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Ace is the first dog I have trained to do agility. He is still learning, but he and I enjoy practicing every week. I recommend you sign your dog up for an agility class. Even if you have no intention of competing, it is still a lot of fun. In dog agility, the dogs run through an obstacle course as fast as they can without missing any of the contact points. (Photo by Dave James, www.bbc.co.uk)
It is worth a try, here’s why:
1. All breeds can compete.
The AKC allows all breeds to compete in its agility trials. Other groups such as NADAC allow mixed-breed dogs to compete as well. No matter how large or small a dog is, it can compete in agility. The obstacles are adjusted according to the height of the dog, and dogs compete against others close to their size.
2. No experience is needed.
I had no experience with agility last fall when Ace and I signed up for our first class. But we were welcomed to the club by the more experienced teams. There are people in our class who have been doing dog agility for years and others like me who just started. Don’t be afraid to give it a try. I started by watching a class, and I brought Ace the following week. He loves climbing on playground equipment, so I knew he would enjoy agility.
3. Dogs love it!
My mutt is not the most graceful. He knocks over the jumps, misses weave poles and is hesitant on the teeter. But he has a smile while doing it! He is one of the fastest dogs in our class and loves to race through a course at top speed. All the other dogs are just as happy to be there.
4. You can be as competitive as you want.
Ace and I have never competed in a formal agility competition. But when we are ready, there are competitions within driving distance at least once a month. Even though we haven’t competed in front of a judge, I am always competing against the others in my class. I’m sure others do the same, secretly trying to have the quickest and most accurate dog.
5. It’s great exercise.
Ace is always huffing and puffing after he finishes a course. When we get home, he goes to sleep because he is mentally and physically tired.
6. It will challenge you and your dog.
Agility requires me to think about the best way to maneuver through the course with my dog. Ace also has to focus as I call out obstacles for him. Agility helps me train Ace in general because it requires me to get creative at times. For example, I sometimes use a tennis ball to encourage him to walk across the teeter.
7. It’s another way to bond with your dog.
Whenever I work with Ace or spend time with him, my appreciation for dogs grows. It is rewarding to have Ace follow my (attempted) leadership through an obstacle course. Plus, he gets to spend a whole hour with me. What could be better than that?
8. Most areas offer agility classes.
Hopefully you can find an agility club or class near you. Many agility classes are taught where obedience is also taught. If you can’t find a club or class near you, you could even start practicing with your own equipment in your backyard. The jumps are easy to build on your own. My boyfriend even got creative and built Ace his own weave poles.
9. It’s entertaining.
I love watching other people’s dogs run the course, especially the little dogs. It’s also funny when a person screws up and doesn’t direct her dog correctly, or when a dog decides to choose his own way through the course. It’s only funny because I know my own dog does the same thing.
10. You can learn about other breeds and hang out with other dog nuts.
Everybody else in the class will be just as obsessed with their dog as you are with yours, or worse. It’s a great time to just talk about dogs or learn about other breeds you are interested in.
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April 9th, 2008 at 9:00 am
I taught one of my German Shepherds agility and it was great fun for me and her. She was on the local news at one time and I was most proud. Before agility, I spent lots of time taking her to playgrounds and she got used to things such as walking up the ladder to the slide and then going down. She then picked up agility easily.
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April 9th, 2008 at 11:32 am
How fun! I am really going to think about doing this with Trooper. He definitely needs challenging stuff to keep his mind and body occupied.
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April 9th, 2008 at 6:36 pm
My two year old Tibetan terrier would love this.
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April 10th, 2008 at 12:07 pm
I am so delighted that you find agility as much fun as i do… I run my son’s little Jack Russel X, we have been working together for just over a year, and tried our first trial about a month ago… we screwed up royaly, i was so nervous, and she picked up on it, second trial we did much better, “Q” in the starters Gamble the very first run..then i hurt my knee, and had to scratch her from the last run, but we really have a ball, i also run a VERY SLOW border collie, a rescue dog i got last June, and she has issues, doesn’t like to be told what to do, she will please me for about a half an hour, and then figures that is enough… good luck… Sheila
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April 11th, 2008 at 4:49 am
I had visions of doing this with Chels and I have seen a Dane on the net with his own Agility site (Morgan) but my trainer doesnt reccomend it due to the strain on her joints from her size… so we are going to stick to obedience..
I think agility is brilliant … so many behavourial problems come from dogs being bored and this must surely counter that
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May 21st, 2008 at 1:44 am
my black mutt loves agility too…
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June 2nd, 2008 at 9:36 pm
Thanks for this post regarding dog agility! I will be saving this page to my favorites for sure.