Performance
What Are Performance Sports?
Beagles were bred to work, and their instincts, intelligence, and determination make them well-suited to a variety of performance activities. Performance events give dogs and their handlers the opportunity to put those natural abilities to work, whether that means following a scent, navigating a course, or demonstrating skills rooted in a breed’s original purpose.
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AKC offers a wide range of performance sports, with some designed for specific breeds and others open to dogs of many breeds. Whether you’re looking to explore your Beagle’s natural talents or simply try something new together, there’s a performance activity for just about every team.
beagle field trials
Beagle Field Trials put the breed’s natural hunting instincts to the test. Working in small packs, Beagles follow the scent of a rabbit or hare while judges evaluate their ability to search, trail accurately, maintain a line, and work through changing conditions with persistence and determination.
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These events showcase the qualities that have made Beagles such capable rabbit hounds for generations—and offer a fun way to experience the breed doing what it was bred to do.
coursing and cat/fast cat®
Ready to see what your Beagle can do at full speed? Coursing and Fast CAT® give dogs the chance to chase a moving lure while testing their speed, focus, agility, and enthusiasm.
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Fast CAT® is a timed, straight-line sprint, while Coursing Ability Tests (CAT) involve navigating a longer course designed to mimic the twists and turns of pursuing prey. Both are open to all dogs and offer a fun way to let your Beagle stretch their legs and chase something they can’t resist!
farm dog
Think your Beagle has what it takes to work around a farm? The AKC Farm Dog Certified test gives dogs a chance to demonstrate the confidence, focus, and adaptability needed to navigate common farm environments and tasks.
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During the test, dogs encounter a variety of sights, sounds, surfaces, and situations they might experience on a working farm. They may be asked to walk through livestock areas, navigate obstacles, ignore distractions, and demonstrate basic control while working around animals and equipment.
scent work
Put your Beagle’s incredible nose to work! Scent Work is a fun, mentally engaging sport that taps into a dog’s natural ability to use scent to locate a target and communicate their find to their handler.
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Open to all dogs, Scent Work offers a rewarding way to build confidence, encourage problem-solving, and let your Beagle do what they do best—follow their nose!