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.
It is important to note that dog agility competitions include both the dog and a handler. The competition courses are set up in a complicated fashion and dogs must look to the handler to help guide them through the course in the correct order. While the handler can use voice commands and some body signals to help the dog, no treats or toys are allowed as incentives.
While you might see a variety of different breeds competing against each other, the dogs are divided into different classes according to size. Each organization has its own guidelines. For instance, the nation's large organization for dog agility, the United States Dog Agility Association (USDAA), has four different height categories. There are also age restrictions. Generally, dogs can begin competing at about 18 months of age. Not only have they reached their adult height, their bodies have finished developing and agility training typically is not recommended for dogs younger than a year.
While every organization differs, you generally see the same types of obstacles in all agility contests. The number of obstacles dogs must navigate varies by organization and within that organization it varies by class. There are contests for dogs who are just starting out, contests for more experienced dogs and contests for the older veterans of the sport. Typically, the novices and veterans will have around 15 obstacles, while the advanced or master-class animals could have as many as 20 obstacles.
Part of the fun is the variety of exciting obstacles that are included in each dog competition. These include having the dogs zoom through tunnels, go up and down see-saws and A-frames, as well as jumping through a tire. Several hurdles also are included on the course, as well as a dog walk of a set height off the ground. Handlers and dogs won't know the course until they get there, so it is imperative that the handler and animal have a strong bond and spend a great deal of time mastering signals and commands.
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.
It is important to note that dog agility competitions include both the dog and a handler. The competition courses are set up in a complicated fashion and dogs must look to the handler to help guide them through the course in the correct order. While the handler can use voice commands and some body signals to help the dog, no treats or toys are allowed as incentives.
While you might see a variety of different breeds competing against each other, the dogs are divided into different classes according to size. Each organization has its own guidelines. For instance, the nation's large organization for dog agility, the United States Dog Agility Association (USDAA), has four different height categories. There are also age restrictions. Generally, dogs can begin competing at about 18 months of age. Not only have they reached their adult height, their bodies have finished developing and agility training typically is not recommended for dogs younger than a year.
While every organization differs, you generally see the same types of obstacles in all agility contests. The number of obstacles dogs must navigate varies by organization and within that organization it varies by class. There are contests for dogs who are just starting out, contests for more experienced dogs and contests for the older veterans of the sport. Typically, the novices and veterans will have around 15 obstacles, while the advanced or master-class animals could have as many as 20 obstacles.
Part of the fun is the variety of exciting obstacles that are included in each dog competition. These include having the dogs zoom through tunnels, go up and down see-saws and A-frames, as well as jumping through a tire. Several hurdles also are included on the course, as well as a dog walk of a set height off the ground. Handlers and dogs won't know the course until they get there, so it is imperative that the handler and animal have a strong bond and spend a great deal of time mastering signals and commands.
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 blogging about dog agility training. To find an obstacle course for dogs, or to find further about training equipment for agility for dogs, please go to the Carlson-Agility.com website today.
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