🐾 Welcome to the Spring Dog‑Training Challenge! 🐾
Hey there, fellow dog lover! 🎉
We’re thrilled to invite you and your four‑legged friend to join our Dog‑Training Challenge—a fun, upbeat way to showcase your pup’s skills, learn new tricks together, and celebrate the joy of training.
What’s the Challenge?
Showcase Your Skills: The "Off-Equipment Go" Challenge
Capture your dog’s best moves in a short video (under 2 minutes) highlighting five distinct behaviors that show off your unique bond. Whether it’s sharp obedience, creative tricks, fluid movement, or scent work, we want to see the results of your hard work!
The Catch: You must leave the training gear behind. No formal agility or obedience equipment is allowed for this challenge. Instead, use your environment to guide your dog:
Get creative, use what’s around you, and show us how you and your dog navigate the world as a team!
Here are examples to get your creative juices flowing.
Go Under a park bench.
Go Around a tree or a trash can.
Go Inside a cardboard box.
Go Over a fallen log or a curb.
Go Between two fence posts or your own legs.
Rules at a Glance
The 5 Core Handling behaviors
Use the 5 core behaviors below and finish each sentence.
Go Under: Guide the dog beneath obstacles (like a bench or your own legs) to build confidence in tight spaces and improve body awareness.
Go Around: Use "wrap" cues to send the dog around a tree, cone, or person. This teaches the dog to look to you for direction even when moving away from you.
Go Inside: Practice entering enclosed spaces—like crates, vehicles, or narrow hallways—calmly and on command to ensure safety in high-traffic areas.
Go Over: Encourage the dog to clear vertical obstacles or step over fallen logs. This can help build rear-end awareness and athletic coordination.
Go Between: Teach the dog to navigate the space between two objects (or "middle" between your legs). This is a powerful "reset" behavior that provides the dog with a sense of security.
Prop Limit
No Limit to the number of props used, however, formal agility or obedience equipment are not allowed for this challenge.
Location Mix
None
Video Length
Keep it under 2 minutes total for all 5 behaviors so viewers can enjoy every move.
Submission
Send your video (MP4 or MOV) or a link to a YouTube video to thecoastalcanineclub@gmail.com. Submissions will be added to this page and should be submitted no later than February 28th.
How to Get Started
Join CCC – This challenge is open only to our CCC members. Join the fun by joining us here.
Plan Your Setlist – Write down the behaviors you want to feature. Balance indoor/outdoor scenes and decide which, if any, will use props.
Scout Locations – Choose a safe outdoor spot (park, backyard) and a comfortable indoor area (living room, hallway).
Practice & Record – Do a quick run‑through, then film each behavior clearly. Try to keep the camera steady and capture both you and your dog.
Edit (Optional) – Trim clips together, add a title screen, and maybe a fun soundtrack—just keep the total under two minutes.
Submit & Celebrate – Send your video or share the link and watch the community cheer you on!
Why Join?
Showcase Your Bond: Highlight the teamwork you and your dog have built.
Learn New Skills: The prop and location limits inspire creativity and variety.
Prizes & Recognition:
Winners will be selected by a random draw at our March meeting. Be sure to attend to see which of our fellow members wins the prizes and to congratulate them!
The First-place winner will receive a special winter seasonal dog-friendly gift pack. It includes a delightful holiday assortment from Bocce’s Bakery: Their limited-edition, all-natural, wheat-free dog treats. Your pup will enjoy three festive soft and chewy: Milk & Cookies, Lumps of Coal, and Snowman Snacks - all proudly baked in the USA with the highest quality and tastiest ingredients, sourced in the USA.
The second-place winner will receive a pack of Himalayan Dog Chew Churro Yak Cheese Dog Chews. These chews are 100% natural, long-lasting, gluten-free, and a healthy, safe treat for your dog to enjoy.
Ready to wag, work, and wow?
Grab your treats, set up that camera, and let’s make January and February a month of tail‑wagging triumphs! 🌟
Happy training, and we can’t wait to see what you and your pup create!
See our previous challenges
