Blue Ridge Shetland Sheepdog Club
Sheltie Sports
There are many sports you can do with your Sheltie. Here is a brief introduction to a few of them!
For more information, go to the LINKS page or click here for information on upcoming events nationwide!
Conformation: This is what most people are familiar with when they think of dog shows. Conformation classes are first divided by gender with various classes - none of these dogs in the the classes will be Champions. The best males from each class will compete against each other for Winners Dog. The best females from each class will compete for Winners Bitch. WD and WB will then compete against Champions for Best of Breed. Best of Breed for each breed will compete against other breeds for Best in Group. (Groups are a bunch of breeds that have similar backgrounds - like Herding Group dogs all were developed to herd or drive livestock). In the group competitions, the dogs are judges based on an individual standard. The dog closest to his standard will be Best in Group. The group winners then compete for Best in Show. BIS is the dog who comes closest to his standard over all other dogs at the show that day.
Obedience: In Obedience, dogs and handlers are put through a series of exercises. Depending on the level (Novice, Open and Utility) the exercises will range from heeling on lead to scent discrimination. The higher the level, the more comples the exercise. Dogs and handlers start with a perfect score of 200 points and deductions are made from there.
Rally: Rally is one of the newest activities in the American Kennel Club. It is a more relaxed, fun sport combining various stations where dog and handler perform actions from a simple sit and down to more complex turns, weaving around cones, spiral, recalls, etc. The Novice Level is all on lead. Advanced and Excellent are off lead and the complexity of the actions is increased. Unlike Obedience, you can talk to and encourage your dog.
Agility: Agility is a course with a series of obstacles that include jumps, weave poles, tunnels, seesaws (teeters), A-frames, and other. Dogs are divided by height. Dogs with the fastest times and least faults place. There are also a variety of games within Agility. This a fast paced sport that many people and dogs enjoy!
Herding: This is what Shelties were bred to do. There are various level in herding competitions. Dogs work with either sheep or ducks through a course. This sport greatly tests not only the dog but handler. For More Information on AKC herding, please click here.
Flyball: A fast paced team sport, Flyball sends dogs down a series of jumps to a special box that they hit to trigger a ball. the ball is caught and brought back to the handler. When the first dog is back, the second dog goes. The team with the fastest time wins and goes to he next level.
Canine Good Citizen and Therapy Dog Testing: These are open to all purebred and crossbred dogs. They test a dog's reaponses to more real-life situations that just a formal obedience trial. For more information on CGC and TDI testing, please visit the American Kennel Club's CGC page.
To learn about upcoming Conformation, Agility, and Obedience trials across the United States please visit: Info Dog's US Map Page
To learn about upcoming breed specialty shows nationwide please visit this link: Upcoming specialty shows.
For information on upcoming matches and seminars, please click here and search by state or consider subscribing to The Match/Show Bulletin which also lists upcoming talks, seminars, tests, etc.
Sheltie Information
