Have you heard fellow dog owners or trainers talk about the sport of Mondio Ring, but you aren’t sure what exactly it entails? Do you have questions about how to get involved in this challenging dog sport? If you’re looking for more information on Mondio Ring, you have arrived at the right place.
First things first – here at K9 Evolutions Dog Training, we are extremely passionate about Ring Sport Training! Mondio Ring is perhaps the ultimate test of control and discipline that you and your dog will encounter, and regular practice is of paramount importance. Dogs are put through their paces in a variety of exercises, mixing obedience, protection and agility. Mondio Ring isn’t for the faint-hearted – but dedication, preparation and training can pay off with the rewards of seeing your dog excel in a number of challenges.
In this article, we are going to explore the sport of Mondio Ring, and I’ll be giving my first-hand perspective on the enjoyment I derive from participating in this sport. I’ll also explain what you need to do if you want to get started yourself.
What is Mondio Ring?
Mondio Ring is a relatively new competition dog sport. It was developed in the late 1980s in an attempt to bring together the best aspects of the major protection dog sports – Schutzhund, French Ring, Belgian Ring and KNPV – and combine them into an event that dogs anywhere could compete in. The first Mondio Ring trial in the United States was held in 2000.
According to the rules of Mondio Ring as published by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale, the aims of the sport are as follows:
“Its goal is to be entertaining for the spectators, a game of progressive difficulties for the participants, and a competitive sport for the training enthusiasts.”
Mondio RIng consists of three disciplines – obedience, jumping and biting. Dogs compete without any collars or equipment, and the use of food or toys to reward the dog is not permitted. As such, this creates a strong test of a dog’s obedience and willingness to perform commands and cues for their handler.
Which types of dogs excel at Mondio Ring?
Before we talk about specific breeds that are strong performers in Mondio Ring, we should firstly define something that is more important than the breed alone – the temperament and trainability of your dog.
Mondio Ring is all about control and discipline. If your dog cannot perform their basic obedience commands impeccably, then Mondio Ring is going to be an uphill struggle. Your dog cannot only respond to you with some of the commands, some of the time; they have to respond to all of your commands, all of the time.
With that said, there are naturally some breeds who are commonly spotted excelling at Mondio Ring events. These are many of the European breeds who have been participating in ring sports for as long as they’ve been around – the likes of the Belgian Malinois, Dutch Shepherd and German Shepherd. While these dogs may have dominated the sport, it doesn’t mean that you must own one of these breeds to take part. As we said, temperament and behavior is the most important thing to bear in mind.
My inspiration to get into Mondio RIng
For me, I would say that Michael Ellis was definitely the catalyst in getting me into Mondio Ring. In fact, this nine minute video is a great introduction for anyone looking to get involved in the sport.
I became interested in why Mondio Ring was being argued as the hardest dog sport in the world, and I found it fascinating when researching the sport. I really liked that it had so many areas that you have to individually focus on and spend time training with the dog. For example, you have to spend weeks and weeks just getting your dog to understand the module of scent discrimination and/or food refusal.
You definitely need to have a love and respect for dog training to stick with it. It is not easy. I am so glad that I went with a friend who invited me to check out the sport in person, and from that point on, I have loved the sport. I train for Mondio Ring on a regular basis.
The enjoyment of Mondio Ring
If I had to sum up why I really enjoy Mondio Ring, I would say that I love the sport because it really challenges me as a dog trainer to constantly up my game. When your dog goes onto the field at a Mondio Ring trial, they go in with no training tools – not even a flat collar. You can’t even tell your dog “no” if they are doing something they are not supposed to. You have no choice but put in the sweat and hard work to get your dog ready.
Unlike a lot of dog sports – or even ring sports in general – think it’s one of the hardest dog sports out there because it is particularly difficult to train for a trial. What differentiates Mondio Ring from other ring sports is you can’t replicate what the field will look like while training, because it’s different every time – so achieving “generalization” confidently is almost impossible. Both dog and handler only get to see the field the day of the trial very briefly.
Another reason I love it is because it’s funky, in that there are different themes. For example, one trial I went to had a ‘Monopoly’ theme – so the field was made to look like a Monopoly board game. There have been other themes like an ‘Alien’ theme. This makes it really fun and keeps every event feeling unique.
What to do if you want to get into Mondio Ring
If you’re interested in getting into Mondio RIng, I would firstly advise you to make sure your dog has rock solid obedience. Not just ‘good’ or ‘okay’ obedience. It needs to be foolproof. You can work with a professional trainer to build those fundamentals, but it is vital to have those in place before you progress into Mondio Ring.
Once you’re ready, I would find a trainer who specializes and has knowledge of the nuances of Mondio Ring. Ask for their experience and find out if they are a member of a Mondio club themselves. That trainer can help you get started on the approximations for the various sequences in the sport.
Another great way to get involved is to find your nearest Mondio Ring club and see if you can watch as a spectator. This will help to familarize you with the nuances of the sport. When you find that club, you can also see if they need volunteers or helpers, and speak to the founders about how to bring your dog into the process. It is really important to remember that when you join a Mondio club, it isn’t just about you and your dog – you are joining a team and a group of like-minded people, and it is really important to approach it with that mentality.
If you’re interested in getting involved in Mondio Ring, or you have any questions, I’d love to help provide you with the information you need! Feel free to reach out to me at info@k9evolutionsdogtraining.com or call me on (612) 227-7019, and I’ll be more than happy to speak with you.
