What are the Best Sports for Schnauzers?

Our Miniature Schnauzer has never really been interested in balls, toys, or ropes. She does enjoy treat puzzles and being outside with us, though. She loves her daily walks, hikes in our foothills, and basic activities in the back yard. However, as we work to keep her mind and body active, I’ve been looking into additional sports our Miniature Schnauzer might enjoy and benefit from.

What are the best sports for Schnauzers?  Schnauzers can excel in many dog sports, including barn hunt, agility, obedience, rally, and earthdog. Originally bred as working dogs, their playful, muscular, agile, and competitive nature makes them the ideal participants for intense sports activity. Also, Schnauzers are intelligent and easy to train, making it easy to teach new sports activities.

All Schnauzer breeds, Miniature, Standard, and Giant, are naturally active, intelligent, and athletic. They were each bred for both similar and different purposes, so their natural skills do vary somewhat. In addition, the sheer differences in their size can predispose them to certain sports over others.

Keep in mind that several of the sports are a good fit for all Schnauzer breeds. You can check with local clubs and training organizations in your area. The American Kennel Club (AKC) has a solid list of sport, training, and event organizations by state.

First, we’ll take a look at the overall athleticism of each breed and then dive into the most popular and best sports for Schnauzers.

Schnauzer Athleticism at a Glance

Miniature Schnauzer

Bred as farm ratters who rid areas of small rodents, Miniature Schnauzers have medium to high energy levels and a need for regular exercise. It is essential to establish a routine that includes walks and games to keep him mentally and physically active. Also, fetch and tug games and runs in fenced-in yards helps to meet these needs. Their ability to learn and a constant desire to chase makes the Miniature Schnauzers well-suited for dog sports.

Standard Schnauzer Athleticism at a Glance

The Standard Schnauzer has a highly-developed sense of athleticism. They were bred and reared for many things, which makes them some of the most adaptable canines. The Standard Schnauzers were initially developed to serve as multipurpose animals on farms. They were bred for ratting, guarding, hunting, and herding, among many other things. Canine sports and training are excellent activities for the Standard Schnauzer as they keep him mentally and physically active.

Giant Schnauzer Athleticism at a Glance

Giant Schnauzers were bred primarily as herders and guard dogs. They are large, trainable, intelligent, and alert with an aptitude for police, military, and rescue work. They thrive when then are given tasks and assignments. Always eager to learn and please, they benefit from an extremely high level of activity.

Excellent Sports for Schnauzers

Agility Training and Competition

This high-energy sport requires the Schnauzer to run a course that has tunnels, jumps, A-Frames, and see-saws. Agility sports also enable Schnauzers to develop confidence and learn how to follow commands given by the handler. This is because the game requires effective communication between the handler and the dog.

The intensity and difficulty of the game make it an excellent form of physical exercise and mental stimulation for Miniature Schnauzers. Handlers can adjust the level of complexity to accommodate Schnauzers with special needs.

Barn Hunt

It is one of the newest dog sport based on the traditional roles of breeds that worked in farms. Schnauzers are allowed to hunt rodents above ground in a controlled, monitored situation. The sport is perfect for Miniature and Standard Schnauzers who can use their hunting and ratting instincts combined with their agility and excellent sense of smell.

Conformation

This sport involves comparing participant’s dogs to AKC Breed Standards that describe its size, physical structure, movement, and temperament.

Handlers are required to conform to the training requirements developed by kennel clubs, breed clubs as well as the national agricultural department.

The objective of this game is to maintain the high standards of the Miniature Schnauzer dog breed so that future generations have the highest quality, and health issues are eliminated.

Flyball

This is another competitive sports game ideal for Miniature Schnauzers. It is a relay race between two teams, each with four dogs racing side by side over a 51-foot course. The race begins when the first dog runs down, making four jumps.

In the end, he activates a spring-loaded box that releases the tennis ball. Once he catches the ball, he heads back to the course, jumping over the jumps until he resumes the starting line. The second racer then begins racing.

Earth Dog Trials

The test was invented to examine the working ability of short-legged terriers like the Miniature Schnauzer. Earthdog dens were constructed to allow the dogs to navigate while looking for caged rats. The non-competitive program began with an introduction to den work and progressed to a point where the dog could demonstrate that it was willing to hunt.

Obedience

The sport demonstrates a dog’s ability to execute a set of predefined tasks directed by its handler. It includes activities like heeling, jumping, recalls, and retrieves. The objective is to recognize dogs trained to behave correctly at home, public places, and in the presence of their counterparts. The Standard Schnauzer is an excellent candidate for the sport as he is easy to train, reliable and intelligent.

Disc Dog

During the competition, the dog and its handler are demonstrating their disc-throwing activities. The judge evaluates their distance catching and choreographed freestyle catching prowess. Also known as frisbee dog, the sport examines the bond between the dog and its handler. To be successful in the game, the handler needs to be able to throw the disc, control its direction and distance.

Dock Jumping

Also known as dock diving, the competition requires dogs to jump from the dock into a body of water to achieve great height or distance. The activity is similar to the human long jump, only that the dogs jump over water. Handlers throw the toy off the dock to lure the dog into jumping as far as possible. The judges record the distance digitally to enhance accuracy.

Dog Carting

It is a dog sport where a dog pulls a dogcart full of supplies like camping equipment, farm goods, groceries, firewood, and sometimes people. Also known as dryland mushing, the sport is used to keep winter sled dogs in a competitive mood during the off-season.

Herding Trials

Giant Schnauzers were originally bred as farm dogs to guard property and animals to the market. This function developed an innate ability for Schnauzers to herd animals. Since most dogs live in urban areas, Giant Schnauzers are deprived off the opportunity to exploit their prowess in herding.

The only opportunity to do this is in herding competitions. It provides an opportunity for them to act on their instinct. The game involves the dog, handlers, a group of animals (usually sheep), and judges. The handlers give commands, and the dogs obey.

Lure-Coursing

It is a fast-paced sport that was developed as an alternative to hare coursing. Instead of chasing a live animal, the dogs chase an artificial lure across a field competing against their counterparts. Obstacles may be placed on the way. The sport was originally designed for Greyhounds, Rhodesian ridgebacks, and Whippets, but today, it has become a sport for other dog breeds, including the Giant Schnauzer.

Tracking

The Giant Schnauzer has a strong sense of smell hence an eligible candidate for tracking competition. The sport mimics a search and rescue mission assessing the dog’s natural ability to follow a trail. It is an enjoyable sport that opens doors to real-life search and rescue work for successful Schnauzers.

Additional Sports to Play with Your Schnauzer

Frisbee

It is simple, effective, and takes a few minutes to set up. You only need a fenced yard, your miniature schnauzer, and a Frisbee. Allow your dog to win a few times and reward it with a yummy treat. It is an excellent game for training your dog while having fun.

Hose Fun

It is an excellent outdoor game during the hot sunny days. If your Schnauzer is new to the game, spray the water close to his feet and move it away. The Schnauzer will try to chase and bite the water. You can also toss a ball into the water and watch the dog race in and out of the spray.

Walking and Hiking

Schnauzers are active and playful hence the need to schedule for walks, hiking or swimming. Walks stimulate the mind and keep their bodies active, and are an essential part of a Schnauzers routine.

How to Prevent Sports Injuries in Athletic Dogs

Athletic dog breeds like Schnauzers may be susceptible to injuries. A survey of agility handlers in the United Kingdom reported a 19% injury rate during competition or training.

Most of the injuries were as a result of direct contact with obstacles, jumping, turning, or twisting. Additionally, the injuries occurred on soft tissues, including the ligaments, muscles, and tendons.

Here are some effective, yet simple ways to prevent injuries:

Cross-Training	This form of training strengthens Type I and Type II muscle fibers. It also helps avoid over-training and complements sport-specific training activities. Some cross-training activities include swimming and hiking.
Strength Training	Strength training not only reduces the risk of injury but also improves performance. Strength training exercises identify weaknesses and imbalances in agonist and antagonist muscles, which predisposes dogs to injury. It also increases the core muscles, supporting joint structures, and increases bone density. Some options for incorporating strength training into your Schnauzer’s routine are stair climbing, tug of war, weighted pulling, swimming, and using spring poles or flirt poles.
Rest	Allow your Schnauzer to rest at least once a week. Rest allows the body to heal and prepare for the next competition, training, or strenuous activity. Lack of rest increases the risk of developing injury and affects a dog’s performance and enjoyment of exercising.

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Training for and even competing in a dog sport with your Schnauzer is a great way to get some exercise and bond. Even engaging in any of the sports above in an informal way adds a new level of interaction with your pup. It will strengthen your heart and your relationship.

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