Performance Sports
Coursing
Lure Coursing is an exciting sport designed specifically for sighthounds, where dogs chase a mechanized white plastic lure across a 600-800 yard course. This activity not only simulates the unpredictability of chasing live prey but enhances their focus, agility and sportsmanship.
Lure Coursing – American Kennel Club
​Coursing Ability Test (CAT) is designed for newcomers, as each dog chases after an artificial lure on either a 300 or 600 yard course and must finish in less than 1 1/2 minutes and 2 minutes, respectively. All dogs at least 12 months of age are eligible.
Coursing Ability Test (CAT) – American Kennel Club
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Fast CAT is where dogs run individually in a timed 100 yard dash. All dogs at least 12 months of age are eligible.
Fast CAT – American Kennel Club
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Field Events for Hounds
Earthdog
Earth Dog is open exclusively to small terriers and Dachshunds. This test evaluates your dog's hunting skills, specifically their ability to locate prey underground.
In Basset Hound Field Trials dogs form packs of two or more to chase after rabbits or hares. Rest assured, the rabbits and hares are never harmed; the focus is showcasing the incredible scenting skills of each dog, rather than any hunting abilities.
Basset Hound Field Trials – American Kennel Club
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In Beagle Field Trials dogs work in packs to skillfully follow the scent of rabbits or hares, showcasing their natural skills without causing harm. Participants are judged on various qualities, including their ability to explore, pursue, maintain control of the trail, as well as their endurance and adaptability to changing conditions.
Beagle Field Trials – American Kennel Club
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The AKC Raccoon Hound Events Program features an exciting array of competitions, including Nite Hunts, Hunt Tests, Field Trials, Water Races, and Bench Shows. Among these, Nite Hunts stand out as the most popular, offering a unique experience where dogs track and trail native game in their habitats. This competitive sport showcases the incredible skills of raccoon hounds and the bond they share with their handlers.
​Raccoon Hound Events – American Kennel Club​
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In Dachshund Field Trials, dachshunds pair up to follow a scent created by a rabbit or hare within a secure, fenced area. It's a celebration of the chase and teamwork, with judges assessing their trailing abilities, obedience, and bravery. Enjoy the sight of these enthusiastic dogs showcasing their talents and love for the hunt, all in a safe environment where no animals are harmed.
Dachshund Field Trials – American Kennel Club
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Spaniels
Spaniels are remarkable flushing breeds, designed primarily for hunting and retrieving birds efficiently and obediently. Judges score each spaniel's performance using a detailed system that considers both their natural hunting instincts and learned skills, such as range, pattern, gun response, and command obedience.
​Spaniels Hunting Tests – American Kennel Club
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Spaniels were originally bred for hunting birds, embodying a unique blend of agility and enthusiasm. In a Spaniel Field Trial, the objective is to fully seek and retrieve game with both eagerness and precision. When a gunshot echoes, your dog is trained to swiftly locate the fallen bird and bring it back directly to you, showcasing their innate abilities and dedication.
Spaniel Field Trials – American Kennel Club
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Only herding breeds are eligible to demonstrate their natural herding instincts by skillfully moving livestock around various obstacles with guidance from the handler.
Herding – American Kennel Club
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​Farm dog test is open to all breeds, with no herding involved. They will be in close proximity to penned livestock, jumping and staying on hay/straw bales, walking on unusual terrain, and jumping over logs.
Farm Dog Certified Test – American Kennel Club
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Herding & Farm Dog
Pointing Breeds
Pointing Breed Hunting tests are designed as non-competitive pass/fail tests, focusing on each dog's unique attributes. Key traits evaluated include desire, boldness, and independence, as well as their ability to navigate complex scent patterns to birds. Judges also score categories such as bird finding ability, pointing and trainability. Retrieving and honoring is included in the Senior and Master tests. The partnership between dog and handler plays a crucial in achieving success in these evaluations.
Pointing Breed Hunt Tests – American Kennel Club
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Pointing Breed Field Trials offer a unique opportunity for dogs to showcase their skills in a competitive environment, covering expansive terrain in a short time. These events highlight a dog's natural instincts, intelligence, game finding abilities and courage. Some trials even feature handlers on horseback.
Pointing Breed Field Trials – American Kennel Club
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Retrievers
Retriever Hunt Tests focus on individual abilities of each dog, rather than direct competition against others. Dogs are assessed on their merit across three levels: Junior, Senior, and Master, with titles awarded at each stage. Judges evaluate a dog's natural skills, including marking and memory, as well as their hunting style and perseverance. Additionally, learned traits such as steadiness, control, response, and delivery are also taken into account during the scoring process.
Retriever Hunting Tests – American Kennel Club
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​​​​​Retriever Field Trials assess the skills of dogs in retrieving at longer distances than hunt tests, focusing on their performance relative to competitors rather than a simple pass/fail system. Judges evaluate a dog's natural abilities, including marking a fall, memory, intelligence, attention, style, courage, and perseverance. Additionally, they consider proficiency in learned skills such as steadiness, control, response to direction and delivery of the bird. Success in these trials is achieved through strong teamwork between the handler and the dog.​
Retriever Field Trials – American Kennel Club
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Scent Work
This engaging sport allows dogs to mimic the incredible skills of detection dogs using their keen sense of smell to locate various scents. It's a positive and challenging activity that strengthens the bond between you and your dog. AKC Scent Work is broken down into two divisions. One is the Handler Discrimination Division, in which the dog is searching for the scent of their handler. The other is the Odor Search Division where the dog searches for cotton swabs saturated with the essential oils of birch, anise, clove, and cypress, that are hidden in a search area. When the dog finds the scent, he must communicate to the handler, who calls it out to the judge. All dogs that are at least 6 months of age are eligible.
