THINGS TO DO WITH YOUR BELGIAN


Because Belgians are so smart, they need lots of mental exercise as well as physical exercise.  Keep their minds as busy as their bodies and you will both be much happier ;-))  

One way to keep your Belgian happy is to engage in one or more structured activities.  Those activities range from playing ball, to basic obedience, to hitting the hiking trails, to agility, or herding, or other performance events.  You don’t necessarily have to compete, but if you and the dog both enjoy it, why not?

Following is a list of activities with links to detailed information.  Though I have included mainly AKC events, other organizations offer similar events.  Please let me know if you would like further information on any of these venues.

Obedience
http://www.abtc.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=40&Itemid=35 (ABTC - lots of great articles!)
http://www.akc.org/events/obedience/getting_started.cfm (AKC - Getting Started in Obedience) http://www.akc.org/pdfs/rulebooks/RO2999.pdf (AKC - Obedience Rules and Regulations)

Rally
http://www.abtc.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=119&Itemid=152 (ABTC)
http://www.akc.org/events/rally/getting_started.cfm (AKC - Getting Started in Rally)
http://www.akc.org/pdfs/rulebooks/RO2999.pdf  (AKC - Rally Rules and Regulations)

Tracking
http://www.abtc.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=41&Itemid=164 (ABTC)
http://www.akc.org/events/tracking/getting_started.cfm (AKC - Getting Started in Tracking)
http://www.akc.org/pdfs/rulebooks/RU9999.pdf (AKC - Tracking Regulations)

Agility
http://www.abtc.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=27&Itemid=31 (ABTC)
http://www.akc.org/pdfs/events/agility/Agility_Brochure.pdf (AKC - Getting Started in Agility)
http://www.akc.org/pdfs/rulebooks/REAGIL.pdf (AKC - Agility Regulations)

Herding
http://www.abtc.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=40&Itemid=165 (ABTC)
http://www.akc.org/events/herding/getting_started.cfm (AKC - Getting Started in Herding)
http://www.akc.org/pdfs/rulebooks/RG9001.pdf (AKC - Herding Regulations)

Conformation (and Junior Showmanship)
http://www.abtc.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=38&Itemid=284 (ABTC)
http://www.akc.org/events/conformation/beginners.cfm (AKC - Getting Started in Conformation)
http://www.akc.org/pdfs/rulebooks/RREGS3.pdf (AKC - Rules Applying to Dog Shows)
http://www.abtc.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=37&Itemid=33 (ABTC - Junior Handling)
http://www.akc.org/kids_juniors/jr_getting_started.cfm (AKC - Getting Started in Junior Showmanship)

Search And Rescue
http://www.abtc.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=72&Itemid=44

Therapy Dogs
http://www.abtc.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=72&Itemid=44

Carting / Skijoring / Sledding-Mushing /Weight Pulling
http://www.dogplay.com/Activities/harness.html

Messenger Dog
http://kurp.hut.fi/~mtt/viestikuvia/

Flyball
http://flyballdogs.com/FAQ.html

Frisbee / Disk Dog
http://www.skyhoundz.com/competitionoverview.html

Schutzhund / French Ring Sport
http://www.ringsport.org/aboutringsport.htm
http://www.workingdogs.com/doc0035.htm
http://www.germanshepherddog.com/schutzhund/index.htm