I once heard another trainer say, in reference to bitework, "They just shock those dogs until they bite!" And then went on with more to say about how horrible and abusive bitework was. I knew on a surface level that this was contrary to the truth, but it wasn't until I was actually participating in bitework myself that I learned exactly how much this was contrary to the truth.
If you follow any of the Mindful Canine accounts, it's probably already pretty obvious what our opinion is, seeing as how we run a local GRC Dog Sports club here in Southern Utah and also participate in PSA and Agility. But despite the fact that more people are looking to the sport world to provide outlets and bonding opportunities for their driven dog, there is still a surprising amount of misinformation (such as this person's statement) circulating about dog sports, especially specific sports. I've also heard directly from people around me that they thought pushing dogs to compete wasn't fair or was selfish. Once someone close to me was watching me do weight-pull exercises for GRC with my dog Boo (who was quite joyful) and said some hurtful words that stuck me like a knife: "Aren't you embarrassed to be doing this to your dog?"
Luckily most people are starting to see the value of dog sports generally and congratulate me on the huge accomplishment of co-founding Southern Utah's first GRC club- so it's not often that I get this kind of negativity. But even though most people are not outwardly critical of dog sports, it seems to me that at minimum people just don't fully understand the value of it.
While certainly there are (many) unsavory people out there in the sport world who are selfish and care only about ribbons and trophies and/or handle their dogs unfairly, I think that for the most part sports have only made dogs and handlers (and breeders of high drive dogs) better. It seems to me that a lot of the people who are against sports, particularly "bite sports," were around in the industry during a time where competitive training generally involved more compulsion and perfunctory performance. I have seen old footage of certain sports... and yes- a lot of the dogs look like they prefer to be doing something else.
But these days, what I have learned during my short time in the dog sport world, is that dogs with nice pep, attitude, and willingness to work are treasured. Training has come a very long way since the early days for sports, and I think more people are really interested in a high-quality and fun joint experience with their dog. Dog sports have truly pushed the boundaries on what is possible to do with dogs, and this has had a trickle down effect on how we can train pet dogs in a sophisticated yet simple way. In sports, handlers seek to work with drives and not against them toward a common goal. You can always tell when a dog has been forced to complete a task versus when the do so joyfully, and believe me- you don't need to shock a bitework dog to get them to bite!
For common bite sport dog breeds such as the Belgian Malinois, Dutch Shepherd, and German Shepherd, biting is usually a top choice in their behavioral repertoire. My Malinois will bite pretty much anything- logs, grass, my sleeve, a shoe, an empty bottle on the ground, a suited decoy, a bitework sleeve, and a ball. She must have some kind of biting outlet if I expect her to be a stable and liveable high energy dog. I would never need to "shock her" to get her to bite anything. In fact with the Malinois, getting them to bite is usually not the problem- I'm usually called to get them to stop biting everything in reach.
I'd say this is also true of most dogs- but pet dogs tend to be pretty mailable and we spend a lot of time as humans trying to stamp out behaviors like biting. From the get-go, puppies mouth everything they can get their little shark teeth on. We scold them for chewing out shoes, table lets, and hands. We damn near stamp the animal nature right out of them so they can live in our houses and be our "furbabies."
It doesn't only boil down to a need to bite. Dogs need to work. They need problem solving experiences that are somewhat visceral in order to maintain a healthy mental and physical state. They need to be allowed to have moments of full "dogness." This could be biting, running, chasing, following a scent, hunting, fighting, working with a person, etc. It just so happens that pretty much all dog sports seek to fill one or more of these innate behavior needs.
So actually, choosing a dog sport that aligns with your dogs drives and needs is one of the kindest things you can do for them. When you find a sport that is a good fit, your dog has the ability to enact their instincts in a controlled, safe, and constructive way- similarly to how people play sports, video games, and even live vicariously through books and movies. Breed and genetics usually play a role in what sports may be most fulfilling and possible for any give dog. Sports are often designed with breed in mind. In protection sports, dogs such as the Belgian Malinois, German Shepherd, Doberman, Dutch Shepherd, etc are going to not only have the most fun but can most easily adapt to the physical and mental challenges of the sport. A Border Collie is most likely going to have the most fun elsewhere- perhaps in Agility. Terriers are going to have the time of their life sniffing out rats in Barn Hunt! Bully breeds that love to scrap but are also loyal companions will excel in GRC.
Even though GRC was originally founded by Jay Jack with the bully breed in mind, personally, I think GRC is great for all dogs and this is why we chose it for our training community. There is something for everyone! I've seen all breeds, sizes, and ages of dogs do well in at least one of the GRC drive sports (wall climb, spring pole, weight pulling, and slat mill)- and of course, every dog can be worked in obedience! Although I absolutely love doing bitework, GRC is still my first choice as a sports focus because both of my dogs can excel and my clients can join me no matter what dog they have as long as they have the desire. The concept of GRC is "Gameness, relationship, and control." These are concepts that every dog and their handler would benefit from- not to mention that GRC is a great way to keep your dog fit!
Sports have been the ultimate bonding opportunity for me and my dogs Persimmon (Belgian Malinois) and Boo (Australian Cattle Dog/ American Bulldog/Pitbull) and it's hard not to want that same experience for everyone I meet. Participating in a sport with your dog is the perfect testing ground to find out the quality of their trust in you, as well as prove your training skill and dedication and test your dog's commitment and drive as well. It truly is the ultimate dog and owner bonding opportunity (not to diminish those plentiful lovely mornings with them lying beside you).
If you're ready to take things to the next level, reach out to a few local sport clubs to see what would be a good fit for you. If you aren't sure where to start, let me know! I'd be happy to introduce you to sport trainers in the industry to help you. Some examples of dog sports include:
PSA, Mondioring, IGP, French Ring
AKC Agility
Barn Hunt
Lure Coursing
Hunting Field Trials
Tracking
AKC Rally and Obedience
Flyball
Dock Diving
Disc Dog
Herding & Treibball
ACK Trick Dog
SkiJoring & BikeJoring Musical Freestyle
More dog sports are surfacing every day, so what are you waiting for?! Don't hesitate to reach out to find out what your dog might be good at- so you can make the most out of life with your dog!
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