Sport where they use their brain, not all braun? - Page 7

Oh, I might add, I believe Dante is a service dog
for Jason as well? I know for sure Remy is for Beth.

Take a good long hard look at the videos and tell
me those people don't redefine courage, heart and
stamina.

Tom went to St Joe, (USCA NA's?) with his 'fugly' 
Am Bulldog many many years back as well.

Handicapped my ass, more like 'handi-capable' 

Ok, deep breath.  Sometimes I get a bit defensive when it comes to Rose.  I very well could not have explained what I was asking about well.

I know about SAR, IPO, BH, and the other things I have been told here (not all about them, just the general idea).  None of them seem to quite fit what I was looking for, so I am asking if there is another sport that I missed.  Here is what I am looking to see if it exists:

A sport where a dog has to review the situation, reason how the best way to get what he wants without using brute force, and then executes the reasoning.  This is one of the things I see my GSDs do, but I have not seen my another other dogs take it to the full extent.

The example I have is:  Rose was playing keep away with her 2 puppies using a bone (high value item).  Both puppies tried force to get the bone away; knocking it out of her mouth, nipping at her heels, all the things dogs at play do during keep away.  After awhile, Rose laid down, but continued to keep the bone to herself.  Cirberus continued to try force to get the bone away.  Max instead, sat down and watched Cirberus and Rose continue.  Then Max crawled under Cirberus, snagged the bone, and quietly walked away.  I have seen many forms of this type of reasoning skill:  wait for the distraction, then go in for what you want. 

Another example someone else gave was a puppy going to the door and making a loud ruckus to get all of the other puppies attention then the puppy went back to take away from the rest.

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This is kind of cool reasoning to use distractions to their advantage; both what they generated and what an opportunity creates.  I am curious if there is any organized sport that encourages this type of reasoning.  This is what I would consider beyond obedience and not quite tracking.  Maybe one or more of the other sports I have been told about have this.  I do not know, as I have not been able to look at all the different sports lately.  

Above my normal day, the only sport I have started looking extensively at is Schutzhund; still have not gotten very far, other than making sure the basic commands I am teaching Cirberus conform to what is expected in this area (for example sit-stay is considered a double command and not allowed; my mentor trainer taught me otherwise, so I had to adjust how I am teaching).  I am starting on learning the theory and background of Schutzhund now.  Things are going slow in this area, as I have had other distractions.

There is a lot out there that sounds like a blast; I can't do it all though.  Just trying to narrow down my areas based on what takes my interest.  Honestly, anything I do beyond handicap/service work and maybe protection, is just fun and games for me.  That is why I am staying away from SAR and tracking; IMO those are very serious skills and should not be taken lightly as fun and games.

All dog sports require brain, both from trainer and dog. 

Can I just put in a word of support for what Sunsilver has said about pet owners NOT training their dogs properly ?
The circumstances of my life have involved me in handling / looking after a great many dogs, most of them GSDs,
who have been owned / reared & 'trained' [or not] by others by the time I have met them.
I recognise that many dogs are oriented towards behaving better for their owners, than for any strange dog-walker or similar, off the street;  whether formally trained to the usual basic commands or not.  However, there have been very few cases where if a dog already knows the basics, they won't do them for me, from the start.
Dogs I have to train from scratch are inevitably dogs which their owners can do nothing with.

I'm pretty sure Bev was reasoning when that dog flopped down in front of her and rolled around on his back....uh, should I kill him or not....I'd sure love to do that..... SHE's watching me...better not. Phew, thank heavens - that man just said exercise finished. Steak for me tonight....I'm a good dog.

Seach and rescue work really Challenge the dogs brain, stamina, drive and almost everything

Thanks Myret.  SAR is not something I would want to do 1/2 way.  If I go that route, I want to be able to go all in.  From what I know about it, the handler needs to be in top physical shape in order to keep up with the dog during a search.  I am not sure I could commit to that.  It would not be fair to anyone if I was asked to bring my dog for a SAR and I had to decline because of my health.

IMO that is definitly the coolest dog training area and if life were different..........  Never say never though. 

Fawmdallas, I never wrote anything about the AKC or what you said I wrote. Quote the right person.

AKC herding is fun and requires your dog to problem solve. One of the ladies that goes to training is in her 60's, has jacked-up knees, is of the rounder type, has a handicap sign on her van, but she's out there weekly with her 5 Belgian Tervs. One lady at the last trial had been trampled by cows six months previously, her BC saved her from death but not a broken back... that tough lady was trialling. Good luck

I was at a rally trial last weekend. One of the handlers was an older, handicapped woman who had to use a cane for mobility. Her little dog qualified in novice OB and Rally A. AKC is very good about making provisions for handicapped handlers. They allow handlers who can't run around the conformation ring to use a "runner". The handicapped owner handles the dog for the exam and the runner takes over when the judge moves the dog.