• Dog Agility Explained


• Additional Information


• Agility Clubs & Associations


• Books, Accessories & Equipment

Dog Agility Explained

Agility is enjoyed by people of all ages and all kinds of dogs. Many clubs and organizations allow mixed-breed as well as pure-bred dogs, many also have junior handler programs as well as programs for senior handlers and veteran dogs.

Dog agility has now become a title event through several organizations, including the AAC, CKC, AKC, UKC, NADAC, and USDAA.

In Canada, Agility is now the fastest growing dog sport in the country.

At an agility trial, the courses are designed by the judges and the competitors only see the course on the day of the event. They are given a "walk-through" period before the event to learn the course and plan their strategy. Typically, a course includes 15 to 20 obstacles with allowed times of 30 to 60 seconds. Faults may be incurred for incorrect performance or taking obstacles out of order as well as for taking longer than the allowed time.

Competition classes are divided into three levels: Novice/Starters, Advanced/Open, and Masters/Elite. Teams can compete in local trials and then advance to regional, national, and international level competitions held by the various sanctioning organizations.

At this time, the Canadian Kennel Club (CKC) offers standard agility titles as follows:

• Novice — AGN


• Intermediate — AGI


• Excellent A — AGX


• Excellent B 3 AGMX

Dog agility gives you, the dog owner, a chance to get out and enjoy some good quality time with your companion and meet some great people along the way. The dogs truly enjoy doing agility, especially those high-energy dogs who need a job to do.

Additional Information:

• Agility Titles and Abbreviations
• Dog Agility Training by Joel Walsh
• Dog Agility Equipment: Where Do I Begin? by Brad Carlson (Article added 28 July 2006)
• Agility Fun On A Rainy Day by Brad Carlson NEW (Article added 19 September 2006)
• Dog Agility Equipment - Free Play Or Competition? by Brad Carlson NEW (Article added 19 September 2006)
• Dog Agility Equipment - New Mini Contacts And Mini Jumps by Brad Carlson
  NEW (Article added 19 September 2006)

Agility Clubs & Associations:

Note: Listings of local Agility Clubs can be found under the Dog Club Listings sorted by Province.

• The CKC National Canadian Agility Team (CAT) — The CAT is a non-profit organization, under the umbrella of the Canadian Kennel Club (CKC) and the Canadian Animal Pedigree Act. The CAT represents Canada at the Federation Cynologique Internationale (FCI) World Dog Agility Championships.
• The Agility Association of Canada (AAC)
• List of AAC Member Clubs (Listed by Province and including contact information.)

• The North American Dog Agility Council (NADAC) — Formed in 1993 to provide North American dogs and their handlers with a fast, safe and enjoyable form of the sport of dog agility. NADAC sanctions agility trials sponsored by affiliated clubs.
• NADAC Member Clubs
• United States Dog Agility Association (USDAA) — The world's largest independent authority for the sport of dog agility, with more than 25,000 registered competitors and more than 200 different breeds of dogs, including mix breeds. USDAA represents more than 100 affiliated groups conducting more than 400 days of events each year throughout the continental United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and Japan.
• USDAA Agility Group Locator
• International Agility Link
• International Federation of Cynological Sports (IFCS)

Photo courtesy of Ottawa Valley Border Collie Club

Agility Books, Accessories & Equipment:

	Click & Play Agility By Angelica Steinker Many agility folks have been asking for a clicker training book focused on agility — and finally we have one! Agility is a playful game. Dogs don't care if you win or lose, they only care how you play the game. Not only does this book tell you how, it also tell you why the click and play training techniques work! Available from Dogwise.com
	Introduction to Dog Agility by Margaret H. Bonham Book Description: Written especially for beginning canine Agility competition enthusiasts, this manual covers all aspects of the competitive sport. The author starts with instruction on evaluating a dog's physical fitness and overall readiness for Agility training, then makes specific diet recommendations, and advises on treatment of injuries and the use of positive training methods. Advanced discussion describes obstacles used in Agility competitions, then shows how to teach the dog jumps, getting through tunnels, and other competition events. Filled with instructive full-color photos and illustrations. Avialable from Dogwise.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.com and Buy.com
	Enjoying Dog Agility By Julie Daniels Focuses on teaching and executing agility exercises correctly. Step-by-step instructions for beginners as well as advanced competitors. Available from Dogwise.com, Amazon.ca, and Amazon.com
	Excelling at Dog Agility: Advanced Skills Training By Jane Simmons-Moake Illustrates how to isolate and train many of the higher-level skills necessary to successfully compete at the most advanced levels of competition. Available from Dogwise.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.com, and Buy.com

Excelling at Dog Agility: Obstacle Training Excelling at Dog Agility: Obstacle Training

The Beginner's Guide to Dog Agility: Fun, Frolic, and Fitness for You and Your Dog! Digging holes in the backyard, chewing a hole in your favorite sock, running laps in the kitchen?dogs are always on the move. Why not channel some of that indefatigable energy into a hobby that can be fun for both you and your furry friend? Training your dog (and yourself) for agility competitions will create a fun working relationship that both of you can enjoy. Find everything you need to know in this fun guide that includes information on pre-agility training, detailed advice on correction-free training, and step-by-step agility training techniques. Also learn how to make your own agility obstacles, use a clicker as a motivational tool, and officially enter agility trials. Participating in agility competitions can build a strong, enduring bond between you and your dog. Read The Beginner's Guide to Dog Agility to learn the ins and outs of this exciting hobby.

In addition to the books listed above, see the excellent selection of books, videos, accessories and equipment available from the following online retailers:

Dogwise.com: Agility and Flyball

Conquering Ring Nerves: A Step-by-Step Program for All Dog Sports How dog handlers can overcome performance anxiety when competingThe AKC reports that more than 2 million entrants compete in events they sanction yearly, and thousands more compete under the auspices of other dog performance sport organizations. Designed for competitive dog handlers who experience mild to severe performance anxiety, this one-of-a-kind guide offers a complete desensitization program to help conquer competition jitters. Written by a psychotherapist who specializes in anxiety disorders, the book features illuminating real-life ring nerves stories and comes packed with proven tips and techniques to help handlers calm their nerves and achieve peak performance under pressure. Available in Electronic Format.

Looking for something special? EBay has an amazing selection of dog agility items. — including equipment, clothing, and so much more. Clicking on any of the following links will provide you with details for each item and give you the opportunity to either place your bid or, where indicated by "Buy it Now", purchase the item directly from the seller.