Intro

Introduction to Agility

What is Agility
Our Training Philosophy

What is Agility

Simply put, agility is an obstacle course through which a handler must successfully maneuver his dog, off leash, in a predetermined path within a specific amount of time. But in reality it is much more!Dogs soar over jumps, zoom through tunnels, climb A-frames, and weave through a line of poles racing with their person.Agility is an exciting & exhilarating team sport for most people & almost all dogs. Handlers of all ages compete at trials; as young as about 10 and old as ? well, they may not tell you, but I personally know one woman in her 90s! Many have mobility issues, wearing ankle or knee braces and there have even been handlers in wheel chairs.Dogs, both purebred and mixed breed may compete in agility trials: from Chihuahua size to Great Dane size. The height of the dog determines the height of the jumps they must take. There are several agility organizations that hold trials and although agility is essentially agility each organization has has their varying rules, “games” and flavor. Agility dogs are not “magic” dogs. Agility handlers are not “magic” people….just regular people with a few exceptions: the desire to spend quality time training and playing with their dog, wanting to provide a fun and fulfilling life for their dog and being open-minded to different training techniques to better communicate with their dog. So why agility training? Even if competing is not one’s goal, agility training enhances one’s communication skills with their dog, offers dedicated, quality training time. The training is enlightening to students as to how much their dogs are capable of learning. And that is exciting. Learning together, playing together…the building of the bond. Agility is great exercise, an outlet for active dogs , and a confidence builder for insecure dogs. Dogs were created to work for and with humans. Though most of the purposes for which they were bred are not necessary now, dogs still have the instinctive desire be with us, participate with us and work with us. Dogs thrive having an active job and purpose. A job satisfying physical as well as mental needs, with their person.

Want to know more

Agility is great for almost all people and dogs. In 2 of the 3 major agility organizations in the U.S. the ever popular “All American Mixed Breed” is welcome to register and compete at trials. There are great handlers of all ages out in the agility rings, as young as 7 or so and as old as ? well, they aren’t telling! (But I know some are in their 70s). There are people with mobility problems and even handlers in wheelchairs.

And it is important to realize agility dogs are not magic dogs. Agility handlers are not magic people. Just regular dogs and people with two exceptions: one being the desire of the handlers to spend quality time training and having fun with their dogs, and two being the handlers having open minds in alternative training concepts.

Agility is a journey through a very different philosophy of training with ever deepening levels. It is amazingly enlightening, and amazingly simple! The key being that the training is fun! Is play!

Agility is not just the dog being able to “do” the equipment; it is the dog understanding how to execute the equipment safely and properly. Agility is not just telling the dog what to do; it is the handler guiding his team mate with directions and nuances using both signals and voice.

But the real fun of agility is the challenge, as a handler, learning and mastering the communicative skills, the body language, the timing necessary to successfully direct your dog at top speed through the correct course of obstacles! The result is the “choreography” which produces the smoothness, the flow, the phenomenon of the agility dance!

And the real reward is developing the intricate bond of understanding with your dog to create a true “team”!