List of dog sports

Dog sports are competitive activities specifically designed for dogs. Dogs typically participate in sports with the help of owners, although some dog sports do not require human participation. A 2015 survey found that dog owners of all classes participate in dog sports, with owners from large cities (over 500,000 people), medium cities (between 100,000 and 500,000 people), small cities (less than 100,000 people), and rural areas each accounting for roughly the same percentage of dog sport competitors.<ref name="Coren">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

According to the survey, the most popular dog sports are obedience sports, and the majority of people that compete in dog sports compete in over twelve dog sporting events per year. Additionally, the majority of owners that compete in dog sports are primarily motivated by internal motivators (such as satisfaction or improving their relationships with their dogs) rather than external motivators (such as prizes).<ref name="Coren" />

Combat sports

Dog combat sports

Sport	Image	Brief description	Template:Abbr
Baiting	A scene of 14th century bear baiting, with a chained bear attacked by several dogs, as men watch and encourage the dogs.	Dogs fight or torment other animals	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Dog fighting	An illustration showing two men holding dogs as they prepare to fight. A large crowd surrounds them.	Dogs fight other dogs	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Venatio	Mosaic showing Roman entertainments from the 1st century. Jamahiriya Museum, Tripoli, Libya. From Dar Buc Ammera villa (Zliten).	Gladiators fought various animals, including dogs	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Hog-dog rodeo		Dogs chase and capture hogs	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Herding sports

Dog herding sports

Sport	Image	Brief description	Template:Abbr
Sheepdog trial	A border collie dog stares aggressively at four sheep in a field.	Dogs compete their herding management skills	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Treibball	An Australian Cattle Dog pushes a large cyan ball.	Dogs drive large balls into goals	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Obedience sports

Dog obedience sports

Sport	Image	Brief description	Template:Abbr
Heelwork to music	A competitor with a black dog of unknown breed doing their routine at the heelwork to music show at Stoneleigh.	Dogs and humans perform trained routines to music	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Musical canine freestyle	A women in a green hat and jacket bending down, presumably ushering to a dog of unknown breed. The dog is stretching.	Dogs and humans perform freestyle dance to music	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Obedience trial	A woman and a German Sheperd walking.	Dogs execute predefined tasks	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Rally obedience	A woman in a red coat and a black dog walking past a wooden obstacle.	Dogs execute tasks without commands from judges and while receiving encouragement	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Schutzhund	A helper works a German Shepherd in a practice protection session during Schutzhund training. The dog is jumping and attacking the man's arm, which is heavily protected with padding.	Dogs compete in tracking, obedience, and protection skills	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Pulling sports

Dog pulling sports

Sport	Image	Brief description	Template:Abbr
Bikejoring	Two bikers on a dirt road are pulled each by a pair of dogs in a race.	Dogs pull humans on bicycles	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Canicross	A woman runs alongside two dogs down a road through a forest.	Cross-country running with dogs attached to a human	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Carting	A Collie dog wearing a harness attached to a wheelchair being ridden by a young woman near a beach.	Dogs pull items or people in a cart	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Dog scootering	A dog pulls a scooter being ridden by a person on a rural road.	Dogs pull humans on unmotorized scooters	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Mushing	A pack of Husky dogs pulling a sled being ridden by a man on a snowy road.	Dogs pull a sled, usually through snow	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Skijoring	A pair of black dogs pull a person on skis through the snow.	Dogs pull humans on skis	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Weight pulling	A dog pulling a cart full of concrete blocks.	Dogs pull heavy objects or weights	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Racing sports

Dog racing sports

Sport	Image	Brief description	Template:Abbr
Dachshund racing	A dachshund dog jumps through the air as it runs in a race.	Dachshund dogs race	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Greyhound racing	A greyhound dog jumps through the air as it runs in a race. It is wearing a blue vest with a white number two on it and a muzzle.	Greyhound dogs race	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Shepherd's Shemozzle		Humans race through an obstacle course alongside dogs	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Sled dog racing	A pack of Husky dogs pulling a sled being ridden by a man on a snowy road.	Dogs race while pulling a sled	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Terrier racing	Two terrier dogs run through grass. They are wearing muzzles and have crocheted dolls dressed as horse racers on their backs.	Terrier dogs race	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Tracking and hunting sports

Dog tracking and hunting sports

Sport	Image	Brief description	Template:Abbr
Beagling	An uncolored illustration of a scent hound chasing a rabbit through grass.	Scent hounds such as beagles track and hunt rabbits or hares by scent	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Coon hunting	Three men standing under a tree and holding dead raccoons alongside their hunting dogs.	Dogs track and hunt raccoons	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Coursing	A painting of two sighthounds mauling a fox as three hunters arrive on horseback in a snowy field.	Sighthounds hunt prey by sight and speed	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=":0">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Drag hunting	An illustration of four hounds chasing rabbits and cats as their owner calls from behind heavy foliage. A white horse stands behind the owner.	Humans on horseback follow a scent using dogs	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Earthdog trial	Two terrier dogs sniff a box made of wood and wire holding white mice as they prepare for an earthdog trial.	Short-legged dogs navigate tunnels while hunting a rat or mouse	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Field trial	A golden retriever walking through a field as it holds a dead pheasant in its mouth.	Dogs compete in field hunting events	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Fox hunting	A painting of a pack of dogs barking at a fox cornered against a tree as a second fox retreats in the distance.	Dogs track and hunt foxes by scent	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Hare coursing	A Sloughi dog closely chases a rabbit.	Dogs hunt rabbits or hares by sight	<ref name=":0" />
Hound trailing	A pack of hounds run through a grassy field next to a stone wall.	Hounds race along a scent trail	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Hunting the clean boot		Hounds track a natural human scent	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Lure coursing	An Italian greyhound wearing a white vest chasing a plastic lure. A second dog wearing a red vest tries to catch up in the background.	Dogs chase a mechanically-operated lure	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Nosework	A leashed German Shepherd dog sniffs the side of a brown car.	Dogs search for target odors while ignoring distractions	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Tracking trial	A man watches as a leashed German Shepherd dog follows a trail in a grassy field.	Dogs track a target by scent	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Trail hunting	Two men on horseback ride alongside a pack of hounds in a grassy field.	A pack of hounds tracks an artificially-laid trail of animal urine	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Water sports

Dog water sports

Sport	Image	Brief description	Template:Abbr
Dock jumping	A black dog jumping off of a dock into the water below.	Dogs compete to jump furthest into water	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Dog surfing	A dog, wearing a pink life vest, is seen surfing with all four paws on the board.	Dogs surf, either with or without human partners	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite AV media</ref>

Other sports

Other dog sports

Sport	Image	Brief description	Template:Abbr
Agility	A Chinese crested dog jumps over several poles.	Dogs are guided through an obstacle course to compete for speed and accuracy	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Dog show	A man in a suit holding a pink tape measure examines a Silkie Terrier.	Purebred dogs are judged for conformity to breed standards	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Dog skateboarding	A white fluffy dog rides on a skateboard.	Dogs ride skateboards	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Disc dog	A man holding several frisbees ducks as a black and white dog jumps over his head to catch a frisbee in flight.	Dogs compete to catch frisbees	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Flyball	A small dog jumps over hurdles.	Teams of dogs race over hurdles to retrieve a ball	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Junior showmanship	A young girl stands next to an Irish wolfhound. An adult woman is holding a red award ribbon as she puts her hand on the girl's shoulder.	Young humans exhibit their dog handling skills	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Puppy Bowl	A crowd watches a miniature American football stadium, inside of which are several women holding puppies. Several dog toys are scattered across the field. On the wall behind the stadium is a large logo depicting an American football and a bone-shaped dog tag emblazoned with the words "PUPPY BOWL XIII".	Puppies play with toys in a miniature American football stadium	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>

See also

• List of sports - for sports involving humans
• List of equestrian sports - for sports involving horses

Further reading

• Sundance, K. (2010). 101 Ways to Do More With Your Dog: Make Your Dog a Superdog with Sports, Games, Exercises, Tricks, Mental Challenges, Crafts, and Bonding. Beverly, MA: Quarry Books.