4 Interesting Sports For Senior Dogs

Dog sports can be an exciting way to give your dog the mental and physical exercise they need. If you have a senior dog, you might think their sporting days are behind them. However, that's not the case. The following are four dog sports that older dogs can participate in:

Tracking

With tracking, your senior dog can put their nose to good use following a trail in an open field or urban environment and retrieving items. Your dog naturally knows how to follow their nose. So, you only need to teach them what scent to track and to do it when asked.

Scent Work

Scent work taps into a dog's instinct to explore the world through their nose. During a scent work trial, dogs try to locate hidden cotton swabs doused with essential oils or other scents. In this sport, the dog is in control as their handler needs to rely on them to locate the swab.

Obedience

Competing in obedience trials can be a great way to show off a senior dog's good behavior while having fun at the same time. Typically, judges rate dog and handler teams based on how accurate they follow specified routines.

Trick Training

Senior dogs don't mind learning new tricks as long as you use positive training methods. There are different tricks to choose from, so you only need to find the ones that suit your dog's abilities.