The Sport of Agility
Dog agility is a fast-growing sport known for its upbeat pace and spectator appeal. A favorite among dog-lovers, this sport involves dogs running an obstacle course with jumps, tunnels, weave poles, A-frames, see-saws, a dog walk, and a table. The courses are timed and designed by the judge to challenge the dog and handler at different levels of difficulty. The handler is allowed to walk the course before running it, but the dog is not. Handlers use this opportunity to develop handling strategies. Learning to develop a handling strategy is part of the challenge of being able to run a course well. The object of the sport is to run the course fast and clean (meaning no faults or errors). Faults are incurred for knocking into bars, going off course, not performing the obstacles correctly, or handler error. There are several different organizations that offer sanctioned trials in which handlers and dogs can compete to earn titles for their performances. The rules for each organization vary, and all but the AKC allow mixed breed dogs to run.
Health Considerations
Agility is a very athletic sport in which the dog is jumping, running, twisting, and racing at top speeds, with his handler panting to catch up. The more fit the dog and the less extra weight he is carrying, the longer his career will be. Repetitive jumping and twisting can take its toll on a dog that is not in good shape or has poor conformation. Dogs with long careers in agility have healthy hips, elbows, and knees, and their owners are constantly vigilant for unsafe circumstances like slippery conditions on the field or a less-than-ideal surface to jump on. Being your dog's partner in this sport also means being his advocate. It's your job to make sure that the course is safe for him and that he is in top physical shape.
If you are interested in competing in agility and are in the market to purchase a puppy, have an experienced person help you choose the dog with the best conformation and personality for this sport. You will want the most physically sound dog with the greatest desire to be with people.
AKC Agility Classes
In AKC agility, levels are divided into three categories: novice, open, and excellent. Each level has a set requirement for the number and type of obstacles allowed on course as well as allowable faults. As the level of difficulty increases, fewer faults are allowed. At the excellent level, the run has to be just about perfect to qualify. A new division, the performance class, was recently added to accommodate older dogs.
This 6½-year-old female Golden blasts out of the weave poles during an agility trial.
The performance class dogs run at all the same levels but at a lower jump height. Jump heights depend upon the dog's height at the shoulder. Dogs must be measured by an AKC-licensed measurer and be issued a jump height card. When a handler signs a dog up for a trial, he or she must send along a copy of the height card with the premium in order to run.
Dogs without height cards must be measured on the morning of the trial before the show starts. The jump heights range from eight to twenty-four inches. Dogs of the same height run at the same time, then the height is changed and the next group runs. Within each height, the dogs are ranked according to dogs of the same height and class. For instance, a sixteen-inch dog in the performance class may have the fastest time of all the other performance class dogs in his height division, while the sixteeninch dog in regular classes may place first among the dogs in his division.
The standard course times for regular classes are often much faster than for performance classes. The performance dogs don't have to compete against the faster, more able-bodied dogs in the regular classes.
Agility Titles
Dogs can earn titles from all of the different organizations, and most divide the classes up into categories. The AKC has three divisions — novice, open, and excellent — and dogs must earn three qualifying scores within each category in order to earn their title. There are two different types of courses, standard courses and jumpers courses, and titles can be earned at each level in both of these categories. At the excellent level, handlers can go on to compete for a master agility excellent title as well as a master agility championship.
These titles are elite, and only handlers and dogs with lots of motivation and drive are persistent enough to pursue them. The main purpose of agility, whatever the title, is to have fun showing off and demonstrating the dogs' incredible athleticism. Goldens love this sport. If they are not overweight, they can compete with ease and little risk of injury.
