Best sport for GSD other than the protection stuff??

[vhrocks323]

My little Orion is only about 7 weeks old or so, but when he gets older i'm very interested in putting him through some type of sport. I'm thinking of even competing with him. However, i'm not really a fan of the protection sports, and i know GSD are quite good at those. What do you think is the best sport for them outside of that? Is it pretty much an "anything goes" attitude, as in, do i just enroll him in whatever sport i think would be fun? I've looked at agility, obedience, flyball, frisbee, and the water jumping one. I'd really like to do obedience and something else...something a little more active. My parents have owned 2 Australian Shepherds, and i loved doing frisbee tosses with them, but i'm not sure if GSD are built for that kind of sport. Not to mention, my boy is going to get big and i'm not sure if i could handle the cool tricks like him jumping off my back! LOL

So anyway, i'm just really curious to see what you guys suggest. I've always wanted to go really far with training with a dog, but i havent had the opportunity. Now that my bf and i have our own puppy i want to make sure i do it this time

By the way, have any of you heard of dog dancing or seen it? It's absolutely amazing!!! I love it so much! Watch this!!

YouTube - Cruft's dog dancing competition 2009

YouTube - Cruft's dog dancing competition 2009

Also, if you guys figure out what would be the best sport, i have to make sure there are areas around Austin\San Marcos\San Antonio area to train my dog. San Antonio is kind of stretching it though..it's an hour away

[Elaine]

It's whatever you and your dog like doing. There's so many sports to choose from, as you have mentioned, so try some out and see how they fit the two of you.

[FG167]

I would recommend trying them all out

Madix has been trained in agility, rally, dock jumping, flyball and Schutzhund - all three phases so tracking, obedience and protection. He might give lure coursing a shot this summer too. He excels at every single one. Enough to be competitive at least - not saying we're going to be beating world records or anything. However, for me, it's all about versatility and being able to do them more than being the best. I like variety I started him as a baby right off the bat in everything but Schutzhund - that we started around 1.5 years old (he'll be 2 next month). He would probably be great at frisbee but I suck at throwing and I'm not too interested in that anyway - but I have a packed schedule with all of the things I am already doing!

[vhrocks323]

Originally Posted by FG167

I would recommend trying them all out

Madix has been trained in agility, rally, dock jumping, flyball and Schutzhund - all three phases so tracking, obedience and protection. He might give lure coursing a shot this summer too. He excels at every single one. Enough to be competitive at least - not saying we're going to be beating world records or anything. However, for me, it's all about versatility and being able to do them more than being the best. I like variety I started him as a baby right off the bat in everything but Schutzhund - that we started around 1.5 years old (he'll be 2 next month). He would probably be great at frisbee but I suck at throwing and I'm not too interested in that anyway - but I have a packed schedule with all of the things I am already doing!

Wow, that's impressive! Do you have an age recommendation to start them with? It seems like he's a bit too young at the moment. I've already been starting him with the basics though..i'm pretty sure he's got "sit" down already.

[FG167]

Originally Posted by vhrocks323

Wow, that's impressive! Do you have an age recommendation to start them with? It seems like he's a bit too young at the moment. I've already been starting him with the basics though..i'm pretty sure he's got "sit" down already.

The courses I enrolled in for all the sports were geared towards "puppies" so agility "jumps" were about 2 inches high lol. I started him in agility (which was the first sport we started) at about 4 months old. Everything else was at least tried once by 6 months (except Schutzhund). Training for the box was imprinted from 6 months to 10 months and then stopped until about 16 months and he remembered it perfectly. I always try to get them on and in everything very young so it's at least familiar when we can more seriously start training.

But, my pup was very focused and able to stay focused through an entire hour easily. Very toy and treat motivated and very mature at a very young age. He has always been a very serious dog about training.

[Cassidy's Mom]

What they said. It really depends on the dog and what interests both of you.

BTW, here's another dog dancing video that's even better.

YouTube - Dog Dancing Show

YouTube - Dog Dancing Show

And probably the most viewed one ever:

YouTube - Carolyn Scott & Rookie

YouTube - Carolyn Scott & Rookie

[vhrocks323]

Aww both of those videos were too cute!! I'd really like to eventually get Orion to do that with me but i have noo idea where a "dog dancing" class would be! Aside from that, i don't have the first clue myself how to train them to do something that elaborate.

[holland]

Sometimes I think when someones obedience is really good it is almost like they are dancing

[MaggieRoseLee]

You all crazy... there's only AGILITY!!!

[Stosh]

Stosh and I have been taking herding lessons for the past few months and we love it!! Since you're in TX too, there may be a trainer near you