AKC Online Dog Activities

By Jamie Bozzi, CBCC-KA, CPDT-KSA, KPA CTP, ACDBC, CNWI, CC, AKC Evaluator SMRTDOG

As many in-person dog-related activities have been suspended because of the pandemic, there are now other options—online!

AKC Rally

In keeping with the times and adhering to social distancing, AKC offers the AKC Rally Virtual Pilot Program. This program provides exhibitors the opportunity to enter an AKC Rally event. Rally is an obedience sport in which you and your dog navigate a course, side-by-side, as you steer him through a course of 10 to 20 different signs. Each of the signs provides instructions on what basic obedience maneuver to perform.

You can participate in the AKC Rally Virtual Pilot Program in just three easy steps:

(1) Pet owners (Rally competitors) set up a predesigned AKC Rally course at home;

(2) Record the team’s performance; and

(3) Submit the video through a YouTube link, along with the entry form and a fee to AKC.

The AKC will assign a pre-selected AKC Rally Judge to virtually review and score the team’s performance. AKC will notify exhibitors of the unofficial scoring results. All eligible qualifying scores will be recorded on the dog’s AKC record and applied toward the relevant Rally title. The pilot program ends on December 31, 2020. For more information, contact rally-vre@akc.org.

Photo courtesy Jamie Bozzi, SMRTDOG

AKC Agility

AKC offers an Agility Course Test (ACT) from home! This program was developed to provide pet owners with dogs that are ready to test their agility skills and to try the sport of ACT Agility locally.

Pet owners have the opportunity to stay at home or use their local training site and enter an AKC ACT 1 or ACT 2 event. You can also buy equipment online. For more information, visit akc.org/sports/agility/ act-program/act-virtual-program/.

Other agility organizations that have online options:

• NADAC - nadac.com/video-runs/

• USDAA - usdaa.com/

• UKI - ukagilityinternational.com/

Photo courtesy Jamie Bozzi, SMRTDOG

AKC Tricks

You can earn trick titles from the comfort of your living room, teaching your dog how to perform a variety of fun tricks, including crawl, fetch, high five, kiss, and spin. AKC Trick Dog titles are official AKC titles listed on the dog’s title record. The processing fee for each title is $25, and multiple titles for the same dog can be sent in together.

There are five Trick Dog titles: Novice Trick Dog (TKN), Intermediate Trick Dog (TKI), Advanced Trick Dog (TKA), Trick Dog Performer (TKP), and Trick Dog Elite (TKE).

To earn a AKC title, dogs must have an AKC, PAL or AKC Canine Partners number. All dogs can get a number, including purebreds and mixed breeds. For more information, visit akc.org/sports/trick-dog/.

Photo courtesy Jamie Bozzi, SMRTDOG

AKC Scent Work

Scent-detection sports are by their very nature a social distancing activity! You can get your dog started at home. Check out akc.org/expert-advice/training/indoorscent-games-for-dogs/. If your dog is really enjoying this fun scent activity indoors, contact your local Certified Nose Work Instructor (CNWI) for more fun sniffing ideas.

AKC Fit Dog

While there is not a specific online program, many AKC Fit Dog instructors offer an online course in basic K9 conditioning.

Jamie Bozzi of smrtdog.com is a Certified Canine Behavior Consultant (CBCC-KA) and a Certified Nose Work Instructor (CNWI). She is also an AKC Scent Work judge. She enjoys competing in a variety of dog sports and hosting special canine boutique events.