Training vs. Competition: How Dog Sports Build Community

Most dog sports competitors are very welcoming to new folks. At my recent agility competition, I found myself welcomed back into the fold. Now all I had to be nervous about was actually performing! photo: Vecteezy

There is training a dog for a dog sport and then there is competing - two very different things. People often prefer and prioritize one over the other, and while you can easily train a dog without competing, you can’t really compete without training. I’ve seen a few people try, and I don’t advise it.

Personally, I prefer training to competing. Both take time, money, and a certain passion, and it’s the rare few who manage to do both well. Those who do generally pick a sport, devote themselves with a laser focus, and end up on podiums. Okay, that’s pretty cool, but clearly not the path for everyone. 

I have two terrific dogs trained to the masters level in agility who both relish the action. I love agility training with them, but I rarely compete. For a few years my totally legitimate reason was that I didn’t have enough time. But life has taken a turn for the better and I now have more time and fewer excuses. Thus, I found myself competing with my dogs at a recent agility trial.

Competing in any dog sport, especially for the first time, is overwhelming. Most sports have multiple sanctioning agencies so which one do I choose? How do I sign up? How far will I have to drive? Do I need to stay overnight in a hotel with my dogs? Will I be able to find the location? What are the rules? Is everyone staring at me? How do I car crate? Do I have the right equipment? Depending on your nature, all this is either wildly exciting or utterly nerve wracking. The silver lining is that - just like all new things - you learn the drill quickly enough. Don’t forget the lifelong benefits of neuroplasticity!

In fact, most dog sports competitors are very welcoming to new folks. There are exceptions, of course, but at my recent agility competition, I found myself welcomed back into the fold. Now all I had to be nervous about was actually performing! But I reminded myself that competitions are a terrific way to test your training and to set future goals. You improve your own performance and pit yourself against those who push you higher. You return invigorated with new priorities. But the best part of all is the community building that comes with spending time with people and dogs. Many people compete regularly for that social connection and sense of belonging.

Dog sports competitions, like all events with a lot of moving parts, are arduous work to run. At my recent agility competition, I marveled at and appreciated the people who organized a common space for people and animals to demonstrate interspecies communication, work together, and have fun. 

Even with my two dogs, I wound up only competing for about four minutes total. But an agility trial is an all-day event. To pass the time, I volunteered to help, chatted with acquaintances, and did a fair amount of hanging out. I was utterly exhausted by the time I finally packed up my pups and headed home. 

Was it all worth it? As an introvert who prefers training to competition, my temptation is always to just stay put. But then I think about the world around us today and I realize how important community is, now more than ever. 

And the great thing about dog sports is there’s something for just about every dog and their person. I myself have dabbled in mondio (bite sport), lure racing, barn hunt, dock diving, rally, competition obedience, nose work, and NASDA scent games. A quick online search will turn up even more possibilities.

The craziness isolates us, but our communities can keep us sane. So be strong, try something new, create bonds with your dog and your people. Try a dog sport!