Everything you should know about agility

Agility is a competitive sport for dogs of different breeds. Its origins have roots in 1970s. This sport was first introduced by the British and soon became a well-known activity for animals in other countries. In terms of the competitions owners try to direct their pets and then their dogs overcome various obstacles. It is important to move accurately at high speed and avoid making mistakes. Here is an ultimate beginner’s guide to agility.

Who can compete?

Actually, agility is a type of sport in which any dog can compete. The only thing that matters is the willingness of the dog to obey the owner and successfully overcome various obstacles. Only pregnant dog cannot compete. As for the rest of the animals, it is advisable that the training begins when the dog is 1 year old, otherwise there is a high risk of injuries.

Although there are no restrictions concerning the breeds of dogs that can compete in agility, some of them traditionally show better results than others. These dogs belong to herding breeds that have spent hundreds of years working side by side with people as a team.

Since dogs of various breeds take part in agility competitions, there are three types of obstacles in accordance with their height.

• S (small) obstacles are for the dogs with the height less than 35 centimeters.
• If the dog’s height is 35-43 centimeters, the obstacles are M (medium).
• For the rest of the dogs L (large) obstacles are used.

Contact barriers

There are no strict rules concerning the amount of obstacles and barriers. Yet, all of them are usually divided into three types. The first one includes contact barriers. They are made of various ramps and planks. The dog must ascend or descend them. What are they?

• The tunnel might be hard or soft. Hard tunnels are made of thick poles that are 60 centimeters in diameters. Their length is not less than 3 meters and not more than 6 meters. As for soft tunnels, they lie on the ground and the dog must ‘open’ the exit.
• The a-frame consists of two planks that touch each other in the middle. As a result, they resemble the letter ‘A’. They might reach up to 2 meters in height.
• The dog walk comprises three planks, one of them is ascending, the next one is flat and the last one is descending.
• The crossover consists of four separate ramps. Each of them is ascending. In the middle there is a platform. The dog must ascend and descend the ramps in accordance with the course plan.
• The teeter-totter, also referred to as a ‘seesaw’, is a long plank that is fixed in the middle. While the dog is walking, it moves and the ascent becomes a descent.

Jumping obstacles

Jumps are an inevitable part of any agility competition. What obstacles are included in this group?

• The hurdle is a horizontal bar supported by two uprights. The height of them varies in accordance with the breed of the competing dog.
• The spread jump is a combination of two or three horizontal bars supported by two uprights. If there are only two horizontal bars, they might be parallel or ascending. In case there are three bars, they are always ascending.
• The panel jump is a panel that stretches from the ground to the jump height.
• The broad jump comprises several platforms. The dog must jump over them and avoid touching them with its feet.
• The tire jump is a circle that is suspended in a frame. Its diameter is adjusted to the size of the dog.

Miscellaneous obstacles

There are several additional obstacles. They might either help to improve the score or completely worsen them. Neither owners nor dogs know what obstacles will be included in this group in terms of the competition, which is why they are perfect to find out whether the dog and its owner is ready for unexpected barriers or not. There are several types of obstacles that are commonly used in agility.

• The pause table is a square platform. The dog must jump on it and then pause for a while in a sitting or down position. Usually the judge counts down about 5 seconds during which the dog must stay on the platform.
• The pause box is quite similar to the obstacle described previously. The only difference is that the square is marked on the ground.
• The slalom, often referred to as the weave poles, is a set of several upright poles. This obstacle is considered to be the most difficult barrier for many dogs.

Types of competitions

Usually competitions are divided into several types in accordance with the type of barriers and obstacles used there. Thus, there are five main types of agility competitions:

• There are 15 obstacles or more, each of them is marked with some colour.
• In this competition, barriers aimed at jumping prevail over other obstacles.
• This is a game that consists of three stages: the beginning, the main part, the ending. This is the most stunning type of agility.
• This game follows the same principles as a self-titled billiard game.
• Relay race. Each team consists of two or more pairs of competitors.

Agility rules

There are several rules that must be taken into account in terms of agility competitions.

• There is only one try to cover the distance that counts.
• Before the beginning of the competition, it is possible to cover the distance one time in order to get acquainted with the obstacles and barriers.
• Organizers must supply participants with maps of the track beforehand.
• Owners must direct their dogs with the help of their voice or gesture. Using whistles, toys, snacks is forbidden.
• Both accuracy and speed of covering the distance count: it is not a good idea to cover it too fast with mistakes, as well as avoid making mistakes and spend too much time.

Training

As it has been mentioned previously, it is better to start training after the dog turns 1 year old to prevent it from being injured. Training should start with some basic commands, such as “Sit”, “Stay”, “Down”, “Here”, “Together”. Not only will it help to make sure that the dog will obey you in daily life, but also you will build a stronger relationship with the animal and you will begin to understand each other faster. After that it is possible to start training.

The way you will organize the training process is totally up to you. You might either buy necessary equipment and train without anyone’s help or opt for classes in a special school. The second option is preferable because it will help the dog to get used to obeying its owner no matter how many strangers are around. Remember: although agility is a sport, it is still a way of entertainment for the dog, which means that it is necessary make the training process as funny for the dog as possible.

That’s it! As you can see, agility is a funny activity for dogs that makes them happy!