Mary Allen
Is your dog bored on walks? Try agility! Here you can find out why the dog sport is worthwhile in several ways.
Is your dog a bit bored when you go for a walk every day? Then give Agility a try! The dog sport from England is becoming more and more popular, because (most) dogs love sport, games, and fun more than anything.
In agility, jocks get all of that in abundance. And the best thing about it: You can even take part in the training. This not only keeps your dog (and you) fit and healthy but also strengthens the bond between you. Because if you go through thick and thin together, you grow together.
Here you can get all the information on how agility works, what tips there are and what advantages the sport has for people and dogs.
What is agility?
Agility is a dog sport and originally comes from England. In 1977 Peter Meanwell came up with it. He was inspired by horse jumping. Similar to horseback riding, agility involves the dogs participating in a kind of obstacle course. This course consists of a number of stations or obstacles that the dog has to overcome in a given order under the guidance of its human.
The obstacles are generally of three types:
- jumps
The dog has to jump over hurdles, through hoops, and over long jump elements.
- slalom
The dog runs between bars at different distances.
- contact zones
These are usually catwalks, A-shaped ramps, seesaws, and tunnels that the dog is supposed to walk over or through.
In agility, the dogs always compete as a team with their human. The course should be completed with as few errors as possible by the dog and within a specified time. The aim of agility is to train the dog in a sporty and playful way, to exercise it physically and mentally, and to strengthen the connection and harmony between it and its human.
Agility can be performed both privately and officially at competitions. For example, the Association for German Dogs (VDH) and its member organizations regularly organize small and large competitions.
What are the rules of agility?
- ground rules
In general, there are a few basic rules for official agility that must be observed on every course. This includes that the dog always walks without a leash and collar. Humans are not allowed to touch the dog or the obstacles during training. If an obstacle is left out or completed in the wrong order, there is usually a disqualification until the next round.
Another basic rule of agility is that the dog should primarily have fun while training and not overexert himself or even injure himself.
Special rules for obstacles
Attention, now it gets complicated because there are numerous other rules for the course itself.
- Every single obstacle has to be overcome in a given order and a certain way. In slalom, for example, the dog must run into the obstacle from the right of the first pole.
- At the contact zone obstacles, the dogs must touch the obstacle at the beginning and end with at least one paw.
- If an obstacle is not completed correctly, for example, because the bar falls down when jumping or the dog can no longer come out of the tunnel, this is considered a mistake.
- Depending on the competition, a certain amount of errors will eventually lead to disqualification.
Since the rules for the obstacles change from event to event, it is best to read through the test criteria before an official competition. There you will find all the information and everything is usually described in detail. The VDH makes many examination regulations and information available online.
Which dogs are suitable for agility?
In general, agility is open to all dogs and dog breeds. However, there are dogs and breeds that are not really suitable for this type of dog sport. The following points are particularly important here:
- dog breed,
- health and age,
- the character of the dog.
Dog breed
Above all, large and heavy dog breeds such as the Newfoundland, the Mastiff, the Great Dane, or Saint Bernard should not take part in agility. Even short-legged dog breeds like the dachshund or the basset hound are not really suitable for training. On the one hand, the health risks here are too great, on the other hand, large and heavy dog breeds in particular often prefer to be comfortable and relaxed on the go anyway.
Dogs that like to run and are active, such as the Jack Russel Terrier, the Malinois, or the Border Collie, are particularly suitable for agility. The same is true of many other hunting and herding dogs and everything in between.
Health and age
The basic rule is: Dogs with health problems such as joint diseases should never practice agility. Other handicaps and health problems must always be taken into account. In addition, very young dogs up to 15 weeks and older dogs should also not take part in the training in order to protect the still young or already old bones.
Character
Participating dogs and people should already have a good relationship or connection with each other. Trust, obedience, and a certain “will to please” should be present.
If your dog looks at you sideways when you say “sit” to him, you will probably not be able to successfully overcome the first obstacle. In this case, it is better to practice at home before you go to official agility competition.
Is agility healthy for dogs?
Sport is known to be good for the mind and body – and not just for people. Dogs in particular, who otherwise do not have the opportunity to let off steam thoroughly, benefit from dog sport. Slalom, tunnel, and the other obstacles not only strain your dog physically but also sharpen the mind and spirit: The dog has to concentrate during training, remember commands and instructions, master the right commands and combine them with each other.
The most beautiful thing for the dogs in agility is probably working with people. The dog is fixated on you in the dog sport because you give the correct direction. The trust and communication between you will be strengthened and ideally even better. In addition, your four-legged friend has more contact with other dogs, similar to the dog school. Agility also promotes education and socialization.
How often should you train your dog for agility?
General tips cannot be given here, since every dog and every dog breed is different. Some are real sports cannons who still have a lot of power left after the fifth run. The others go to sleep after just one lap in the tunnel.
The recommendation for the right amount is to train the dog at most until it shows the first signs of exhaustion or seems unfocused. First and foremost, agility is about dogs and humans having fun anyway – and not about winning as often as possible. Unfortunately, this is sometimes the case with misguided ambition on the part of the mistress and master. Don’t be one of those people and keep a close eye on your dog’s condition. Then you’ll know for sure when it’s enough and when you can do a little more.
Agility: The best tips for beginners
How to start
All beginnings are difficult. This also applies to agility. One of the best tips for beginners is to try it out first to see if your dog likes the dog sport at all. You can create your own course with simple objects. You can quickly design your own obstacles from cardboard, sticks, wooden panels, and much more. It is important that your dog cannot injure itself with the objects.
You should also teach your dog the basic commands. That would be, for example, “Vor”, “Weg”, “Los” or similar announcements. Your dog should learn which commands apply to which actions in order to successfully get over or through the obstacles.
A lot of patience, a lot of affection, and a lot of rewards are also very important when trying it out. Just as with normal training, you should reward your dog with applause, cuddles, and treats after a successfully mastered obstacle.
If your dog shows uncertainty or even fear of an obstacle, stop the exercise immediately and proceed more cautiously. Be sure to get your dog used to the different stations slowly. In this way, he can gradually gain confidence and continue to trust you fully.
What do you need for agility?
The most important thing you and your dog need for agility are fun. You both should enjoy the exercises, the work together and the sporting activity. If this is available, nothing stands in your way.
Sufficient space is of course also important. Fortunately, you don’t necessarily have to have a huge garden. You can also easily do exercises with your dog in the great outdoors. This includes jumps over tree trunks, over (narrow) ditches, slaloms between trees, and much more. There are no limits to your imagination.
Depending on whether you want to do the exercises or the game with your dog privately or take part in official competitions, you also need a lot of time. But that goes without saying with a dog.
Oh yeah, a dog wouldn’t be bad for agility either, of course.
Where to buy agility equipment?
If your dog likes the exercises, you can also buy the right equipment for dog sports. Depending on the scope and size of the obstacle, these devices are actually available in every pet store. Alternatively, you can sign up with a local dog club that also offers agility. Then the devices are certainly already available in the dog training area.
How is agility pronounced?
Agility comes from English and is translated as maneuverability, nimbleness, or agility. It is pronounced something like Uh-jiliti.
Where can I find agility competitions?
The best contact for dog sports of all kinds in Germany is the VDH. The association organizes the German championships and youth championships in the field of agility every year. In addition, the VDH organizes the German participation in the World Championship. Because yes, there is an Agility World Championship! Here you will find all information from the VDH on the subject of agility.
In addition to the VDH, it is also a good idea to look at the member clubs of the VDH. Many clubs organize their own competitions and training sessions, especially for their members. Your breeder or animal shelter is usually well informed about which dog sport is available where.
So now it’s time for games, sports, and fun. Grab your dog and ignite the dog sports cannon!