03/06/2026
A dog was killed this week in some horrible excuse for a dog sport competition. It was quite literally beaten to death, and others suffered life changing injuries, all in the name of this particular type of protection sport.
That is not my sport.
Some trainers are now taking this as an excuse to bash dog sports in general. Saying that no dogs enjoy competing. As somebody who has competed in a wide range of sports, this couldn’t be further from the truth.
Although the rosettes and the prizes from competing are solely for us, and that’s undeniable, the buzz of the environment, the new challenges of different courses, the walks in new places and ‘sleepovers’ in tents, the meeting up with dog friends, the excitement in the queue and shuffle on the startline- that is pure joy from our dogs. Whether we win or lose, as long as the dogs feel like winners, I’d argue until I’m blue in the face that most dogs enjoy competing. Not because they know what it means, or what’s at stake, but because it’s a fun day out filled with treats, toys and good vibes.
A sport that requires a dog to be physically beaten and injured is not my sport. Do not tar us with that same brush. It’s horrific, it should be banned, it is totally incomparable to what we do.
If done with love, kindness and play, dog sports and competing especially can change a dog’s life. Just look at Primrose, who was recommended behavior euthanasia for her reactivity, now running with a junior handler on Team GB. There is no way she would have made that kind of progress in the time she did if she wasn’t regularly exposed to other dogs and people in a controlled but exciting environment. Her story isn’t unique.
Those who are anti-dog sports have a fundamental misunderstanding of what it is. Yes, it can be done badly, and yes, people can become win-hungry. But happy dogs run differently.
Let me see your happy competition photos! ⬇️
