Clackamas County Dog Services holds a dog sports demo day every year as a fundraiser for the shelter dogs. I was originally just going to spectate with Mr. N. After a two-hour class, I didn’t expect him to want to do any more work. He seemed perky enough and there weren’t that many other dogs there so I ended up signing him up.
It’s free to watch (dog treats or food donation encouraged). I brought along some Jones chews to donate. And five dollars to try out the various sports (scent work, carting, barn hunt, clicker training, flyball and agility). They also provide yellow ribbons for the dogs that need more space.
We headed over to the carting booth where (as expected), we were told that there were no carts for Mr. N’s size. Instead, one of the Bernese Mountain Dog Club volunteers pulled Mr. N around as he sat regally for his photo.
The Berners were very sweet and mellow. I don’t think they moved the entire time we were there.
Mr. N’s favorite booth was probably the scent work one. We had a discussion with the Pacific Truffle Dogs trainer about different methods of teaching scent work while Mr. N was rewarded with salmon treats for finding odor.
At the clicker training booth, Mr. N decided he knew everything already and found the dog bed and took a nap.
Mr. N ran through the chute and did some cavalettis at the agility booth.
He had a sudden burst of energy at the flyball booth and played some tug and did a jump.
By the time we reached the Barn Hunt booth, he was done and just wandered around sniffing the ground.
Earlier, he was very interested in the rats cage. I think he finds Barn Hunt boring… he is like so I found the rats, now what? He can do it. He has a ribbon from a fun test but he much prefers lure coursing where there is the thrill of the chase.
Does your dog have a favorite sport? Any new ones you want to try?
June 15, 2015 10:45 am
That looks like a really fun event! There are so many ways to teach nose work. We stick with what our instructors here teach us, but learn other tips and tricks from others outside our area. A good mix is best.
June 15, 2015 1:30 pm
Looks like a lot of fun. I'm glad you went and stayed so Mr. N. could get his exercise in. Was he exhausted when you got home?
June 15, 2015 9:30 pm
Between that and class earlier (so five hours in the sun), he slept non-stop when we got home.
June 15, 2015 1:45 pm
What a fun day out! Getting pulled in a cart must've been SO much fun!
Love and licks,
Cupcake
June 15, 2015 9:29 pm
Mr. N thinks that's his natural station in life.
June 15, 2015 2:41 pm
He looks like he is having so much fun! Love the tugging photo especially!
June 15, 2015 9:29 pm
That was one of my favorites too!
June 15, 2015 3:20 pm
So many fun activities! The Bernese Mountain Dogs are beautiful, maybe next time they can pull Mr. N in the cart!
June 15, 2015 9:29 pm
They did suggest that lol!
June 15, 2015 4:26 pm
What a cool event! I love Bernese Mountain Dogs too.
June 15, 2015 8:49 pm
Wow. That looks like so much fun. I'd love to do something like that with Jedi.
June 16, 2015 12:32 am
Oh, that looks like fun – and so great that they were understanding about yellow ribbon dogs! Not sure which of those Rita would like. She does enjoy a good game of tug though – i think that's the bit of terrier in her. But the nose work would probably be her best bet!
June 16, 2015 12:53 am
Too bad they didn't have a mini cart for Mr. N to try. You sure were cute sitting in the big dog cart though.
June 16, 2015 2:09 am
Hi Y’all!
Hey, I'm a retriever, what's not to retrieve! Sounds like a great fun place to try out new stuff!
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Hawk aka BrownDog
June 16, 2015 2:31 am
Looks like a really fun time!
June 17, 2015 4:44 pm
That does look like a super fun event, Id love for rolo to try lots of that stuff!
June 17, 2015 6:55 pm
That looks like a lot of fun Mr. N! I don't know much about barn hunts, but this is the 2nd time I've read about them at a blog. Are the rats kept in their cage to be sniffed out?
June 18, 2015 7:26 am
No, one of them gets put into a tube. At the beginning level, they hide three tubes, one with the rat, one with rat bedding and an empty one and the dogs have to find the one with the rat.
June 17, 2015 7:33 pm
What a fun event! I have done some nose work with Luke at home, but want to get training in it so I can be sure we're doing it right. It's hard to find classes in our rural area though and I'm not sure we'll ever be able to compete unless we really want to travel.
I have never heard of "carting", and might have to look up what that is all about!
Jan, Wag 'n Woof Pets
June 18, 2015 7:27 am
There's online nosework classes!
June 17, 2015 11:24 pm
That sounds like a really cool event to help raise funds for the shelter. Looks like Mr. N had a great time. Love all the pics you included as part of the story.
June 18, 2015 12:01 am
That seems like such a fun event! I would love to try a lot of those sports with Mauja and Atka. We don't have anything like that around here.
June 18, 2015 7:27 am
You could always come back to Portland!
June 18, 2015 2:08 am
This looks like so much fun! We definitely want to try some basic agility!
June 23, 2015 1:14 am
That sounds fun. You can try different things. Too bad they did not have more to interest Mr. N.
June 4, 2017 11:51 am
What a fab event! We’re not sure if there is something like that in our area, but our mom would go for sure if there was. Good job, Mr. N!
June 4, 2017 2:31 pm
I don’t recall seeing anything similar to this in our area. Would be a great fundraiser, and help raise awareness of various activities for dogs.
June 4, 2017 8:11 pm
I wonder if Mr. N was tired after all of that! It sounds like a fun and busy time.
June 5, 2017 3:10 am
Looks like a fun event to attend! I think Mr. N did some scent work in his previous life! By the looks in the photo he is very interested with what’s in the jar!