For most of my life with show dogs, the Conformation ring was my home base. I knew its rhythm, its expectations, its silent choreography. I believed I understood what it meant to partner with a dog, until one day, my Miniature Bull Terrier, Nora, showed me there was so much more we could do together.
That dog is now MBISS MOHBIS GCHS Old Forge Love & Light At Legacy CGCA CGCU ATT TKN NW2 L1E L1V RI BCAT, and she’s taken me on a journey I never could have imagined when I was stacking her ringside and aiming for her Grand. What began as a lark, going after a Trick Dog title and a curious step into the world of Nose Work, has blossomed into a full-blown dive into Performance, and I’ve never felt more connected to her, or more enriched as a dog person.
Nora came home at 10 weeks, and someone suggested getting a Trick Dog title. Sounded good to me, but I truly had no idea what or how. Turned out I could do it from my own home via video. I downloaded the suggested tricks and we got started. We began with easy things, like turn in a circle and follow a hand signal (we chose Sit). Then I ordered a hoop and a tunnel from Amazon, videotaping all the while. We sent the video to an approved evaluator… and TA-DA! Nora’s first title was TKN (Novice Trick Dog) by the time she was four months old.
Our first experience with Nose Work was casual, more of an experiment than a commitment. During COVID, the Bull Terrier Club of America was offering a six-week seminar on Nose Work. It would take the form of a two-hour webinar every Sunday, and then in between classes, we had homework that we videotaped and sent to the teacher for feedback.
I thought it might be a fun diversion, maybe even good enrichment. But I was not prepared for what it would unlock in both of us.
From the moment Nora identified her first odor hide, I saw something shift. This wasn’t about physical polish or ring presence. It was about independence, problem-solving, thinking. And she was good at it—and having a ton of fun. And so was I. Imagine suspending an almost transparent dried minnow on a clear filament line from the ceiling and your Mini Bull barreling into the room to locate the suspended hide, finding it, and then attempted to eat it. It looked like a bull playing tether ball with their nose, and we were dissolving into laughter.
Post-COVID, successes led us to formal titles within the NACSW (National Association of Canine Scent Work) framework: ORT (Odor Recognition Test; a pre-requisite to start trialing), NW1 (Nose Work Level 1), NW2 (Nose Work Level 2), L1E (Level 1 Exterior), and L1V (Level 1 Vehicles). She took to it like she’d been waiting her whole life for me to ask her to use her nose. And I quickly realized how much I needed to learn to support her. I became the student, and she the guide. Boy, was that a flip-flop from Conformation!
As we continued training and trialing, it became obvious that Nora was a dog who thrived on learning new things. She wasn’t just smart and sweet, she was capable, and I wanted to give her outlets to shine. That’s when I started thinking about the Canine Good Citizen (CGC) program.
She earned her CGC, and then her CGCA (Advanced) and CGCU (Urban), with ease. In public settings, she was rock-solid: focused, friendly, and totally at ease navigating through crowds, distractions, and noise. Testing her in real-life scenarios just made sense. Her ATT (Temperament Test) was another feather in her cap, proving that beauty and brains really can go hand-in-paw.
As you can see by Nora’s prefixes, in and amongst all of these experiences with Performance, we were exhibiting in the Breed ring. Owner-Handled Bests in Show added up, as did a huge win within our breed with the Van Hildrikhusen Trophy. Eventually, she added a Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show win.
I’d been aware of Versatility awards for decades and they always seemed incredible in the sense that they seemed to be beyond reach.
I looked up the Versatility requirements for our parent club, the Miniature Bull Terrier Club of America (MBTCA). The Hildie Versatility Award is the first level, and I was somewhat shocked to see that Nora needed just one more item; we needed an off-lead Obedience title, which could be accomplished through Obedience, Agility, or Rally. All three of these Performance sports intimidated me, but I chose Rally because I thought it might be something we could attempt.
I didn’t originally set out with the Versatility Award in mind, but as the titles added up, I started seeing the bigger picture. Nora was checking every box. This wasn’t just a show dog—this was a whole dog. One whose legacy could stretch across multiple disciplines, telling the full story of what a well-bred, well-trained dog can truly be.
And so, the next chapter was Rally. I worried it might be too technical, too rigid, or just too different from anything we’d done before. We went to class, which consisted of asking Nora to do some very basic things like sit, heel, and the like, and most importantly, she got lots of treats. She did well. Phew! I could feel our bond continuing to deepen.
She earned her RN (Rally Novice) and then RI (Rally Intermediate), quite quickly. Every pivot, every sit, every front was a new chance to say, “We’ve got this. Together.”
Then, not long ago, post-whelp at age four and a half, we gave Fast CAT a try.
Now, she isn’t what most people would call a natural sprinter—but don’t tell her that. The moment she saw the lure, her eyes lit up. She took off with enthusiasm I hadn’t seen before: ears back, tail high, heart full. She earned her BCAT (Beginner Coursing Ability Test) quickly over three weekends, and I was reminded once again that joy is often hiding right outside your comfort zone.
After we saw how excited Fast CAT was for Nora, we decided to get wet. No titles yet, but Nora is enjoying splashing and swimming, dabbling with Dock Diving.
Titles aside, the transformation in our relationship has been the most profound. I know what every flick of her ear means now. I can read her eyes mid-search. She trusts me, and I trust her. That’s the magic you find in Performance; you see your dog differently, and they see you differently too.
While many AKC Performance Sports welcome all breeds, some are specifically designed to showcase the natural abilities or instincts of certain groups. Herding and Farm Dog events, for example, highlight the skills of breeds traditionally used to manage livestock. Earthdog Trials are tailored for small terriers and Dachshunds with a background in hunting vermin underground. Pointing Breed Field Trials and Retriever Field Trials focus on breeds with strong hunting and retrieving instincts. Lure Coursing is designed for sighthounds, allowing them to demonstrate their natural speed, agility, and keen chase drive in a safe, controlled environment.
Find the right one for you and your dog!
If you’re someone who lives in the world of Breed Standards and Best in Show dreams, I get you. That world shaped me. But I promise, stepping into Performance won’t take anything away from what you already love; it only adds to it.
It adds connection. It adds confidence. It adds layers to your understanding of the dog you already admire.
Your Champion might surprise you. She might lead you across a Rally course or through a Nose Work Trial, or fly down a Fast CAT lane. And you might discover, like I did, that the best moments don’t always happen in the ring. Sometimes they happen when it’s just you, your dog, and the quiet thrill of doing something new together.
Here’s an at-a-glance intro to get you started in Performance! You can find local classes to learn new skills, or many can be practiced on your own. Some can even be accomplished from home:
I would love to hear from Breed exhibitors who dipped a paw into Performance. You’re hooked now, right?
