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.
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.
While it's fun to watch these competitions, it's also fun for your dog to get out there and learn how to tackle these obstacles. You can purchase equipment online from Carlson-Agility.com, which sells all the jumps, tables, tunnels, see-saws, weaves and other equipment you might need. Your dog not only will enjoy this new type of exercise, but agility training also strengthens the bond between the owner and the dog. The level of obedience also will improve as well as the level of trust between the two of you.
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.
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.
While it's fun to watch these competitions, it's also fun for your dog to get out there and learn how to tackle these obstacles. You can purchase equipment online from Carlson-Agility.com, which sells all the jumps, tables, tunnels, see-saws, weaves and other equipment you might need. Your dog not only will enjoy this new type of exercise, but agility training also strengthens the bond between the owner and the dog. The level of obedience also will improve as well as the level of trust between the two of you.
About the Author:
Cheng Bernhardt enjoys 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 site now.
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