Teach your dog to find hidden food and scent. Great for all dogs, including reactive and timid dogs. It has a calming effect on dogs because they have to focus to find the scent. Dogs find scent detection work extremely rewarding as it gives them a natural way to engage their instinct to use their nose to find things. Adamstown Public School on weekends. https://dogaholicsdogtraining.com.au/ 

East Maitland area on Tuesday and Wednesday nights. Classes run for approximately 2 hours over 4 weeks. K9 Nosey Parkers, https://www.facebook.com/K9NoseyParkers/. 

Megan, 0407 917 494, megbowe@bigpond.com 

Learning tricks is a very good way to give your dog some mental challenge. It's also a fun bonding experience for you and your dog. You will be so proud of him or her. East Maitland area. K9 School of Arts, https://www.facebook.com/K9-School-of-Arts-1987310971506308/. Megan, 0407 917 494, megbowe@bigpond.com 

Rally Obedience (also known as Rally-O) is a relatively new, fun dog-sport based on traditional dog Obedience but carried out in a more informal and relaxed style. A course is set up with a series of 10 to 20 signs. The handler leads the dog to each sign and performs the skill written on the sign. Workshops conducted occasionally by Sharon Carol, 0412 826 725, 

info@avantidog.com, www.avantidogtraining.com.au

Competitions held regularly at your local dog club.

Tracking is a sport where your dog learns to follow the scent of one person, ignoring other scents, across different terrain. More information by contacting Margaret Keast, http://www.jigsawdogsnsw.com.au

Dogs are guided along an obstacle course by their owner/handler while aiming to complete the course as quickly as possible while avoiding faults. Obstacles include hurdles, tunnels, tyre jumps, contact area equipment (dog walk, a-frame and seesaw) and weave poles. Dogs must be at least 1 year old. 8 week Beginner Agility modules are run on Monday nights periodically throughout the year. Please email agilityhillsborough@gmail.com  for further information. Newcastle All Breeds Training Club in Hillsborough.