by Adam Fulford

Dog agility competitions have become a very popular sport for both adults and children alike. These events, which are usually scheduled in conjunction with a traditional dog show, are much more active, and are comprised of the owners leading their dogs through an obstacle course as quickly as possible. There are over thirty different kinds of obstacles which are commonly used, and the high energy and excitement level of the competitors makes these events a lot of fun to watch.

With dogs having to traverse teeter-totters and weave in between poles, as well as burrowing their way through a cloth chute, the events sometimes mimic playtime more than anything, and almost any child would love to have a playground as advanced as the dogs have. However, these obstacles were chosen by the organizing committees because they are difficult for the dogs to do on their own. These events emphasize great training and a lot of practice by both dog and owner, and you can almost always see this reflected in the final standings.

Some competitions will disallow leashes, and require that the owners use only their voice and a pointing device to control where their dogs move next, while others will make leashes optional. In general, due to the nature of the obstacles, a leash will be very detrimental to your ability to move through the obstacles quickly, and they are rarely used by those entering to win. In order to have the best chances, you need to have impeccable control over your dog.

Because of this, very few dogs will ever reach the championship echelon of agility competitions. Some dogs simply lack the focus and the responsibility to handle their freedom on the course, which to them will often resemble a gigantic playground. Despite this, any dog can enter these agility events, regardless of breed or the amount of training done beforehand. Some events are specifically set up for children to run their dogs through the course, and they allow the child to practice and gain confidence before going into a more serious competition. While it is primarily adults participating in the larger events, children have been known to enter, and some have done quite well with their dogs.

What makes dog agility training so popular is it’s accessibility. Before, dog events were only for the most distinguished pooches, making it a prerequisite that the dog be not only a purebred, but also a beautiful and a confident one. Dog agility competitions have no such requirement, and will typically involve a whole variety of dogs of every breed and combination thereof. That makes this a much more popular event, as nearly anyone from the myriad dog lovers in the crowd could be the potential winner.

Many national organizations are sprouting up for dog agility training events, the most notable of which is the United States Dog Agility Association, or USDAA. While they are attempting to bring some more control to the sport, tougher regulations and new obstacles, they will never truly be able to command such a spectator friendly sport. Dog agility training is more about the fun of the event and the training process rather than the exact rules and the prize structure, and most trainers and owners will agree that this is one of the most exciting sporting events to come around in years.

As in any sport, safety is paramount in dog agility training. Because these events are very high energy and have some very difficult obstacles, it is necessary that there be a basic safety guide, both for participants and spectators.

Because these events are almost always off-leash events, you need to train your dog to be very well behaved when he or she is given some freedom. Some dogs simply cannot handle themselves, and if this is the case with your dog, you should almost certainly work on this first and foremost before beginning training on obstacles. There are going to be other dogs in the vicinity as well, both among the spectators and with the other competitors in the event. If your dog cannot handle other animals, you should try to expose them to other dogs more often in order to get them used to their presence.

Your dog should be at a point where he or she is able to instantly recognize commands and the sound of your voice. They must know how to stop, stay and sit, at a bare minimum, and it would be preferable if they had learned how to walk at your heels while off-leash. While not only helpful for safety concerns, in general, the more well-behaved they are, the better off they will do in competitions.

Safety must also factor in with the physical and mental maturity of your animal. Younger dogs may lack the coordination necessary to handle certain obstacles like the dog walk, and may lack the understanding necessary to take these obstacles seriously. In addition, some dogs may not have enough weight to manipulate objects like the see-saw. Just like many people, some dogs are afraid of heights, and may balk at the idea of going over obstacles, such as the A frame, which require them to go up higher than normal.

While most of these situations can be handled with good training, it is a bad idea to begin agility training without first knowing what your dog is capable of from a mental standpoint. If they do not like crowds or loud noises, a traditional competition is probably not going to bring out their best, and could leave them in a state of shock. If this is the case with your dog, then it is generally best to only enter smaller, local competitions, where the pressure will not be as intense, and work up to a larger group eventually.

Safety should also be considered for the spectators at these events. Many times, spectator seating is cramped, and many people will bring their dogs into the seating area with them. If you have a large dog that you are bringing, consider leaving him with a trusted friend while you watch the agility competition, or taking a seat towards the back where you are more likely to have some spare leg room. Larger animals tend not to do very well when they lack the room to stretch out, and can cause trouble if they get bored.

Spectators should also remember to keep an eye on their own dogs behavior while watching the competition. One small disturbance caused by your dog could lead to a major outburst from the other dogs in the crowd, which could distract the dogs performing in the event. Not only is this unfair to the dogs running the course, it is also dangerous for them if an outburst occurs on one of the more dangerous obstacles.