There are many sports activities in the world that involve dogs, such as sled dog racing, sheepdog herding and Frisbee dog competitions. One of the most popular dog sports is dog agility, which has been around since the late 1970s. The first dog agility demonstrations were showcased in England at a Crufts dog show. Today, there are hundreds of dog agility events around the world and even special organizations dedicated to sanctioning dog agility competitions. Here are some more facts about the world of dog agility.
As with many dog sports, the dog works with a handler during the event. The handler is allowed to use certain signals and commands in order to direct the animal through the course. Toys or treats or other incentives are not allowed and every organization has other restrictions and animals are expected to complete the course before a set amount of time has passed.
Different breeds of dogs can compete against one another in dog agility competitions and typically the contests are divided not by breed but by height. For example, the United States Dog Agility Association, which is the world's largest dog agility organization, has four height classes. In addition, dogs typically are at least 14-18 months old before they are allowed to compete in a USDAA sanctioned event. Other organizations have other requirements, but typically training is not recommended for animals under a year in age as their bodies are still developing and training could cause injuries. Once you reach 18 months, the dog is fully mature and has reached its full height.
Each competition is a bit different and includes a mix of interesting obstacles. In USDAA competitions, there are 14 to 20 obstacles depending on your competition class. The novice dogs and older dogs have 14-16 obstacles, while the advanced and master class dogs must navigate 17-20 obstacles. Of course, each of these obstacles has a set height, width and length, so that when practicing on your own equipment you can practice on the same type you will see during competition.
Agility dog course obstacles include a variety of jumps and other pieces of dog agility equipment. There are usually several contact obstacles, such as a see-saw, a dog walk and an A-Frame. Dog agility tunnels also are part of the course and usually include one pipe tunnel and a collapsible tunnel. A pause table and a tire jump also are included. Dogs also must jump over several hurdles and weave through a set of poles.
There are several good reasons to consider agility training with your dog, even if you never plan on pursuing the competitive angle. Agility courses provide an excellent source of exercise for your pet. Learning the obstacles increases the level of trust and affection between owner and animal. This type of training is also a great way to improve overall obedience. To find equipment, check out online sites like Carlson-Agility.com. These sites not only sell a wide variety of jumps, contact obstacles, weaves and tunnels, they offer some great advice pertaining to training.
As with many dog sports, the dog works with a handler during the event. The handler is allowed to use certain signals and commands in order to direct the animal through the course. Toys or treats or other incentives are not allowed and every organization has other restrictions and animals are expected to complete the course before a set amount of time has passed.
Different breeds of dogs can compete against one another in dog agility competitions and typically the contests are divided not by breed but by height. For example, the United States Dog Agility Association, which is the world's largest dog agility organization, has four height classes. In addition, dogs typically are at least 14-18 months old before they are allowed to compete in a USDAA sanctioned event. Other organizations have other requirements, but typically training is not recommended for animals under a year in age as their bodies are still developing and training could cause injuries. Once you reach 18 months, the dog is fully mature and has reached its full height.
Each competition is a bit different and includes a mix of interesting obstacles. In USDAA competitions, there are 14 to 20 obstacles depending on your competition class. The novice dogs and older dogs have 14-16 obstacles, while the advanced and master class dogs must navigate 17-20 obstacles. Of course, each of these obstacles has a set height, width and length, so that when practicing on your own equipment you can practice on the same type you will see during competition.
Agility dog course obstacles include a variety of jumps and other pieces of dog agility equipment. There are usually several contact obstacles, such as a see-saw, a dog walk and an A-Frame. Dog agility tunnels also are part of the course and usually include one pipe tunnel and a collapsible tunnel. A pause table and a tire jump also are included. Dogs also must jump over several hurdles and weave through a set of poles.
There are several good reasons to consider agility training with your dog, even if you never plan on pursuing the competitive angle. Agility courses provide an excellent source of exercise for your pet. Learning the obstacles increases the level of trust and affection between owner and animal. This type of training is also a great way to improve overall obedience. To find equipment, check out online sites like Carlson-Agility.com. These sites not only sell a wide variety of jumps, contact obstacles, weaves and tunnels, they offer some great advice pertaining to training.
About the Author:
Cheng Bernhardt loves dog agility training. To find an obstacle course for dogs, or to find further about training equipment for agility for dogs, please check out the Carlson-Agility site now.
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