~ What is Agility ? ~
The by-word of Agility is FUN! It is fun for dog, handler, and spectator. During the 1980's in England agility sprouted as entertainment during big horse shows, soccer, and rugby competitions. It grew rapidly gaining popularity and ultimately sanctioning as a competition event in several organizations including AKC, UKC, CKC, USDAA, ASCA, and NADAC.
The Agility ring allows handler and dog to run full speed, while having to perform accurately and safely on A-Frames, Dog Walks, See-Saws and a wide variety of jumps and tunnels. Training Agility builds rapport and relationship between dog and handler. It is also the very best way to build a dog's confidence in its own physical and mental awareness.
Agility is a constant balancing act between speed and accuracy. When a dog is one year old it is eligible for competition in agility. NADAC and UKC allows dogs of unknown and/or mixed heritage to compete. Lower jump heights and longer course times have made it possible for older dogs to compete and win titles. Training of young dogs must be approached with care for their joints and rapidly growing bodies and immature judgment. However, young dogs introduced to agility seem to flourish in other ways. Adult dogs learn agility fast and with great enthusiasm but often need coaxing to attempt new behaviors. Always praise, enthusiasm, and patience from the trainer is most effective. The value of basic obedience for any dog doing agility should never be underestimated. No aggressive dog behavior is tolerated. Dogs should have a reliable recall, quick reaction to Sit, Down, and a reliable Stay. It is also helpful if the dog walks politely on a leash, remains well-behaved and quiet in a crate (since handlers are often required to assist during trials), and are otherwise well-socialized.
In Agility dogs compete at their jump height in a variety of classes. The dog is measured at the height of it's withers (shoulders). Each sanctioning body has slightly different requirements for competition. The dog and handler navigate a course designed by the judge as quickly and accurately as possible. Course time is determined by distance and level of the class entered. For example, Novice level course times are a bit slower than Open level course times. Points are deducted for knocked jump bars, handler errors, dog going off-course, etc. Any dog making the course time with the minimum required points qualifies for a toward it's title and acquires points in various schemes toward more titles and rankings.
During competition, handlers are not allowed to touch their dogs but they may cheer, encourage, cue with their voices and bodies, and travel anywhere on the course as long as they do not touch the equipment. The handler and dog is allowed more freedom in novice classes than in more advanced classes. Each competition begins with a "walk-through" for handlers to familiarize themselves with the course and devise their own handling procedure for that course. As with any dog competition, handlers acquire a new vocabulary. In agility you will hear of front-crosses, back-crosses, lead-outs, donuts, and contacts.
People competing in agility are generally friendly and supportive as it takes many volunteers to put on a trial. You may surprised w
hen you attend your first agility trial as a spectator to discover yourself repairing the course, running the leash from the start to finish line (leash runner), or even being a scribe. Volunteering to help at an agility trial is one of the best introductions to the sport - a highly recommended activity for anyone contemplating competition.
Some competitions offer "games" where the course consists of all tunnels and weave poles, or a section called "the gamble", or 60 weave poles. Dogs who are not confident on contact equipment (teeter totters, A-frame, dog walk) might compete in jumpers class where they execute jumps and weave poles.
All dogs begin in the Novice class and may move to Open as soon as they have acquired the required amount of qualifying scores and the Novice title in each class. A dog may be running in Elite Jumpers but still Open Standard for example. In AKC there is the supreme title of Master Agility Champion (MACH). In which a dog has to earn 750 points by running faster than the Standard Course Time and must also earn 20 Double Qualifying scores (better known as Double-'s)Q.
There is an abundant amount of information about agility on the internet. I will include a few links here for beginners. Our MACH Links page is also an excellent resource for reading material, training resources, and equipment.
~ L. M. Tatro, December 2002
Copyright Talyn Australian Cattle Dogs 2002
09/20/2003 11:10 PM - last update
