Head Trainer - Sarah

With years of hands-on experience offering dog training in Hackney, I understand how dogs think, learn, and respond to the world around them. I create personalised training plans to suit each dog’s individual character and needs — whether that’s building strong foundations in everyday obedience, addressing behavioural challenges, or developing more advanced skills. I use force-free, reward-based methods to build confidence and strengthen the bond between dogs and their owners. Helping dogs grow into calm, happy, well-mannered companions is something I genuinely enjoy, and it’s incredibly rewarding to see the positive impact this has on both dogs and their families.

• ​Qualified in Canine Behaviour and Management 
• National Diploma in Animal Management (2years full time study at Capel Manor College)
• Volunteered with 2 dog training clubs
• NASDU Qualified Security Dog Handler
• Training dogs with Primo Pet Services full time from January 2009 to April 2014
• Currently training dogs at Elite dog training since April 2014
• Trained in Advanced Pet First Aid Level 3
• Certified Pet Microchipper
• Experienced rescue dog home checker and dog assessor with The Animal Team reg Charity Number: 1167277​​
• ​Previously a member of local dog training club Canine Wizardry for many years

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Additional Training, Experience and Study (not complete):
2008 to 2025

​​• Canine Principles: A House Divided: Mike Shikashio
​• IMDT Dogs And Kids Webinar
• Canine Principles: Successful Affiliate Marketing course
​• IMDT Owner Motivation Webinar​
• IMDT Safety and Risk Assessments for Canine Consultations Webinar 2025
• Dog Law Webinar with Trevor Cooper 2025
• IMDT course Working With Stress and Trauma, presented by David Brice (Head of Behaviour, IMDTB)
• IMDT course The Exercises: Foundations to Advanced with Steve Mann (IMDT)
• Attended the 2021 Dog Behavior Conference, including speakers: Alexandra Horowitz, Clive Wynne, Sarah Fisher, Victoria Stilwell, Lisa Radosta, Sarah Heath, Michael Shikashio, Joshua Leeds, Dr Kathy Murphy, Andrew Hale, Lisa Waggoner, Irith Bloom, and others
• Currently completing an additional Diploma in Canine Behaviour
• Completed numerous online study sessions, including topics such as BARF Diet (Bones and Raw Food), Introducing Dogs to Babies, and Cat Behaviour
• Completed Dr Ian Dunbar’s 4-day SIRIUS® Dog Training Academy
• Completed Dr Ian Dunbar’s 10-hour online study: Crucial Concepts in Dog Behaviour & Training
• Completed 10½ hours of study: Dr Ian Dunbar’s Treatment & Prevention of Dog Aggression: Biting & Fighting
• Completed Dr Ian Dunbar’s 6-hour GROWL Workshop – a workshop demonstration for reactive dogs
• The Wolf Awareness Workshop by Simone Mueller
• The Dog Rescuer’s Guide Workshop by Sally Gutteridge
• Loose Lead Walking Workshop by Sally Gutteridge
• Victoria Stilwell’s Inside Your Dog’s Mind lecture
• The American Kennel Club Canine College courses, including: ABC’s of Dog Breeding, Genetics, AKC Breeding Basics, and Genetic Defects and Health
• IMDT – Institute of Modern Dog Trainers: Geert De Bolster seminar on dog aggression

Current and Upcoming projects:
• Doing a short course about Canine Neuroscience with The International School for Canine Psychology and Behaviour
• IMDT Impulse Control Seminar Feb 2026
• Completing my 2year next level Nationally recognised qualification in Canine Welfare, Training & Behaviour with Canine Principles
• Canine Principles: Settling Through Scentwork for Highly Aroused Dogs
• Canine Principles: Fearful Dog Rehabilitation
• Canine Principles: Running Puppy and Beginner Classes with Confidence
•  Completing the DogNostics Pet First Aid Certification Program

Dog Trainer at Primo Pet Services full time from January 2009 to April 2014.
Dog training as Elite Dog Training services since April 2014.

Some of Sarah's Dogs...

Updated pet first aid training Advanced Level 3 - September 2023

Elite Dog Training Elite Dogs Enfield Dog Training Enfield dog trainer Force Free Pet Professional Guild Agility is a dog sport in which the handler directs the dog over a series of obstacles using only voice and body signals. It’s a race against the clock and the fastest dog (without any penalties) wins. The handler cannot use toys or food as incentives during a competition, only voice and body signals. Agility requires exceptional training of the dog. The course itself is laid out by an agility judge who chooses the design. An agility course includes certain obstacles, such as the “Teeter Totter,” “A-Frame,” and the “Dog Walk,” with contact points which the dog must touch or face penalties. Many agility courses also have several tunnel obstacles. A rigid tunnel is a tunnel which is between 3 and 6 meters and is either curved or straight. A collapsed tunnel, often called the “Shoot,” is a barrel-like cylinder with a tube of fabric attached at the end. The fabric lies closed until the dog runs into the open, barrel end and pushes it open as it runs through. The agility course will always include several jumps. The most common types of jumps are spread jumps, panel jumps, tire jumps, and hurdle jumps. A tire jump is a jump in which a tire shape is suspended mid-air in a frame which the dog must jump through. Weave poles are also included in many agility courses. Weave poles are similar to a slalom. They have upright poles, each about 1 meter high and about 50 cm apart. The dog must weave in and out of the poles, always starting with the first pole on its left without missing any poles. There can be between 5 and 12 poles on a set of weave poles. The dog must negotiate through the course in the correct order without incurring time penalties, knocking a jump over, missing contact points, or missing jumps to finish without any penalties. Dock Diving is a relatively new sport that has dogs jumping and splashing! It first appeared as an organized canine sport in 2007 and has since exploded. This is an amazing sport for dogs that love to fetch, swim, or both and titles are offered to any breed or mixed breed. The UKC began giving Dock Diving titles in 2009; the AKC in 2014. It takes place on a stationary 35’ to 40’ (11-12m) dock that is placed over a pool that is about 8’ (2.5m) long and at least 4’ (1.2m) deep. The dog may begin its dive anywhere along the dock, and the handler may either hold the dog and throw a toy into the water for the dog to fetch or the handler throws a toy towards the water and releases the dog from a “stay” to fetch. The first technique is excellent for faster dogs while the second gives a dog that likes to jump up more space to show off its skills. How a dog and handler team win a dock diving competition depends on the ruling body of the competition, but they all have similar rules. The ultimate goal of the sport is to see which pooch can jump the farthest for their size class. The distance of the jump is measured either from the base of the dog’s tail or the end of its nose as it enters the water. Measurements are made by both judges and digital imaging. Each round consists of two jumps, with the longest distance being recorded as the score for that round. The dog doesn’t have to retrieve the toy in order to have their jump qualify. Recorded Dock Diving jumps have ranged from 9’11” (3.02m) all the way to 25’ (about 7.5m.) Currently, one of the longest jump records was set in December 2015 by a Lab named “Storie” was jumped an amazing 30’7” (about 10m)! Most Dock Diving clubs divide competitors by size: Open classes are dogs 16” tall and up, while Lap dogs are under 16”. Some clubs have “toy” classes, as well. The smaller dogs are naturally judged on shorter jump distances. Any dog, regardless of size, is permitted to wear a life vest where necessary. Earthdog Trials is a competition mainly involving terriers. In a trial, a long tunnel is dug underground, and a scent trail is laid, to make the course simulate a real animal den. Typically, a rat or a similar animal is placed at the end of the tunnel in a cage. The dog involved in the trial is placed at the entrance to the burrow and is released on a signal. The dog then navigates the tunnel, following the scent trail underground and finding the animal. The dog then “flushes” the animal by barking at it to try to make it escape so that, in theory, the hunter can shoot it. This is called working the quarry. The quarry in this case is the animal. In the Earthdog Trials, the dog does not come in contact with the animal. The dog must remain focused by barking at the quarry for a specified period of time before it is lifted out of the tunnel. The dog with the fastest time and the fewest penalties wins. There are specifications on the amount of time it takes for the dog to find the quarry and the amount of time it spends working the quarry, which gets harder as the dog advances. Hunting and Field Trials date back to medieval times, when royalty from all over the known world would bring their royal hounds and hunt together, competing for who could get the best catch. There was a wide range of game for the hounds to catch -- from small game such as water fowl, rabbit, or fox, to larger game such as bear, deer, and elk. Modern ethics and morals, however, have determined that allowing teams of dogs to go after any game animal is not allowed. However, humans have found a way to preserve the mighty heritage of the hounds in our modern Hunting and Field Trials. Now, we use a variety of decoys and fake animals that are thrown into water for dogs to retrieve, or we coat decoys in some scent and drag them around wooded, grassy areas and through streams in an attempt to confuse the hounds. In these trials, a dog's wit is tested in a game similar to Tracking, but not quite the same. In Hunting and Field Trials, a dog has to know how to keep quiet and still when commanded and know when to spring upon an unsuspecting target. It also has to know how to obey the slightest gesture from its handler and to read the handler's entire body language. On top of this, in Hunting and Field Trials, a dog has to be able to withstand the sound of gunfire, a sound which can make any species flee without a second thought. All of this has to become second nature to the hunting dog. A proper hunting dog will have the perfect gait; easy, quiet, and fleet like a deer. They'll also be very enduring, so they can keep going in harsh weather and through rough terrain. In addition, a proper hunting dog will be strong, as sometimes a hunting dog will be expected to take down game two to three times its own size. Flyball is a dog sport in which teams of dogs race over a line of four small jumps to a box which releases a tennis ball when the dog presses the spring. The dog has to catch the ball when it is fired into the air by the box. The dog then races back over the jumps to its handler while carrying the ball. The next handler then lets his or her dog go, and the process is repeated until every team member has completed the run. Flyball is effectively a relay sport. Flyball is played by teams of four dogs and their handlers. The course is made up of four hurdles which are placed 3 meters away from each other, with the first hurdle 1.8 meters away from the starting line itself. At the other end, the last jump is 4.5 meters in front of the flyball box. The height of all four hurdles is decided by the shoulder height of the smallest dog of a team. The first team to cross the finish line without errors wins the “heat.” Penalties can be given if the dog drops the ball or the next dog is released before the one before has crossed the line. Flyball is a very entertaining and fun sport and which anyone and any dog can play. Mixed breed dogs are allowed to compete and can do very well. Many champion teams have mixed breeds as members, although the track is currently dominated by herding breeds which have a high drive to work. Flyball is considered a hobby to many people: a way to relax and enjoy themselves. Many champion and successful flyball dogs are pet dogs and not necessarily dedicated sporting dogs. Frisbee is a fairly recently created sport that is just over thirty years old and is very popular in our world today. Frisbee performances have occurred for many other human sports games, in the circus or local carnivals, and even for major political figures throughout the world. It is a popular sport for people to participate in because it is fairly easy to train a dog to catch a frisbee in a short amount of time, with a little patience. The main objective is for the dog to catch frisbees, but the sport much more complicated than just that. Sometimes, the sport involves throwing frisbees and having the dog catch them in different styles at varying heights as fast as possible. Other times, a frisbee competition is set to music and the handler is very active along with the dog. In these types of Frisbee competitions, the handler often acts as a prop for the dog to stand upon, jump over, or even jump off of. The sport is judged by the dog’s athleticism, activity, showmanship, and how difficult of a catch or routine was performed -- or sometimes only by how many times a frisbee is caught at what distances. Frisbees caught at a further distance are worth more points than those caught closer to the handler, and extra points are awarded for airborne catches. Some long distance frisbee events are just judged based only on the throw that is caught furthest away. Unlike some sports, most dogs can participate in frisbee, from the tiny, fragile looking Whippets to the great Mastiff breeds. Most commonly, rescued dogs from animal shelters are used in these events. Any dog can play as long as the handler abides by leash laws outside the playing field, and the dogs are not dog or people aggressive. In order to do well in this event, a dog has to be very fast and agile. Herding competitions are often called herding trials. In these trials, dogs have to move sheep around a field, often through gates, fences, and into and out of enclosures as directed by their handlers. Some trials contain a pair of dogs being used, called a “brace,” while others involve only one dog. Trials like these have been around for hundreds of years. In a basic herding trial, one dog and its handler move three to six sheep through the given course. The pair is penalized if a sheep stray or move too slowly. The handler can even be penalized on giving too few commands, or even too many. Generally, the shepherd directs the dog by whistled commands, especially when the dog is far away. Vocal commands are also used. Some of the common vocal commands are “Away to Me,” which means go counterclockwise around the stock, “Come Bye,” which means go clockwise around the stock, “Take Time,” which means back off of the stock, and “Lie Down,” which requires the dog to stop immediately. Many events are timed and each exercise is marked by judges. Dogs often must work hundreds of yards away from their handlers, sometimes slipping out of sight because of the lay of the land. When this happens, the only way the handler can know where the dog is located is by watching the sheep. In fact, this sport has as much to do with managing a dog as with learning to read and manage livestock. The handler must stay close to what’s called the “post” until the dog has “fetched” the sheep through a series of fences. Once the portion of the trial is reached where the sheep must be pushed into a small pen, the handler is allowed to leave the post to manage the pen gate. In the “penning” part of the trial, the dog must manage to push the livestock into a pen. The handler is not allowed to touch the sheep in any way, but often, when the dog is positioned just right and the sheep are balking at the pen entrance, a handler will attempt to scare the sheep into the pen by jumping up and down, shouting, or waving his or her cap. Another part of a trial, most often present in the top level of herding trials -- the Open level -- is called “shedding.” In shedding, the dog must split specified sheep from the flock and keep them separated. This is difficult as sheep instinctively want to stay together. The handler is again allowed to leave the post but may not touch the sheep. Herding competitions have always attracted the interest of the media and many spectators. It is one of the better known dog sports and appeals to both the handlers and the spectators also. Many books have been written, fiction and non-fiction about this sport. Hunting and Field Trials date back to medieval times, when royalty from all over the known world would bring their royal hounds and hunt together, competing for who could get the best catch. There was a wide range of game for the hounds to catch -- from small game such as water fowl, rabbit, or fox, to larger game such as bear, deer, and elk. Modern ethics and morals, however, have determined that allowing teams of dogs to go after any game animal is not allowed. However, humans have found a way to preserve the mighty heritage of the hounds in our modern Hunting and Field Trials. Now, we use a variety of decoys and fake animals that are thrown into water for dogs to retrieve, or we coat decoys in some scent and drag them around wooded, grassy areas and through streams in an attempt to confuse the hounds. In these trials, a dog's wit is tested in a game similar to Tracking, but not quite the same. In Hunting and Field Trials, a dog has to know how to keep quiet and still when commanded, and know when to spring upon an unsuspecting target. It also has to know how to obey the slightest gesture from its handler and to read the handler's entire body language. On top of this, in Hunting and Field Trials, a dog has to be able to withstand the sound of gunfire, a sound which can make any species flee without a second thought. All of this has to become second nature to the hunting dog. A proper hunting dog will have the perfect gait; easy, quiet, and fleet like a deer. They'll also be very enduring, so they can keep going in harsh weather and through rough terrain. In addition, a proper hunting dog will be strong, as sometimes a hunting dog will be expected to take down game two to three times its own size. Musical Freestyle (sometimes called Canine Freestyle, Freestyle Dance, or just referred to as simply “dog dancing”) is a fairly new sport. Although it has been done for years as just a fun thing to do with your pet, it first became a sport around the 1990s in British Columbia, Canada. After the Musical Canine Sports International (the first Musical Freestyle club) was formed, it started to spread worldwide. Musical Freestyle involves a team a handler and dog team that perform a dance to music. How could this “dog dancing” be considered a sport? Although it does not seem like a sport that requires athletics (like Schutzhund or Agility), Musical Freestyle requires a different and challenging set of skills. In particular, it requires a strong bond between man and dog. A dancing routine requires creativity with the owner as well as obedience on the dog’s part, and, as in most competitions, training aids and leashes aren’t allowed. There isn’t much difference between Musical Freestyle and regular dancing, except for the obvious fact that you’re dancing with a dog. Routines include tricks done with the owner and there are no limits as to what can be done. Whether your dog is weaving through your legs, shaking hands, or jumping, the possibilities are endless, and bounded only by your creativity. However, no matter what is used, it should be choreographed with music, or the judges will deduct points. As mentioned, Musical Freestyle requires a great amount of obedience to create a perfect routine. Timing is critical as well as precision and concentration, because the dog needs to look for cues in either the song or in “invisible” signals given by the owner. Looking good always helps too, and several handlers wear matching costumes with their doggy partners. There are no restrictions as to what breeds can compete. The popular breeds in this sport are small to medium sized breeds due to the variety of routines you can do with them and their light bodies (imagine picking up an English Mastiff at the end of your routine). Several other breeds used are Standard Poodles, Border Collies, Australian Shepherds, and, of course, mixed breeds. There are several different types of Musical Freestyle competitions. In all of these different variations of the sport, the general idea remains, but the rules may differ. Examples of the other types include Exhibition Freestyle, Freestyle Heeling, and Musical Freestyle. Exhibition Freestyle can be the most interesting variation to watch, since there are very little restrictions put in the routines. Freestyle Heeling requires the dog to remain close to the owner at all times. On top of that, several tricks aren’t allowed, such as rolling and weaving, as the dog should appear to be glued to the owner’s side. Musical Freestyle is similar to Freestyle Heeling except there are fewer restrictions on the allowed tricks. All in all, the main objective in any Freestyle event is to have fun. Obedience is a test of how well a dog is trained. The dog must execute a number of exercises when and where the handler commands. Competitive obedience is far more difficult than household obedience. When the handler issues any of a number of commands in a competition, the dog must immediately obey without veering off or stopping to look at something which may be of more interest, or face serious penalties. There are three different levels of competition in obedience. The lowest is “Novice,” where the dog only needs to know the simplest of exercises. The next level is called “Open” and is the middle level of competition. In Open, the dog needs to know the more complicated exercises such as the “broad jump” obstacle and how to retrieve over the “high jump.” In the highest level of competition, known as “Utility,” the dog has to be trained to a very high standard and must know scent discrimination and how to perform a directed retrieve. Although competitive obedience dogs appear to be well trained, it does not necessarily mean that they have basic manners or are particularly well socialized that mark a well-behaved dog. Obedience is a fascinating sport both to watch and participate in. The bond between dog and handler is often a great joy to observe. Obedience can be attempted by anyone of any age with any breed of dog, which is part of what makes it such a wonderful sport. Pulling is a sport similar to sledding. The dog is attached by a harness to a sled weighed down with some sort of heavy material and the dog must pull the sled from the start to the finish line. Pulling is scored based on how much weight the dog pulls. There are different classes for the different weights of the dogs, with larger or stronger dogs being the most popular pullers. Headstrong dogs also do well in pulling, because they generally are more determined to win. Weight is added onto the sled until all dogs in the competition cannot pull the weight of the sled, or only one dog can pull the weight. Occasionally a handler will skip one or two pulls to conserve the energy of his or her dog or for strategy, but typically no more than two. Pulling is also timed, so that if the dogs end up in a tie the faster dog is the winner. Racing is perhaps one of the oldest of all dog sports, with records dating back more than 4,000 years. Racing, as a dog sport, started in ancient Egypt where people enjoyed watching dogs run, as well as a way to find the best hunting dogs for breeding. The most popular breeds were Greyhounds and Salukis, which were considered to be the first among animals, meaning that they were often treated like a member of the family rather than an animal. The sport then passed onto England and the rest of Europe where it was dubbed by Queen Elizabeth I to be the “Sport of Queens” (the “Sport of Kings” is horse racing). Modern day dog Racing started in the beginning of the 20th century when racing dogs were introduced into America along with the introduction for gambling on these events. Currently, dog racing is one of the most popular methods of gambling (namely Greyhound racing), which brings the sport a lot of bad press. Some people in the industry raise dogs only for racing and not for pets. Hence, many dogs are kept in cramped kennels in stacked cages under questionable hygiene conditions. If a dog loses too many times or get injured, they are killed, although a few tracks and rescues will take in dogs to rehome them with suitable families. However, not all racing is cruelty. As with any other sport, it is best not to rate Racing by its worst aspects. There are people and clubs that race for fun, have their own championships, and are enjoyed by everyone (especially the dogs, who love to run). This is how racing is supposed to be. Races can be done with any breed. Some breed clubs make their own races. Jack Russell Terriers are an example of a popular racing breed, although sighthounds are the most common. Sighthounds are a vast group of dogs that are known for their excellent eyesight, sleek bodies, and legendary speed. Sighthounds can reach up speeds around 45 mph, which is more than twice as fast as an Olympic sprinter. Some of their physical qualities include long legs, a deep chest, and a general look of grace and speed. Examples of sighthounds include Greyhounds, Borzois, Ibizan Hounds, Afghan Hounds, Basenjis, and Whippets. Naturally, most of these breeds are quite docile and lazy. But in sport, they are fierce hunters. Sighthounds are literally “born to run” and love to race. Since sighthounds have such a strong instinct to hunt by their eyes, they have to be muzzled so they can’t attack their opponents, who might get too competitive and start a fight. Other breeds are muzzled for similar reasons. The general idea of racing is pretty simple. After being released from the starting gate, dogs chase a lure, usually a stuffed bunny or a rag, through a marked track of the considerable length of at least 100 yards. The first one to reach the finish line is the winner. Rally-O, or Rally Obedience, is a new sport among the AKC. It features anywhere from 12-20 stations where a certain trick or ability is performed. The sport is timed and judged by participation, smoothness of each perfomance as well as skill in each performance. Signs are posted at each station to show what to do. Handlers also receive a handout with the course and may do a walkthrough without their dog before they compete. There are three levels of difficulty in Rally-O: Novice-On leash with basic instructions such as Sit. Advanced-Off leash with at least one jump. Excellent-Off leash with at least one jump and more difficult exercises. Handlers are allowed to sing, clap, whistle, and talk to their dogs through the whole course, setting Rally-O different from the silent Obedience. Some tricks the dog may have to perform are reverse direction, go faster or slower, sit-stay-recall, and other basic obedience tricks. Each team starts with 100 points, faults (Such as a missed station) cause points to be deducted from the total score. The team with the highest point total is the winner. If there is a tie, the winner will be determined by the who has the best time. Scent Hurdles is a relay sport where dogs race over a set of four hurdles to a short stand where dumbells lay on a different numbered section. The dogs must sniff out and pick up the dumbell with their handler's scent on it, then race back so the next dog can run. As each dumbell is removed by a dog, a "dummy" is placed in its slot so that every dog has four dumbells to choose from when they get to the stand. Scent Hurdles is played by a team of four dogs, with alternates. The course is made up of four hurdles, placed 10 feet apart with the last hurdle 12 feet away from the stand on which the dumbells are placed. The height of the hurdles is determined by the shoulder height of the shortest dog on the team. Some competitions have separate height class regulations where all dogs competing on a team must be within the same height range. Each dog wears a racing jacket that has a number corresponding to the number on the dumbell they are supposed to retrieve and section of the stand on which it is placed so they can be judged on picking up the correct dumbell. The "dummy" replacements are all marked with an "X." Picking up an incorrect dumbell or dropping it before returning to the end of the course is an error and can be an automatic loss of the heat in some competitions. The faster a team of dogs can correctly pick up their dumbells, the better chance they have at winning their heat. Scent Hurdles is a fun sport from which the more widely known sport of Flyball was developed. Any breed can be seen competing on a scent hurdle team. In some areas, there is even a special Senior class of racing for older dogs to compete! In Senior class racing, the height of the hurdle is placed very low to the ground to minimize the stress of jumping. Schutzhund was originally used for judging whether or not a dog would be good for fieldwork and worth being bred. Schutzhund tests three different areas of a dog’s ability and behavior. The first test is tracking, which requires a dog to follow a trail of footsteps over different terrains, while showing accuracy and commitment while following the scent. The next trial is obedience, which is similar to normal obedience. However, unlike competition Obedience, the dog is tested in the field, occasionally under the sound of a firing gun. Protection, the final test, is often the most misunderstood trial. Although it is not the same sport, it has often been confused with police dog training. In the protection test, the dog has been trained to never be aggressive or bite unless its owner is being attacked and to watch the attacker by the command of the handler with unwavering loyalty and focus. All of these trials are very demanding on the dog and the handler. Show In conformation shows, known as simply the “Show” sport on Furry Paws, canine competitors are analyzed by judges who are very familiar with that specific breed of dog. The dogs are judged on how well they match the published breed standards. At the highest level of dog showing, they have separate classes for the majority of breeds. Also, the show can be breed or group specific. The competitions are usually organized by a breed club. Dog show judges try to pick out the dog which shows the best physical and mental characteristics of the breed. This can be challenging for the judges, partly because the watching crowd will cheer and applaud their favorite entrants, making the judge’s decision more difficult as they have to remain free from bias. Dogs compete at dog shows to try and earn points toward the title of “Champion.” Every time a dog wins or places at a show it will gain points towards that title. It can be a particularly difficult thing to achieve. There are many prestigious dog shows but biggest is most likely Crufts. Showing is restricted to pedigrees only. However, there are many local dog classes which mixed breeds can enter. Sledding is a dog sport, but it hasn't always been. Sledding originated not as a sport, but as a way of life. The northern regions of the world adapted to the harsh climate by learning to get from place to place via dogsled. What does it mean to be a sled dog? Well, for one, a dog has to be able to withstand the extremely cold weather of the far north for, at the very least, short periods of time. For the northerners, though, true sled dogs have been around before sledding was invented. Sled dogs originated from wild wolves, who had learned to coexist close to humans by feeding off of waste at human campsites. They were later kept as protectors of food and in turn received a portion for themselves. A short time later, man discovered these dogs could be of even more use by transporting goods from place to place with the use of a flat bed of wood. The more of these creatures used in a team to pull, the more weight they could carry, and the more profit made. Humans then realized that certain varieties of these dogs had better qualities than others. Because of this, humans began to selectively breed for desired traits. These ancient selective breeding programs are where we get our 'pure northern breeds' of today. Today, sledding is open to different breeds. Any dog that is strong enough to pull a sled over long distances can make a good sled dog, but speed is also a factor in races such as the Iditarod. All kinds of breeds, ranging from the spitz-like breeds with their thick coats, to all kinds of hounds and even working dogs, such as Saint Bernards and Newfoundlands, or herding dogs, such as shepherds and collies, have excelled in this sport. Tracking is a sport developed from a natural instinct of the dog: hunting. The dog's ancestor, the wolf, would hunt in packs, using their keen eyes to spot tracks in the ground, their ears to listen for the calls of the prey, and their sense of smell to pick up the scent of wounded game. All of this was passed down through the generations, but in some dogs these instincts became so degenerated that they were no longer a natural ability. There are, however, some breeds that remain adept at tracking. For years, hounds have been used to track animals. Bloodhounds and Basset Hounds were commonly used by the police, Coonhounds and Beagles were used by hunters and kings, and in sandy deserts and dry grassland areas, sighthounds were used to track prey by sight. The sport of Tracking, though, is no longer limited to hounds. German Shepherds, Border Collies, and many other breeds have been taught to track like their ancestors, and have jobs with the police and at airport security areas. Times have changed but the requirements for such a sport have not. A dog has to be smart, quick, and has to have a long attention span, for tracking can go on for days upon end in the wilderness. Dogs with these attributes determine who's who among the sniffers! Water work has been around for years. Ever since man first set foot in the water or on a ship, he has wanted to be sure he was safe. Water work can be done by any dog that possesses a love of water, a nice, waterproof coat, and the ability to pull at least it’s own weight through the water. A common dog breed for this sport is the Newfoundland, but Water Work is not a limited-breed sport. Dogs such as the Portuguese Water Dog, the Standard Poodle, and the Chesapeake Bay Retriever often participate in this sport, but breeds such as Golden Retrievers, Deerhounds, and even Collie breeds have been known to participate. In this event, either an object is thrown into the water as far out as possible to be retrieved or there is a heavy object or person out in the water that the dog has to tow back to shore safely. In the first instance, the dog is judged by how far it can jump into the water. In the second, the dog is judged by how fast it can manoeuvre its way around obstacles and pull the heavy object or person to shore to be saved -- much like a ship-dog would save a drowning sailor or pull a life boat to shore. Most dogs that participate in this sport have webbed paw pads to help tread the water and increase manoeuvrability. Competitors in Water Work must be very agile, fast, and strong. Dogs trained in this sport have saved countless lives and have received much recognition for their achievements in Water Work. 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Sarah is also a keen horse rider!