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> Sports > Agility > What is Dog Agility?What is Dog Agility? |  | | | "Kipr" (photo by Jeffrey Alseth) |
WHAT IS DOG AGILITY? In brief, it's a sport in which a dog runs through a timed obstacle course as commanded by the handler. Agility training strengthens the bond between dog and handler, and provides fun and exercise for both.
It is also very popular among spectators. Agility is fast and it is usually entertaining, even when things don't go as planned for the handler.
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History of dog agility
Obstacles
The Judge
Faults
What are those people doing out there?
Sanctioning organizations
History of dog agility
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DOG AGILITY began in England with a demonstration at Crufts in 1978. It was based largely on horse show jumping and was a huge hit with the spectators!
In 1986 Kenneth Tatsch founded the United States Dog Agility Association (USDAA) and introduced the sport to the U.S. This was followed in 1987 by Charles "Bud" Kramer and his National Dog Club for Agility (NCDA).
The North American Dog Agility Council (NADAC) was formed in 1993 by Sharon Nelson. In 1994 AKC added agility to its line-up of competitive dog events and in 1995 Bud Kramer's NCDA was transferred to the United Kennel Club (UKC) where it continues today.
While there have been several other sanctioning bodies out there over the years - some still around, some not - one of the newer clubs with a strong following is Canine Performance Events (CPE). Linda Eickholdt started CPE in 1998.
Why all these different organizations? Some allow only certain purebreds, while others all dogs, including mixes. Each have somewhat different equipment and performance standards. Some emphasize speed, others more technical courses. Some have lower jumping heights to allow a larger variety of breeds while others have more stringent physical demands.
What this means for you, the Podengo owner, is that there is undoubtedly at least one club in your area offering classes and trials in which you can learn and compete. Find a good, positive-method training class in your area. Attend some local club trials as a spectator. Go out and have fun with your dog!
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Obstacles
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On the agility course, you will see a variety of OBSTACLES:
Jumps - Most of the jumps are single bar jumps, some with colorful and decorative wings holding up the bars, double-bar spread hurdle(s), and the tire jump. Each type of jump is set at the proper height for each class, determined by the height of the dog at the withers (shoulders). Dogs must clear the full height of the jump without knocking a bar off.
Tunnels - There are two types of tunnels, open tunnels which are long open tubes; and "chutes", which are open at one end and have a collapsed fabric tube at the other. The dog must push its way through the fabric to exit the chute.
Contact Obstacles - The contact obstacles, so called because of the yellow "contact zones" at each end, consist of the A-frame, the dogwalk, and the see-saw. To perform these obstacles correctly, the dog must get at least one toe in each contact zone when they ascend and descend the obstacle. The contact zone rule is for safety considerations. Some organizations do not count the ascending contact on all obstacles. The length of the contact zone varies from one sanctioning body to another.
Weave Poles - The dog must enter to the right of the first pole and zig-zag through to the end. They must not miss a pole.
Pause Table - The dog must jump on the table and assume a down, or sometimes a sit, depending on sanctioning body, position for a count of five seconds.
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The Judge
THE JUDGE: Not only does the judge design the pattern and supervise the set-up of the courses, but also must referee the dog and handler's performance and indicate faults or mistakes. Watch for his or her hand signals to indicate mistakes.
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Faults
FAULTS: Faults occur if the handler touches the dog or an obstacle while on course, the dog runs the wrong course, runs by the correct obstacle, misses a contact zone, misses a weave pole, displaces a jump bar, jumps on and off the table before the end of the count, or exceeds the amount of time set by the judge for running the course.
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What are those people doing out there?
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JUDGE'S BRIEFING: When the course has been set up, the handlers gather together for a "judge's briefing" where the judge summarizes how the class is judged.
WALK THROUGH: Then the handlers may "walk the course". They do this as a group, without their dogs, following the numbers to become familiar with how the course goes. Most handlers try to walk the course as many times as they can in the time allotted to plan their strategy. You may see handlers during a course walk actually running the course with an imaginary dog, giving the commands as they would during their competing round.
THE RUNS: The dogs run the course individually, off leash. Depending on the sanctioning body, the dog may be allowed to run with a collar on. The "timer" will tell the handler when he or she may begin, starting the stopwatch as soon as the dog crosses the start line and stopping it when the dog crosses the finish. Many clubs now have electronic timers with an "eye" that the dog crosses to start and stop the time.
As each dog runs, the judge indicates the faults or call out the points, which are noted on a sheet of paper by an official called a "scribe." At the completion of the round, the timer tells the scribe what the dog's time was. The information is then conveyed to the "scorekeeper," who calculates the qualifying performances and top placements.
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Sanctioning organizations
For detailed information on the various sanctioning organizations visit their web sites by clicking on them below.
AKC
CPE
NADAC
UKC
USDAA
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