By Leila Meyer

Make this year the year to get moving and have fun with your dog. Here are brief descriptions of some of the many activities you can do together:

• Disc dog, also known as Frisbee dog, is just what the name implies. The owner throws Frisbees, and the dog catches them. Dog owners have been playing this game with their dogs for decades, but it is also a competitive sport. For more information, visit the Disc Dog section of the Canada’s Guide to Dogs website at http://www.canadasguidetodogs.com/clubs/discdog.htm.

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• Dock jumping, also known as dock diving, is a fun activity for dogs that enjoy being in the water. Dogs race down a dock and leap into the water. The goal is for the dog to jump as far as possible into the water. All dogs over six months of age can compete, even if they have never taken any training or competed before. For more information, visit the Dock Dogs website at http://www.dockdogs.com/

• Herding is an activity you can try with any dog, not just herding breeds. During the summer, various groups hold herding instinct certificate (HIC) tests. You can pay the entry fee and test your dog’s herding instincts, even if he has never seen a sheep before in his life. If you want to pursue herding beyond the HIC test, you can participate in training and competitions. For more information, visit the Herding Dogs section of the Canada’s Guide to Dogs website at http://www.canadasguidetodogs.com/dogjobs/herding.htm.

• Musical freestyle is essentially dancing with your dog. You and your dog perform choreographed dance moves to music. It’s a great activity for people who love to dance and perform, and it takes dog obedience training to a whole new level. For more information, visit the Musical Freestyle section of the DogPlay website at http://www.dogplay.com/Activities/musical.html.

• Obedience is not just training your dog to heel, sit, and obey other commands; it’s also a competitive sport. Dogs can earn titles, such as companion dog, companion dog excellent, and utility dog. Canadian Kennel Club competitions are open to purebred dogs only. For more information, visit the Obedience section of the Canada’s Guide to Dogs website at http://www.canadasguidetodogs.com/clubs/obedience.htm.

• Rally obedience, also known as rally or rally-o, is a variation of regular dog obedience. In rally obedience, the competitors complete a series of manoeuvres in a preset course. Rally obedience also differs from traditional obedience in that it is open to mixed-breeds and owners are allowed to talk to their dog during the competition. Numerous dog schools teach rally obedience. For more information, visit the Canadian Association of Rally Obedience website at http://www.canadianrallyo.ca/.

• Scent hurdling is very similar to flyball in that it is a relay race involving two teams of four dogs jumping over a series of four hurdles. Unlike flyball, in scent hurdling, at the end of the hurdles, the dog must identify and retrieve a scented dumbbell, instead of a ball, before returning over the hurdles

These are only a few of the sports and activities you can enjoy with your dog. To find out about others, search online, contact dog training schools in your area, visit dog shows, and talk to other dog owners. There’s a dog sport out there for everybody and every dog.