Start with the basics.

If you are looking for something new to try with your dog, then maybe it’s time to introduce him to the exciting world of dog sports. The American Kennel Club offers three activities to choose from: rally, obedience and agility.

Not only is taking part in dog sports a great bonding activity for you and your dog, it provides you both with exercise and fun in the process. To help you get started the AKC offers the followingtips.

If you haven’t already, start outbytrainingfortheAKC Canine Good Citizen test. This 10-step test teaches dogs basic manners and lays the foundation for further training. Find a CGC evaluator online at http://www.akc. org/events/cgc/.

Assess your dog’s strengths.

Before deciding what sport you’d like to try, identify your dog’s strong suit. A dog with energy looking for a job to do might enjoy Rally, which requires him to complete basic skills on a timed course. If your pooch has an intense desire to please, he may be best suited for Obedience,a sport where your dog must perform a set of exercises such as retrieving an object or sitting for certain periods of time. An extremely active and confident dog would excel at Agility, an obstaclecoursewhereyourdog will go over jumps, weave through poles, run through tunnels and more.

Find a local club.

Local dog-training clubs often provide training classes for all different types of competition. These clubs also have “fun matches” where you and your dog can test your skills in the ring. You can find a list of clubs online at www.akc.org.