Dog Agility for Beginners

Dog agility is a sport for dogs and their handlers which can be enjoyed at competition level or purely for fun. The idea is to teach the dog to negotiate a series of obstacles such as jumps and tunnels, and to teach the handler to position themselves so that they can communicate with their dog as they negotiate the course.

People of all ages and backgrounds take part in agility in the UK, and it's possibly the only sport where people of very different physical abilities can compete on the same level in the same competitions.

Agility Lessons
Agility lessons are widely available in the UK but the sport is becoming so popular that in some parts of the country you may have to go on a waiting list to join a class. If your dog is less than a year old he or she will probably be considered too young to start agility training classes, however you can put in a lot of groundwork and preparation by teaching your dog basic obedience exercises and in particular by teaching the heel. You need to work the dog on both sides and to teach them to pay attention to you at all times. Young dogs also need plenty of play between the exercises to keep them happy and attentive.

Competition

Once you

Your dog doesn't have to be a pedigree to be registered on the UK Kennel Club's Activity Register but in other countries you may find that you can't compete in some of the shows unless your dog is pure bred. Under KC rules dogs and handlers enter classes according to their ability and can only progress when they have won a certain number of classes or gained a certain number of points. The entry grade is grade 1 and the highest grade is grade 7. There are also championship classes and for those who aspire to greatness there are national and international competitions. Independent show organisers have their own rules and it is possible to compete solely under these rules if enough shows are organised in your area.

In most shows there are separate agility and jumping classes. In agility the dog has to negotiate obstacles other than the jumps, the weave and the tunnels and these may include items such as the see-saw or the dogwalk as illustrated in the second photo on this page.

Have fun without competing
If you don't want to be competitive you can still enjoy agility either at training classes or in your own back garden. Please don't jump very young dogs though as they need to be mature enough for their joints and muscles to take the stresses and strains of agility. Above all have fun and enjoy your sport.

There is a very great deal of interesting information on dog agility available on the web. Check up the dog agility resources below to find out more.

The two photos above were taken by the brilliant Dawn Turner of Morguefile. The first one is a little Shih Tzu taking a jump. The second is a flat-coated retriever go up the ramp of the dogwalk.

Dog Agility Equipment

Agility Websites

Agility Bits This is an ideal website for beginners in agility. There are fun pages as well as pages on classes and shows and making equipment. The site has all sorts of cartoons and video clips and there's a dog breeds section where agility people have left their comments on the various breeds. There's also a forum which especially welcomes agility beginners or people who just want to chat about dogs or ask about training. This site is much more than just another agility site as there are lots of items on dogs in general and a doggie shop with links to good value products.

Agility Bits forum You really must join this forum if you are starting agility. It is just the place to tell everyone your hopes and fears and all your successes in training. You don't have to worry about asking basic questions or questions that you think are daft. Everyone starts somewhere.

Agility Addicts Agility Addicts is a dog agility training school founded by Fiona Hulse in January 2004. They currently have about 40 competing and non-competing members in total. The site includes lots of training tips and photos. Fiona also moderates the Agility Forum and the Canine Forum which are well subscribed by competitors and dog lovers throughout the UK

The Agility Club The Agility Club is the UK’s largest Kennel Club registered agility club. A non-profit making organisation, The Agility Club was conceived in 1983, the early days of Agility, with the sole purpose of giving all competitive agility dog handlers a 'voice' in the governing of their sport. The site has news and events from the Kennel Club and if you would like to join the Agility Club you will receive a monthly glossy magazine called the Agility Voice.

Agility Eye This website is based on the UK magazine "Agility Eye". There's news on various events as well as a very good show diary and a schedules page where you can download all your show schedules. There's also a good links page with links to a large number of individual dog club sites around the UK. Agility Eye runs a points scheme for people who compete at Kennel Club shows. If you subscribe to the magazine and you are placed at any of the shows your results will go into the magazine and you will be awarded points. If you belong to a club your points will add to the club's total score.

Agility Net This UK based site has loads of information on agility. There are news items and features, a rescue page and a shop. The site also includes a show diary and show schedules as well as news on agility leagues. This is a big resource for anyone who takes part in agility in the UK.

Crosskeys has an excellent selection of agility books and DVDs ranging from basic training through to making your own equipment. Some of the books available are illustrated below. Click on the images to go to the Crosskeys site for more more information.