What activities can I do with my Cocker Spaniel?

Training and Dog Sports

While Conformation Showing is the main activity that most Cocker Spaniel Breeders are involved with, there are so many other activities that you can participate in with your Cocker Spaniel – pedigreed or not, Entire or Neutered.

Agility is fun sport for dogs and handlers to get fit together. Dogs are required to learn fun obstacles such as hoops, tunnels, weaving poles, scramble, dog walk, table, see saw and jumps. Obstacle jump heights are suited to the dogs, jumps at 200 mm, 300mm, 400mm, 500 mm or 600mm based on the height of the dog at the withers.

Dances with Dogs involves owners/handlers and their dogs working together as a team to perform choreographed movements accompanied by music. Owners/handlers can choose the music, moves, costume and props for their routines. The two separate divisions in dancing with dogs are freestyle and heelwork to music.

Endurance allows both handler and their dog to get fit and develop a bond between them. The Endurance Test shows a dog’s ability to work after being subject to a certain degree of physical strain without showing signs of undue stress or lack of constitution. A 20-kilometre effortless accomplishment of such a test is evidence of the physical fitness of a dog.

A Field Trial is a competition where the working ability of dogs is assessed under actual hunting and shooting conditions in the field. Open to all breeds of Retriever & Spaniel, these trials are held under the Shooting and Game laws of each State. Game is primarily rabbits with quail is also acceptable.

Lure coursing is a fun sport for breeds that are high energy, independent and have hunting instincts. Lure coursing was developed in the USA in the 1970s. The original purpose of lure coursing was to assess and preserve the coursing skills of Sighthounds in a safe way without using any live game. By following an artificial lure, Sighthounds can demonstrate their natural ability to work using their sight. Participation in lure coursing is open for all breeds. There are two streams, one for Sighthounds and one for all other dogs.

Obedience Trials demonstrate the dog and their handler’s ability to work together with precision and publicly show the training they have done to achieve this. It is essential that the dog demonstrates willingness and enjoyment when working. Classes are designed to be progressive, allowing the dog and their handler to grow their skills and experience as titles are earned.

Rally aims to provide a fast-moving and motivational sport for both dogs and their owners, requiring them to work as a team to complete various exercises in a set course that demonstrates competency in basic obedience exercises. Handlers and their dogs navigate the course by following the numbers and carrying out the exercises shown on the sign positioned at each of the numbered stations.

The Retrieving Ability Tests for Gundogs is an introductory step into retrieving, testing basic obedience, and retrieving skills with two levels of ability, Novice and Open. Open tests have more complicated concepts including double retrieves. Both Registered and Associate gundogs are allowed to compete in these trials.

Scent work involves training dogs to search for specific odours from certain essential oils in several situations called ‘elements’, in containers such as boxes, on the outside of vehicles, inside buildings and in the outside environment. Dogs need to find the source of the odour and communicate its exact location to their owner. Dog and owner teams compete to locate the source of the odour within a set time given by the judge to determine which teams are the fastest and most accurate in their searches.

Tracking aims to showcase a dog’s ability to locate people lost in either paddocks or bush landscapes. All breeds of dogs can learn to track using their natural scenting instincts which is enjoyable and rewarding for them to use. Tracking involves training a dog to follow a ground scent trail and find any discarded articles of clothing along the track. Dogs need to wear a tracking harness and be at the end of a minimum 10-metre lead, but length can be shortened if the terrain requires it. There are two types of scents, ground, and body scents.

Track and Search shows a dog’s ability to locate people lost in an urban environment. Track and Search eligibility to compete requires a dog to be a minimum of 6 months of age and is not required to gain a Tracking Champion Title. Track and Search tests are designed to mimic real-life situations where a person has wandered off and become lost.

In Trick Dog owners/handlers and their dogs learn a variety of skills or tricks in a positive and fun environment. There is a wide choice of tricks (6 out of 15 for Starter, 8 out of 20 for Novice), so owners/handlers can work to their dog’s strengths, with owners/handlers and dogs of all abilities able to compete.

For detailed information on each of these activities, please follow the link to the Dogs Australia website.

For contract and further details of these Clubs checkout the Dogs SA website and various Club Facebook Pages. Dogs SA Club Directory.

AGILITY CLUBS

Glenelg North – Agility Dog Club of SA
Agility

DANCES WITH DOGS

Dances With Dogs Club of SA
DWD, Tricks

LURE COURSING

Salisbury Downs – Adelaide Lure Coursing & Racing Club
Lure Coursing

SCENT WORK

Several Obedience Clubs conduct this training

RETRIEVING

Gundog Club

Golden Retriever Club

Labrador Retriever Club

TRACKING

Tracking Dog Club of SA
Tracking, Track & Search

COUNTRY CLUBS

There are Clubs at Mt Gambier, Victor Harbour, Port Pirie, Barmera, Whyalla which conduct various of the disciplines. Contact the Clubs for the classes they conduct.