Yikes on bikes, I thought. I’m gonna go shoot aggressive dogs tearing apart some guy in a padded suit.
I was approached last spring to photograph the 2024 French Ring Sport trials, hosted by the Inland Empire Working Dog Club last weekend. I could also attend the spring seminar to learn how to shoot the event.
I looked it up ion YouTube and cringed. The sight of a dog clamping down in full bite mode had me wondering what I was getting into.
Seeing dogs in full, intense bite-work mode made me a bit squeamish. It felt extreme.
But I like to be open-minded about some things.
Once I settled in to the spring seminar for French Ring sport, held at Country Canine in Rathdrum, I found myself enjoying the action.
A little about French Ring
French Ring Sport is a highly structured and challenging dog sport that combines obedience, agility and bite work. Each trial is a series of exercises designed to test a dog’s physical skills, mental sharpness and the incredible bond they share with their handler.
Of course the jump events — palisade, broad jump and hurdle — are my favorites.
The Palisade
The broad jump
The hurdle
Bite work, which often looks the most intense, is actually a carefully controlled exercise, not just aggression for its own sake. It channels certain dogs’ natural drives in a constructive way, putting their instincts to work in an environment that emphasizes both control and safety.
My initial reaction was pure unease. But as I began to understand the purpose behind the training and the discipline involved, my view shifted. Bite work, I discovered, isn’t about “teaching” aggression; it’s about showcasing a dog’s inherent traits, skills and their connection to their handler.
Breeds at work
For many working breeds, protection is instinctual, and French Ring Sport gives them an outlet to express that in a safe, structured environment.
In French Ring Sport, you’ll typically see breeds like Belgian Malinois, Dutch shepherds and German shepherds. These breeds — which you also see working in police K9 units — are often chosen for their intelligence, drive and natural protection instincts.
Watching these dogs respond to commands with such precision showed me just how deep their training runs, and how remarkable their bond with their handlers really is.
Must speak French
My rudimentary French — thanks to growing up in the Canadian education system — came in handy and it was easy to understand the commands I heard.
Sidebar: Bella knows most of these commands. When we named her in 2014, we wanted an Italian word that described her perfect beauty. “Bella” is of course “beautiful” in Italian. Little did we know it was at the time the most popular name for girl dogs in the United States, thanks to some movie called Twilight. I had to teach her various commands in French so she would listen to me, rather than all the randos yelling at their Bellas.
Assis (sit)
Debut (stand)
Couche (down)
Keeping fingers crossed
Now, I find myself looking forward to the 2025 trials, hoping I get asked back for another round of shooting so I can marvel at the skill and dedication both the dogs and handlers put in. French Ring Sport has gone from something I shied away from to something I can appreciate for its artistry and discipline, a place where a dog’s instinct and drive find their fullest expression.
