Queensland to host various national dog sport championships in a boon for dog lovers
Here are a just a few reasons dog lovers from around the country should head to Queensland this year.
QLD News
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FROM German Shepherds latching onto a padded sleeve to gundogs retrieving fake ducks Queensland dog lovers have plenty of opportunities to watch national-level dog sports in their own backyard this year.
The increasing involvement of dogs as family members has also led to an increase in dog sports on offer around Australia, with Queensland playing host to a number of Australian championships this year, including a national IPG competition this weekend and the first Flyball nationals to be held in the state for 12 years.
Dancing with Dogs and Sheepherding trials are also among the sports with national competitions being hosted in Queensland in 2019.
This weekend’s Working German Shepherd Dog Club of Australia IGP National Championship - at the Brisbane Dog Sporting Club, corner of Franklin and Amelia Streets, Nundah - involves tracking, obedience and protection disciplines.
The newly renamed International Gebrauchsund Prufung sport, which means International Working Dog Test, highlights the desired traits of the German shepherd breed.
Although other breeds now participate in the sport, which was previously called Schutzhund and then International Prufungs-Ordnung or IPO, this weekend is just for the German Shepherds.
Sanne Pedersen, president of the WGSDCA, said IGP originated in Germany.
“The sport was originally an assessment for the German Shepherds’ traits and has now developed into being about control, precision, technical accuracy and temperament which is important for our working dogs,” she said.
The tracking part of the trial involves a dog following a scent over about 600m in order to find different hidden objects.
Dr Pedersen, 47, said members of the public were welcome to watch the obedience and protection – or sleevework - facets of the competition from 10am Saturday and Sunday.
“Sleevework is the iconic part of the sport people see first,” she said.
“The person has a helper on the field with a (padded) sleeve on his arm. For the dog that sleeve is the biggest reward he can get.”
Dr Pedersen said the dog needs to follow instructions, as well as bark when the dog finds the helper.
“They need to indicate they’ve found the person first,” she said.
“When the helper runs towards the owner, the dog is then expected to launch at the sleeve of the person and to release when instructed.
“We’re testing different levels in the dog where the intensity increases and the discipline in that last phase is the ultimate demonstration of control.”
Dr Pedersen said IGP was focused on showing a bond between the owner and a happy dog.
“It’s also about concentration, high drive, stamina, endurance and trainability,” she said.
Brisbane will also play host to the 21st Australian Flyball Nationals for the first time since 2007.
The American-invented dog sport has grown in popularity over recent years surging to 11 clubs in Queensland alone, including the newly formed Coastbusters Flyball team in Nerang, Game On Flyball racing in Jimboomba and the Far North Flyers Flyball team in Cairns.
Also dubbed drag racing for dogs, Flyball is a relay race between two teams of four dogs with hurdles and a ball.
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Competition organiser Jenni Crane said the nationals were scheduled for September 27-29 at the RSPCA campus at 139 Wacol Station Rd, Wacol.
“We have the only purpose-built undercover area for Flyball anywhere in Australia and we wanted to more people to come out and see what Flyball is all about,” she said.
Mrs Crane, 60, said Flyball was one of the best sports for spectators because of the excitement and variety.
“It also shows all different breeds can do it – we don’t just have purebreds and we don’t have just working breeds,” she said.
“We have fast dogs for sure but we also have the little cute ones that come out. There’s something there for everyone.
“There’s the fast, the really slow and the ones that stuff up which, everyone loves. Everyone’s backyard dog can do it.”
Mrs Crane said any dog owner could also adapt to playing the sport with their pet.
“The handlers vary in age and abilities,” she said.
“We’ve had people in wheelchairs playing … one on a mobile scooter … and another lady with a mobility problem.
“There’s no holding back or discrimination against dogs or people with Flyball.”
For the musically inclined, Barbara Murfet, director of Dogs Queensland, said the Australian and state Dancing with Dogs titles were scheduled for June 29-30 at 247 King Ave, Durack.
Mrs Murfet, 70, said freestyle and heelwork to music were the two components of that sport.
She said the handler and dog have to tell a themed story with tricks and music part of the routine in the freestyle division.
“The other part is heelwork to music. The dog is in a heel position on the side, front or behind.”
Vice President of United Field and Retrieving, Edwena Adock, said gun dog breed lovers could look forward to the multi-level championship from August 16-18 at the Sporting Shooters Grounds, 1494 Ripley Rd, South Ripley.
Mrs Adcock, 54, said dogs were expected to retrieve up to 12 items of ‘game’ from paddocks or the water.
“’Game’ used are simulated duck retrieving dummies made from a rubbery type material called Dokken,” she said.
“All breeds of gundog are able to compete as well as crossbreds that resemble or identify as gundogs.”
Other dog sports hosting national level competitions in Queensland this year include the Queensland Lure Coursing Association’s national sprint championship at Wally Tate Park in Kuraby on July 21 and the Australian Supreme Sheep Dog Trials from Sept 23-29 in Dalby.
While other sports also have national level competitions, they may be held in other states this year.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
■ Working German Shepherd Dog Club of Australia IGP National Championship: Brisbane Dog Sporting Club, corner of Franklin and Amelia Streets, Nundah, June 1-2. wgsdca.org.au/the-nationals or find on Facebook
■ Dancing with Dogs National titles, Dogs Queensland grounds, 247 King Ave, Durack, June 29-30. danceswithdogsclubqld.org or find on Facebook
■ Queensland Lure Coursing Association: National sprint championship, Wally Tate Park, Beenleigh Rd, Kuraby, July 21. qldlurecoursing.com or find on Facebook
■ Australian Supreme Sheep Dog Trials, Sept 23-29, Showgrounds, Nicholson St, Dalby. wdrc.qld.gov.au/event/australian-supreme-sheep-dog-trials or find on Facebook
■ 21st Australian Flyball Championships, RSPCA campus, 139 Wacol Station Rd, Wacol, September 27-29. ausflyballnats2019.com or find on Facebook
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