Having fun with our poodles!

Poodles can do it all.  Being a highly versatile breed, and willing to please their owners, poodles excel at a vast variety dog sports.  Not all poodles are cut from the same cloth, so when searching for your pet, if dog sports interest you, please express that to your breeder.  Your breeder will do their best to match you with a dog that has the desire to work.  Some lines have more drive (desire) than others, so please be honest with your breeder as to your intentions.  Our goals is that all puppies end up in their forever home, the first time.

Below are some examples of various dog sports with brief descriptions:
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Obedience

​​Developed in the 1930s, the sport of obedience is all about fostering dogs that are well-behaved at home, in public, and in the presence of other dogs. During an obedience trial, dogs must demonstrate abilities like walking politely, staying, retrieving, and jumping, all while showing they enjoy working with their handler.

Poodles are often seen amongst the ranks in obedience trials, not only provincially but NATIONALLY too!  Proving that poodles are so much more than just a froo-froo hair cut.

Rally Obedience

​Rally Obedience can be described as obedience exercises performed in a sequence format, with the emphasis on an upbeat relationship between handler and dog. It is made up of a compilation of many of the traditional obedience exercises, including heeling, sit, down, stand, and stay.  The difference between rally obedience and obedience is that you can talk to your dog in Rally.  Also, in obedience the judge tells you what to do, whereas in Rally, the signs tell you what you need to do.

Agility

​Agility is a fast-paced and exciting dog sport that is in essence a doggie obstacle course where the handler directs the dog. In an agility competition, the dog and handler team navigates the obstacles in the correct order, as quickly as possible, and with minimal faults.

Poodles excel at this sport and have a lot of fun doing it!!!

Swimming & Water Retreive

​Water retrieving breeds are dogs that have been bred to work in or near water and retrieve waterfowl. These dogs typically have strong swimming abilities and are often used for hunting, fishing, retrieving broken nets, and other water-related activities.
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Poodles at their core are water retrievers.  They were bred to retrieve the bird from the water for the hunter.

Scent Hurdling

Scent Hurdling is a relay race with 4 dogs and their handlers. Each dog in the team jumps 4 hurdles and retrieves a dumbbell which is scented by their handler and returns over the hurdles. Once the dog has passed the finish line the next dog runs! They will be competing against another team running beside them. The quickest team wins!

​There is an ALL POODLE team, here in Alberta!!!

Sprinters

Sprinter is a fun event open to all dogs to enjoy the challenge of running a 100-meter dash. All dogs entered will receive a handicap score based on their height, and their time to finish will be converted to kilometres per hour. Titles are awarded upon the dog accumulating a given number of points.

Although poodles aren't typically a lure coursing breed, running fast is enjoyed by most breeds of dogs, including poodles!

Herding

Herding as a dog sport is an engaging and challenging activity that showcases the natural herding instincts and training of certain breeds of dogs. Traditionally used in agricultural settings for managing livestock, herding in the context of an organized sport tests a dog’s ability to control and move animals under the guidance of its handler.

Shown here: Maverick is the first Miniature poodle in Canadian Kennel Club history to earn his Starter herding title on Sheep.  Proving that poodles really can do it all.

Barn Hunt

​Barn Hunt is a competition that involves dogs sniffing around a barn or barn-like course for vermin. The vermin (in Alberta it's gerbils; as rats aren't allowed) are placed in a protective and breathable tubes. There are many different titles that a dog can receive based on their proficiency in the job performed.

If you have a farm, this skill is highly useful!!!

Scent Detection

Photo credit: Beth O-Connor
A sport designed for pet dogs to challenge their natural sniffing skills by participating in ‘real life’ style searches for hidden target odor. Detection sport provides an opportunity for pet dogs to participate in an activity featuring aspects of professional detection.

If your poodle likes to use his sniffer, this sports for you!

Draft Dog / Carting

Originally developed to show off the traditional carting and weight-pulling skills of the heavier breeds such as Newfoundlands and Bernese Mountain Dogs, draft-dog competitions are now open to all breeds.

The dog is harnessed and hitched to a cart or wagon, and taken by his handler through a series of manoeuvres designed to demonstrate his usefulness in hauling a wheeled vehicle safely and quietly over smooth terrain. The dog is also asked to pull a freight load over rougher terrain, which includes natural obstacles, and at the advanced level, backpacking exercises are added to the mix of required skills.

Dock Diving

Dock diving is an aquatic dog sport where dogs leap off a dock in pursuit of a toy. It tests a canine's jumping ability, strength, retrieving skills, and confidence!

​In trials, the further they jump the better!!!!

As a swimming breed, this is up most poodles alley.  However early introduction to this sport is key as poodles tend to over think this and need the early exposure to develop their jumping and swimming skills.

Tracking

Tracking is a dog sport that showcases and evaluates a dog’s natural ability to follow a scent trail left by a person walking through various terrain. Tracking is not about speed but rather the accuracy and persistence of a dog in scent detection and following a track. It makes for a fascinating display of canine instinct and performance.

​This sport is often the skills needed for search and rescue work!

Trick Dog

Dogs perform individual tricks to earn a Trick Dog title. At the highest level of performance, Trick Dog routines tell a story. Tricks are categorized by their level of difficulty, and the higher the level of competition, the more difficult the tricks are, that your dog will need to perform.

Have you seen those dogs dancing on stage to music, this is where those routines start!