So, I would like Ryuk to get a job. Companion and OB competition is fun and all (and profitable....my dog just won me an iPad O_O) but he wants a more "fun" job.

So what would you recommend for a 2-ish cattle dog mix with frisbee and tug drive through the roof who swims like a fish (and catches them) and has an intense (borderlining on CRAZY) love of climbing and tightroping over things like branches or anything that would make me freak out watching him? He also enjoys hunting rabbits (when I let him) and talking with coyotes at way-to-late-o-clock in the morning.

Things I've considered....I was thinking tracking would be fun (what some of the people do on here) except I know no one who hunts or even any areas around here you could hunt if you wanted to...so we wouldn't get to do much. Financial hurdles get in the way or things like Schutzhund. I'm a full time student and don't have the time to travel around to different training seminars or afford the equipment and personal training I'd need. I'm also not particularly local to any clubs. Financial and storage problems arise when I consider agility since classes around here start at $200 and ring rental is only for people who take their classes. I have a 13 X 13 bedroom....I simply don't have room to store homemade agility equipment in.

I did consider things like therapy work....but while Ryuk doesn't mind people he isn't a "people" dog and sitting around being doted on and pet wouldn't be fun for him at all. It's to bad, I would have loved to do a "helping people" sort of job with him but it wouldn't be fair for him in this case.

SO with that in mind....are their any options left for us?

Tracking- or any kind of Search and Rescue work. With his love of climbing things, and therefor great balance- he sounds like a great Urban SAR dog! But... it's time intensive.

I'd like to do agility too, but gosh it is expensive. My old boss has a MACH2 collie girl, and she's spend THOUSANDS of dollars training and trialing her. Sigh.

agility and rally, you could ramp up the cute tricks and find it games are fun as well. I taught Erika to pick up items I drop, I've been working on teaching her items, ie Ball, Keys, Remote, Beer etc

 Quote: Dennis Jones

agility and rally, you could ramp up the cute tricks and find it games are fun as well. I taught Erika to pick up items I drop, I've been working on teaching her items, ie Ball, Keys, Remote, Beer etc

Good idea Dennis! I got my guy to carry a light saber to the kids room today. He was pretty proud- def a good way to make em think! (and a nice rainy day activity)

I live in Ma. there are several Schutzhund, French Ring, and Mondio Clubs in the area of Boston and 30 minutes north. Have you ever considered flyball? I watched some Dock Dogs over the weekend, that looks fun for a dog that enjoys the water. How about SAR?

 Quote: dennis jones

agility and rally, you could ramp up the cute tricks and find it games are fun as well. I taught Erika to pick up items I drop, I've been working on teaching her items, ie Ball, Keys, Remote, Beer etc

lol, he's totally a "butler" in the house. "Ryuk go get my keys, Ryuk pick that up *point*, Ryuk soda....fetch" XD

I also taught him the most useful trick in the world..."find my wallet". I used essencial oils on a cloth in my wallet and he's trained to find and retrieve it when told (and occassionally when he's in a behavior offering mood -_-)

NICE!!!!!!

What about K9 Nosework? There are two "official" instructors in MA - Scott Williams and Gail McCarthy. It's a lot of fun and a great mental and physical workout for the dog.

If you can't find their contact info via google, let me know and I'll PM you their email addresses.

I always hesitate to steer somebody towards SAR if they are looking for a hobby for their dog. A person should commit to SAR first (by visiting local teams and researching what's involved to find out if it is right for them), and then get the right dog ("tool") for the job. Very few dogs purchased as pets happen to make the grade as SAR dogs. Not that it can't happen (my first SAR dog was initially purchased as a pet), but the likelihood is low. And, SAR is one very expensive volunteer endeavor. It is very equipment and time intensive.

 Quote: konnie hein

What about K9 Nosework? There are two "official" instructors in MA - Scott Williams and Gail McCarthy.

The nosework classes are fun and not expensive, no equipment to store.

I feel like we all had a recent conversation about how Ryuk would be am excellent disk dog. Why not that? Use playgrounds as agility obstacles.