You saw them on television these past two weeks: Olympic athletes. They jumped, ran and somersaulted their way to victory. Next to you, while you watched the Olympics, was your dog. He lay there next to you very bored, hoping you would soon take him out for a walk. Secretly your dog was wishing he could be like Nastia Liukin, able to jump and run with amazing speed and agility. Luckily for him, your dog can be just like an Olympic athlete — thanks to the rapidly growing sport called agility.

Agility is a sport for any dog and any dog owner. It is a team sport in which the handler (owner) directs their dog, off-leash, through an obstacle course in a race for both time and accuracy. Both the owner and dog must work together in order to complete the course.

Any dog can be trained for agility (including my three-legged dog Serena), but training takes time and hard work. There are many people who take training classes and who have no interest in competing. Agility, even if you never want to compete, helps to form a stronger bond between you and your dog. If you have a high-energy dog, then agility is definitely for you. Agility teaches your dog how to focus and harness his energy in a productive manner. You will have a better well-behaved dog if you take agility classes.

How Can I Start?

First, your dog must be healthy. You should check with your veterinarian before starting any new dog sport. Your dog should be a healthy weight. Overweight dogs will have a more difficult time because the extra weight will add more pressure to their joints when they jump and run. If your dog is overweight, talk to your veterinarian about how to help him lose weight.

Once your pet has been given a clean bill of health by your veterinarian, then you should find agility classes in your area. Most agility classes will require that your pet knows basic obedience prior to starting agility. If your dog doesn’t know basic obedience commands (sit, down, stay, come) then you should take a class. To find a trainer in your area please visit the Association of Pet Dog Trainers. For most dogs, it takes about one to two years of training before they are ready to compete. Never fear! During training you and your dog are developing a team bond by learning how to work together. Your dog stops becoming just your pet…he is now your teammate.

How Do I Compete?

There are roughly 11 different agility organizations in this country (about 21 worldwide), and each of them offers something a little different. They all offer agility, but they may have slightly different rules, offer different agility games, or offer varying degrees of competitiveness. They all stress the importance of having fun. Some only allow purebred dogs, while others allow any breed, including mixed. It’s important to check to see if your dog is allowed to compete with that particular organization. Speak to your agility instructor about which organization is best for you and your dog. Once you decide on what organization is best suited for you, you will need to register with that organization before you can compete. You can register in multiple organizations. A list of agility organizations and their websites can be found at Cleanrun.com.

What Can I Expect During Competition?

All organizations and clubs provide a fun and friendly atmosphere. Everyone, at some point, was a beginner, and they are willing to help you. Most trials generally start very early in the morning, around 8am, and they last all day until about 5-6pm. You will want to bring plenty of food and water for both you and your dog. Be sure to bring chairs and your own shade if it’s outdoors (like a tent or umbrella). Most trials provide a running order for the day that lists the order the dogs will compete in. It’s up to you to make sure you don’t miss your run. When it’s your turn, you position your dog, remove all leashes and collars, and you’re off! Then it’s up to you and your dog to work as a team to complete the course. I can tell you that both the dog and owner can make mistakes. On more than one occasion I have been the cause of my dog making a mistake in the ring! The biggest thing to remember is to have fun!

For More Information On Agility:

www.cleanrun.com

www.petplace.com (search keyword: agility)

www.dogpatch.org/agility

www.wikepedia.org (search keyword: dog agility)

For More Information on Overweight Dogs:

www.petobesityprevention.com

vetmedicine.about.com (search keyword: obesity)

www.peteducation.com (search keyword: obesity)

www.petplace.com (search keyword: obesity)

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, August 26th, 2008 at 8:15 am and is filed under Amy Breton, Dog Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.