| Dog agility is a sport where the trainer is given a set amount of time to direct a dog through an obstacle course. Agility made its debut at the Van Buren County Youth Fair in 2000. There are several obstacles common to agility: |
| In competition, the obstacles are arranged in various course sequences. The sequences are changed for each competition so the dog and trainer do not memorize the course. The rules are fairly simple; trainers may give an unlimited number of commands or signals to their dogs, but may not touch either the equipment or the dog. Dogs are faulted for taking down jump bars, failing to put one or more feet in the contact zone, taking obstacles out of sequence, and running past or stopping before the next obstacle. The dog with the lowest number of faults and the fastest time wins the class or height division. |
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The A-Frame is built by placing two boards together that join at the top, like a two-sided teepee. The dog must touch the contact points on the A-Frame as they climb up and over. |
| To begin training for the dog walk, boards should be layed flat on the ground, having the dogs walk over it. Once the dog is comfortable walking over the boards, begin raising them gradually. |  |
| The Collapsed Tunnel is fun. This is a tunnel that is open on one end, but laying on the ground on the other end. The collapsed end is made out of a parachute-type material that the dog puffs up as they go through. |  |
| The teeter totter is one of the hardest obstacles for dogs to overcome. They must walk up and over the teeter totter, making contact where necessary. The trick is to pause the dog as they come down the teeter totter. If the dog jumps off the teeter totter or doesn't make the contact points, this is called a "fly off". |
| The Pipe Tunnel is the tunnel that the dogs run through. There may be more than one pipe tunnel in any course. |  |
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The Pause Table is a square platform with a painted circle in the middle. The dog is required to climb onto the table and stay there for a certain time. The Judge may require the dog to sit or lay on the pause table. |
| When the dog uses the weave poles, it must weave from one pole to the next. There are no points taken away if the dog touches the poles, only if the dog misses weaving in between the poles. |  |
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The Hoop Jump is often called the Tire Jump. People who practice agility at home often hang a tire and practice. The dog must clear the tire, touching is OK. |
| There are several jumps involved in the obstacle course. They include jumps of different height and a long jump. Dogs normally start practicing with jumps when they first begin agility. |  |
| In the judges briefing, the judge informs you of the length of the course, the standard course time (time in which you must complete the course without incurring time faults), the maximum course time (the maximum time you are allowed to run the course before the time-keeper blows a whistle and asks you to leave the ring), possible hazards, and any unusual rules that may apply. |
| Afer the judges briefing, you have the opportunity to become familiar with the course layout by walking the course. Since agility trials are designed to test how well your dog responds to your commands, your dog is NOT allowed to become familiar with the course before it's run (some dogs have excellent memories - even better than their handlers). |
| Since you cannot take your dog with you when you walk the course, you must confine your dog to a crate or arrange to have a spectator hold him/her for you. |
| One of the important things you can do to ensure your success is to treat the walking of the agility course with the seriousness it deserves. Many novice exhibitors walk the course blindly, giving little or no thought to handling strategy. Besides memorizing the course, you should decide where you will position your dog and yourself at the start, how you are going to handle your dog to get the smoothest transitions from one obstacle to the next and how you are going to avoid traps. |
| Make sure that your dog is entered in the right jump height and inform show personnel if you have decided to enter, "For Exhibition Only". Ask what the jump height order will be. Then, if you haven't already done so, find a comfortable place to settle down with your dog. |
| Also find out if any exhibitors have failed to check in. Watch those who go before you. Watch which strategies work and which ones do not. Start walking your dog at least 5-10 minutes before you enter the ring - or sooner if your dog is a slow starter. |
| Make sure to relieve your dog before going into the ring. If your dog does fowl in the ring, clean it up! If you see a dog fowl in the ring and the offender's handler does not report it, say something to the ring steward. |
| If you enter the ring with the wrong equipment, you may be eliminated from the competition. Make sure that the steward has straightened the weave poles, collapsible tunnel, and any jump bars that may have been displaced. It is your responsibility to check these items before you run and inform the judge of anything that needs attention. |
| The timekeeper will start clocking you when the dog's nose crosses the start line. If the dog crosses the line before the timekeeper tells you she is ready, you will hear a whistle and the timekeeper will tell you to reposition your dog behind the line. If the dog crosses the line after the timekeeper tells you he's ready, the clock will start and you will not be allowed to restart even if you were not ready. Do NOT touch your dog or the agility equipment after it crosses the start line. |
| If your dog makes a mistake, take it in stride. We all have good and bad days. Remember you are an ambassador of a wonderful sport, so do your best to maintain its reputation of fun and good sportsmanship. Reprimanding your dog at the show site is unthinkable, not to mention forbidden. Besides, most mistakes are the handler's fault. No matter how you and your dog fare, you are a team, so remember to give your teammate a hug or some kind word as soon as you finish the run. |
