SprintDog is an exciting and fast-paced dog sport that’s been making waves across Australia! This high-energy event combines speed, agility, and a whole lot of fun, giving dogs (and their humans) an awesome way to burn off energy in a controlled setting. The idea is simple but thrilling: a plastic bag (acting as a lure) is attached to a string and pulled at speed, encouraging the dog to chase it in a straight-line sprint to the finish. If your pup loves to run, this sport is an absolute blast!
The Rise of SprintDog in Australia
While traditional dog sports like agility and obedience have long been crowd favorites, SprintDog’s straightforward nature makes it super accessible for all kinds of dogs. Big, small, fast, or a little on the "cruisy" side—any dog can give it a go! The sport has quickly built a friendly and supportive community, with events popping up across the country.
Finnish Lapphunds: Born to Chase! (Well... Usually 😜)
For Lappie owners, SprintDog is a no-brainer. These fluffy powerhouses have a natural drive to chase, making them great contenders in the sport. It’s a fantastic way for them to burn off energy, stay fit, and engage their instincts in a fun and controlled way. Plus, the teamwork involved strengthens the bond between dog and handler—win-win!
Of course, not every Lappie gets the memo that they’re supposed to be sprinting. While most will be all in, charging full speed after that plastic bag, some will decide that waiting at the start line (or finding a friendly human for some pats) is a much better use of their time. 😂 Either way, SprintDog is all about having fun, and whether your Lappie is a speedster or a socialite, they’ll fit right in!
Why Give SprintDog a Go?
If you’re looking for an exciting new activity for your dog, SprintDog is definitely worth checking out. It’s fast, fun, and a great way to get involved in the wider dog sport community. Whether you have a Lappie or any other breed, the sport welcomes all pups who love to run (or at least pretend to). So, why not give it a shot? Who knows—you might just have the next SprintDog champion on your hands! 🏆🐶
Orical Owners Experience
We asked Kelsey, owner of Teddy (Orical Beach Side Wedding N.SPRD RN) and Bear (Orical Quince Bloom WNPD), to give us a look into their journey on the way to getting Teddy's Novice Sprint Dog title!
"This is Teddy. She loves to chase things. Birds, bugs and her lappie brother Bear. So why not a plastic bag on a string.
She was too young for lure coursing and we wanted to do something while getting her ready for tricks/obedience/rally. So we thought to give Sprint Dog a go.
It's such a low entry level dog sport, everyone is there to have a good day. No judgement if something goes wrong.
It's been a great dog sport to get into. We got hooked on dog sports after taking our other Lappie Bear for his backpacking title. It's super simple and does not involve much beyond having an in shape dog and being able to catch them.
It's a pretty simple day:
1. Warm up your dog
2. Release your dog from the starting box.
3. Watch them run 100m after a plastic bag having the time of their life
4. Another human catches your dog at the end.
5. Cool down your dog and stretch.
Redo again for a qualifying second run.
It's now at the stage I've had the marshall say that I'm obsolete, Teddy knows what she is doing and I'm just there to make sure she doesn't disqualify herself. Bear in the other hand is harder, he has only one qualification run as jumping the fence was more interesting last time.
You don't need to train for it, just make sure your dog is in shape. If you are worried they may not chase the lure, make a DIY flirt pole with a bag and make it fun. Make sure your dog has basic recall, it is enclosed and other people will help catch your dog.
Read the rules as with all dog sports. Your dog need a flat collar with no tags and don't forget....lots of treatsies."
Thank you so much to Kelsey for taking the time to share her journey and experience with the sport world! ❤️
We love and appreciate all our Lappie owners and there is such a wonderful community between owners. If you are ever interested in trying a sport feel free to make a post on our owners facebook group! You may find other people with experience or even other people also wanting to try it out! 🥰
For more information about SprintDog and trials that are available please join the Sprint Dog Facebook Page
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