their presence stressful? What if my dog did not travel well, or did not particularly enjoy training nearly as much as they might enjoy a walk for an equivalent amount of time? Are we doing our dogs a favor when we take them to the dog show? Participating in training classes with shy or reactive dogs? Desensitizing dogs to things that don’t actually matter to the dog, and are only relevant because of some specific competition interest that we might have?
In my mind, our dogs are doing us the favor! I do not believe all, or even most, dogs should go to competition events. I believe all dogs should be trained in order to make them good members of our families and society, and they can be trained well beyond that if it is enjoyable for both the handler and the dog. But it confuses me when people imply that somehow, a dog is lucky if they have a handler who does competition dog sports with them. Maybe. Maybe not.
Some dogs are lucky, yes! Those dogs love to learn and practice and travel and compete, and they live for the quality time with their handlers. And for some dogs, competing in specific sports, training (and less often, competition) may also give them confidence that serves them well in life as a whole. But I don’t consider this the norm. The normal situation is that the handler wants to compete, and the dog comes along for the ride. The normal situation is that the handler convinces themselves that this is wonderful for the dog as well, despite all evidence to the contrary more often than I care to call out.
I’m not against dog sports. I like dog sports. I think they’re good for the dog-human bond, in particular when the dog and handler have the appropriate temperament for whatever sport they have taken up. I also think a good percentage of dogs truly love training enough to offset the stress of competition. But it’s a mistake to confuse our interests with the dog’s interests – it feels too much like rationalizing to me. If your dog doesn’t particularly enjoy training, or you are spending months conditioning him to crowds because they make him nervous, or your dog makes himself scary or a nuisance when around other dogs, then don’t be confused… you’re doing it for you. Not the dog. Your dog would like to be doing something else altogether.
Which is fine. I’m all about compromise, and if your dog does dog sports for you – because you like it – and they don’t mind too much? Go for it! Learn all you can! Develop your hobby! But remain grateful because your dog is doing you the favor.
I believe I was very fortunate in my first two competition dogs – because the first one did compete – for me, and was not super thrilled by it. The second one? Hooker thrived on the ring experience. tot he point where when osteosarcoma claimed her front leg at 5, we still did show in go’s so people could tell her how fabulous she was. Why was I fortunate? Because I had a clear vision of how different enjoying it and enduring it were for the dogs. All loved training – not all loved the ring.
Competitions are as fun for the dog as you make them, especially if training fun isn’t dependent on food, games and toys.
This is long, so you might want to get comfy before you start reading.
In April of 2010, while walking my late Rat Terrier, Lucky, we were followed by a loose puppy. After she nearly got hit by three cars in as many minutes, I threw my spare leash on her, and took her back to the house she had followed us from. The people there claimed she wasn’t theirs, so I brought her home with me. After nobody answered my “found dog” add, well, she had a home with me.
In late 2010, I found out about the AKC’s recently launched Canine Partners Listing program, that allowed mixed breed dogs to compete in certain AKC events, like obedience and rally. Hmmm… one spayed mutt, check. One Canine Partners Listing certificate in hand, check. One insane quest to put obedience and rally titles on a dog patently unsuited to be a competition obedience and rally dog, check.
Ilka earned her RN, RA, RE, and BN titles. And she hated pretty much every single second of it. We had two legs of her CD, and I really, REALLY wanted that title. However, already somewhat reactive before we started competing,, she became worse and worse as I kept asking her to do things that she simply couldn’t cope with. I finally realized just how miserable my dog was, and made her a promise. One more weekend of trials, and that would be it. Whether we got that last CD leg or not, she would never have to set foot in an AKC obedience ring again. We blew both runs, one of which would have otherwise been a Q. I cried. Right there beside the ring. After pulling myself together and cheering for the rest of the classes and the HIT and HC winners, we packed up and went home.
For over a year, I did nothing with her except take her for walks and throw training dummies for her to chase. She played with Lucky and Leo, the young GSD I had rescued. That was it, though. No training whatsoever. There wasn’t any point in it, since I had promised her no more obedience or rally trials. Then, on a dog forum, I asked someone what the letters ETD after their dog’s name meant. For those who don’t know, it means Expert Trick Dog, a title offered by the organization Do More With Your Dog.
Titles that you earned by submitting videos? It was like a whole new world of opportunity opened up for us. I found other organizations besides DMWYD. Organizations that offered rally titles, or obedience titles. We could try the brand new sport of dog parkour. She could DO things. Things that she liked doing, in an environment where she felt safe, and where her reactivity wouldn’t endanger other dogs of people. Oh, and I got lots of pretty ribbons and certificates to hang on my walls. I lost Ilka in late 2017, but our outings to record videos for online titles were some of the best times we spent together. Way more fun than going to trials had ever been.
Recently, I realized that Leo just wasn’t enjoying parkour like she’d been before. Happy to go places with me, yes. But as soon as I put her parkour harness on and asked her to do anything, she started acting miserable. Head low, tail low, responding slowly or else acting like she had no idea what I was asking her to do. Nearly halfway to an All Dogs Parkour Premier Championship, and with about half a dozen more entries only partially completed, she is taking a break. We’ll try other things for a while, and see if she wants to do parkour later on. Will I be disappointed if she never finishes that title? Yes. However, her being happy is more important than her earning a title. Even if it’s a title that I proposed with her in mind.
And that’s my novel. Do I ever want to give AKC events another try? For sure. One of these days. But it won’t be with either Leo or Lily, my little pit bull. Both of them would be beyond miserable if I asked that of them. They like training, so we train. The ribbons and certificates on the wall that are the result of that training are purely for me.
Thanks so much for this, Denise! Perfect timing for me, my bc and my toller! We love to train and are grateful for video venues such as TEAM to keep us motivated, but live competitions are way too stressful for a variety of reasons. You rock!!!
My dog loves to catapult from the couches and bark when people attempt to leave. If only there were a dog sport for her intrinsic inclinations. I wish there were more programs for dogs in the home than some goofy sports.
I envy people whose dogs can tolerate classes and competitions — only because I’d love the in-person camaraderie. But I’ve no doubt that my current dog would hate it. FDSA has been a real gift for us both: it’s the training my dog loves, and I’ve found that online camaraderie is much better than none 🙂