Some people get started with dog agility with the goal of competition in mind. For others, they focus on the fun and bonding aspects of agility. Either way, if your dog is handling all of the typical agility obstacles with ease, you might be thinking about the competition circuit. Is the best option for you and your dog? How do you know when the time is right? How do you even get started?
These are common questions, so let’s tackle them. When it comes to deciding whether or not to compete, there are quite a few factors to consider, including:
The Options In Your Area – Are there events within easy driving distance of your home? Are you willing to drive farther than that? Are these your preferred dog agility organizations? There are many dog agility organizations (USDAA, UKC, AKC, etc.) and they all have slightly different rules and regulations.
Often it’s simply easiest to select an organization in your area that holds trials and events. In many cases, it can be smart to join a local agility club and get to know some people with competition experience. If you don’t have one in your area, and there aren’t realistic event options in your area, competition might be difficult.
Some local agility groups will host agility trials for groups such as USDAA or AKC. If you join a group, you can attend a trial and get a sense of what it’s all about and if competition seems like something you and your dog would enjoy.
Your Dog’s Temperament – If your dog enjoys being around lots of people and other dogs, this is a good indication that they probably will be able to handle the bustle of competitions. If you have a dog that is very shy or aggressive, it might be better to skip the competition circuit. All of the noise and activity might be upsetting to dogs that are apprehensive or aggressive.
Competitions are tons of fun to watch and many people (and dogs) love competing, but it’s certainly not a requirement. There’s nothing wrong with just enjoying agility in your backyard or playing around with other pets at an agility club. It is a fantastic form of exercise for you and your pet, it’s fun and it strengthens the bond between you are your beloved dog. That’s reason enough to try agility even if you never set foot on a competition course.
The Level Of Expertise – No one expects agility dogs to be flawless all of the time. There are countless dog agility blooper videos on YouTube that attest to the fact that dogs sometimes muddle up their agility runs. Still, before you compete, your dog needs to be proficient with every type of obstacle they will face on an agility course.
Keep in mind, that it’s not just about being able to use the dog agility equipment; agility for dogs is also about knowing how to tackle a course, no matter what configuration you encounter. Generally, you will never know the specific course set up until you actually get to the competition.
Therefore, it is crucial that you run a wide variety of courses in your backyard. Not only does your dog need to be able to handle obstacles, they also must be able to follow your signals and quickly. After all, dogs can’t read, so they rely on the handler’s instruction to know which way to turn and which obstacle is next. If you and your dog usually work flawlessly as a team, it might be time to consider matches, trials and competitions.
Getting Started – Once you feel like you and your dog is ready, your first step probably will be to join a local agility club that hosts trials. These organizations also often host practice sessions or fun runs, which can be helpful before trials. There are also matches, and these are a bit less formal than a trial, but they can give you some good exposure. If you aren’t sure what to do, call or email the local groups and explain that you want to get started with competitions and ask them how they recommend you get started.
You also will want to join the organization that sponsors the trial, such as UKC, USDAA or someone else. You cannot enter a USDAA trial without being registered with USDAA, so pick an organization or two to join, and learn all you can about their rules and obstacles.
In general, all courses will have many jumps, including a tire jump, and you will find an a-frame, dog walk, teeter, tunnel, a pause table and weaves. Some organizations also include some unique items, such as a swing plank, so it’s crucial that you know the types of obstacles and the heights of the jumps, so that you can practice more effectively.
Dogs also are placed in groups or categories based upon their age, size and experience level. You’ll need to figure out in which category your dog fits. Sometimes, breed is a factor. Most dog organizations accept mixed-breed dogs or dogs such as pit bulls, but some do not, so you’ll need to understand any breed restrictions.
Some organizations don’t allow dogs missing a limb, deaf dogs or dogs blind in one eye to compete, although some do, so be sure to check if your dog is deaf, etc. Typically, dogs that are blind in both eyes cannot compete, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have some fun backyard agility time at home. Blind dogs still love agility, even if they cannot compete. In fact, we recently read an article about a woman who taught her blind and deaf dog how to do agility by scent, so agility is truly a sport for every dog.
Whether you are interested in agility for dogs as an engaging backyard activity or you plan on competing, we have every piece of dog agility equipment you might need. Each piece is handmade using high-quality components. So whether you need weave poles, jumps, a teeter or something else, we can help you dive into the world of agility.
