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Agility field left side: A competition agility field showing (clockwise from lower left) a tunnel, the dogwalk, the judge standing in front of a winged jump, two additional winged jumps, dog executing the teeter-totter with his handler guiding, and the tire jump.

Agility field right side: The right side of the same agility field showing (clockwise from foreground) the weave poles, the pause table, the A-frame, two winged jumps, the collapsed tunnel (or chute), and a wingless jump. Numbered orange plastic cones next to obstacles indicate the order in which the dog must perform them.

Dog agility is a sport in which a handler directs a dog through an obstacle course in a race for both time and accuracy. Dogs must run off-leash with no food or toys as incentives. The handler can touch neither dog nor obstacles, except accidentally. Consequently, the handler's controls are limited to voice, movement, and various body signals, requiring exceptional training of the animal and of the human. Image File history File links Question_book-3. ... Dog agility field part 1 of 2. ... Dog agility field part 1 of 2. ... Dog agility field part 2 of 2. ... Dog agility field part 2 of 2. ... Trinomial name Canis lupus familiaris The dog (Canis lupus familiaris) is a domestic subspecies of the wolf, a mammal of the Canidae family of the order Carnivora. ... An obstacle courses is a series of challenging physical obstacles an individual or team must navigate usually while being timed. ... Leash - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ...

In its simplest form, an agility course consists of a set of standard obstacles, laid out by an agility judge in a design of his own choosing on a roughly 100 by 100 foot (30 by 30 m) area, with numbers indicating the order in which the dog must complete the obstacles. This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

Courses are complicated enough that a dog could not complete them correctly without human direction. In competition, the handler must assess the course, decide on handling strategies, and direct the dog through the course, with precision and speed equally important. Many strategies exist to compensate for the inherent difference in human and dog speeds and the strengths and weaknesses of the various dogs and handlers.

Competition basics

Because each course is different, handlers are allowed a short walk-through (also called a run-through) before the competition starts. During this time, all handlers competing in a particular class can walk or run around the course without their dogs, determining how they can best position themselves and guide their dogs to get the most accurate and rapid path around the numbered obstacles. The handler tends to run a path much different from the dog's path, so the handler can sometimes spend quite a bit of time planning for what is usually a quick run.

The walk-through is critical for success because the course's path takes various turns, even U-turns or 270 degree turns, can cross back and on itself, can use the same obstacle more than once, can have two obstacles so close to each other that the dog and handler must be able to clearly discriminate which to take, and can be arranged so that the handler must work with obstacles between himself and the dog, called layering, or at a great distance from the dog. It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with U-Turn. ...

Course map showing the layout of the course in the preceding photos. Maps like this are commonly used by handlers to help design their strategies. This is a fairly simple^{[citation needed]}, flowing course, probably used for novice dogs.

Handlers often use printed copies of the course map to help plan their course strategy. There is standard format used for course maps, with obstacles having standard icons, measurements and grid having fairly standard dimensions (in the U.S., the grid is drawn in ten-foot squares), and numbers indicating the order in which the obstacles are to be taken. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (751x751, 18 KB) Summary Course layout diagram to match Image:AgilityFieldLeft. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (751x751, 18 KB) Summary Course layout diagram to match Image:AgilityFieldLeft. ...

Each dog and handler team gets one opportunity together to attempt to complete the course successfully. The dog begins behind a starting line and, when instructed by his handler, proceeds around the course. The handler typically runs near the dog, directing the dog with spoken commands and with body language (the position of arms, shoulders, and feet). Starting line can be: A position marking the beginning of a race The Starting Line rock band This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ...

Because speed counts as much as accuracy, especially at higher levels of competition, this all takes place at a full-out run on the dog's part and, in places, on the handler's part as well.

When all competitors have run, scoring is based on how many faults are incurred. Penalties can include not only course faults, such as knocking down a bar in a jump, but also time faults, which are the number of seconds over the calculated standard course time (SCT), which in turn is determined based on the competition level, the complexity of the course, and other factors.

Agility obstacles

Although different organizations specify somewhat different rules for the construction of obstacles, the basic form of some obstacles is the same wherever they are used. Obstacles include the following (note that dimensions vary by organization, so consult the regulations for each organization).

Contact obstacles

A Hungarian Vizsla negotiating an A-frame.

A-frame

Two platforms, usually about 3 feet (1 m) wide by 8 to 9 feet (3 m) long, hinged together and raised so that the hinged connection is between five and six-and-a-quarter feet above the ground (depending on the organization), forming roughly an A shape. The bottom 36 to 42 inches (1 m) of both sides of the A-frame are painted a bright color, usually yellow, forming the contact zone, onto which the dog must place at least one paw while ascending and descending. Most sanctioning organizations require that A-frames have low profile, narrow, horizontal slats all along their length to assist the dog's grip going up and down.

A smooth-coated merle Border Collie on a dogwalk

Dogwalk

Three 8 to 12 ft (3 to 4 m) planks, 9 to 12 inches (25 to 30 cm) wide, connected at the ends. The center plank is raised to about 4 feet (1.2 m) above the ground, so that the two end planks form ramps leading up to and down from the center plank. This obstacle also has contact zones. Most sanctioning organizations also require slats on the dogwalk ramps; a slatless dogwalk looks almost the same as a teeter-totter to a dog approaching it head-on.

Dogs, such as this Welsh Corgi, must be in control as the teeter-totter hits the ground.

Teeter-totter (or seesaw)

A 10 to 12 foot (3 to 4 m) plank pivoting on a support, much like a child's seesaw. It is constructed slightly off-balance so that the same end always returns to the ground. This is done either by placing the support slightly off-center or else weighting one end of the board. This obstacle also has contact zones. The balance point and the weight of the plank must be such that even a tiny dog, such as a Chihuahua, can cause the high end of the teeter-totter to descend to the ground within a reasonable amount of time, specified by the sanctioning organization's rules (usually about 2 seconds). Smaller dogs get more time to run a course, and this is one reason why it can take them longer than it takes larger dogs.

Crossover

A 4-foot (1.2 m) high table obstacle (see "Miscellaneous") with dogwalk ramps descending from the center of all four sides. The dog must ascend the correct ramp and then descend the ramp indicated by the handler, possibly changing direction to do so. This has not been a commonly used obstacle, mostly because of its size, and because many organizations do not allow it.

Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2048x1536, 706 KB) w:Hungarian Vizsla doing w:dog agility A-Frame own photo File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Dog agility Metadata This file contains additional... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2048x1536, 706 KB) w:Hungarian Vizsla doing w:dog agility A-Frame own photo File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Dog agility Metadata This file contains additional... The Hungarian Vizsla, pronounced VEEZH-luh (zh as in vision), is a dog breed originating in Hungary. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1280x856, 166 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Dog agility Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1280x856, 166 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Dog agility Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to... The Border Collie is a breed of herding dog that originated in the border country of England and Scotland. ... A sable Pembroke Welsh Corgi doing agility teeter. ... A sable Pembroke Welsh Corgi doing agility teeter. ... The Cardigans ears (left) are somewhat larger than the Pembrokes (right). ... Modern seesaws have springs for safer play. ... This article is about the breed of dog. ... Agility field left side: A competition agility field showing (clockwise from lower left) a tunnel, the dogwalk, the judge standing in front of a winged jump, two additional winged jumps, dog executing the teeter-totter with his handler guiding, and the tire jump. ...

Tunnels

This Boxer demonstrates how most dogs run full speed through a tunnel, using the back of a curved tunnel rather than trying to remain vertical.

Tunnel (or chute or rigid tunnel)

A vinyl tube, 10 to 20 feet (3 to 6 m) long and about 2 feet (60 cm) in diameter, through which the dog runs. The tunnel is constructed of flexible vinyl and wire so that it can be configured in a straight line or curved.

A German Shepherd Dog exiting a collapsed tunnel

Collapsed tunnel (or chute or cloth tunnel) 

A barrel-like cylinder with a tube of fabric attached around one end. The fabric extends about 8 to 12 feet (3 to 4 m) and lies closed until the dog runs into the open end of the chute and pushes his way out through the fabric tube.

Other tunnels

UKC agility allows two additional tunnel types, the crawl tunnel and the hoop tunnel, that are not found in other agility organizations. CPE allowed an interconnected set of tunnels called a tunnel maze from 2004 though 2006, but discontinued the tunnel maze as of the 2007 rulebook.[1]

Boxer (dog) doing dog agility tunnel Ping, a pound puppy owned by Mandy Book of San Jose, CA. Photo by Donn Dobkin, Just a Moment Photography, from M. Book via Elf | Talk. ... Boxer (dog) doing dog agility tunnel Ping, a pound puppy owned by Mandy Book of San Jose, CA. Photo by Donn Dobkin, Just a Moment Photography, from M. Book via Elf | Talk. ... Originally from Germany, The Boxer is a breed of stocky, medium-sized, short-haired dog, decended from the now extinct Bullenbeisser. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 561 pixelsFull resolution (910 × 638 pixel, file size: 221 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 561 pixelsFull resolution (910 × 638 pixel, file size: 221 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... The German Shepherd Dog or Alsatian is a popular breed of dog. ...

Jumps

This winged single jump is adjusted in height so that small dogs such as Pembroke Welsh Corgis may compete against similar-sized dogs.

Jump (or hurdle) 

Two uprights supporting a horizontal bar over which the dog jumps. The height is adjusted for dogs of different heights. The uprights can be simple stanchions or can have wings of various shapes, sizes, and colors.

A Brittany jumping a triple-bar spread jump

Double and triple jump (or spread jump) 

Two uprights supporting two or three horizontal bars spread forward or back from each other. The double can have parallel or ascending horizontal bars; the triple always has ascending bars. The spread between the horizontal bars is sometimes adjusted based on the height of the dog.

Panel jump

Instead of horizontal bars, the jump is a solid panel from the ground up to the jump height, constructed of several short panels that can be removed to adjust the height for different dog heights.

A Australian Shepherd jumping through a tire jump.

Broad jump] (or long jump) 

A set of four or five slightly raised platforms that form a broad area over which the dog must jump without setting their feet on any of the platforms. Length is adjusted for dog's height.

Tire jump 

A tire shape suspended in a frame. The dog must jump through the opening of the tire, which varies between about 18 and 24 inches (450 to 600 mm). The tire is usually wrapped with tape so that there are no openings or uneven places in which the dog could catch. The height is adjusted for dogs of different sizes.

Other hurdles

UKC agility also allows a variety of hurdles not found in other agility organizations: bush hurdle, high hurdle, log hurdle, picket fence hurdle, rail fence hurdle, long hurdle, window hurdle, water hurdle.

Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 536 pixelsFull resolution (2048 × 1371 pixel, file size: 1. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 536 pixelsFull resolution (2048 × 1371 pixel, file size: 1. ... The Pembroke Welsh Corgi (IPA: ) is one of two dog breeds known as Welsh Corgis that originated in Pembrokeshire, Wales. ... Stanchion (Fr. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 536 pixelsFull resolution (2048 × 1371 pixel, file size: 610 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 536 pixelsFull resolution (2048 × 1371 pixel, file size: 610 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... The Brittany is a breed of gun dog that is primarily bred for bird hunting. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (752x842, 359 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Dog agility Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (752x842, 359 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Dog agility Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to... The Australian Shepherd is a breed of working dog that was developed in the Western United States in the 19th century from several different breeds. ... Firestone tire This article is about pneumatic tires. ...

Miscellaneous

A Border Collie demonstrates fast weave poles.

Table (or pause table) 

An elevated square platform about 3-foot-by-3-foot (1-meter-by-1-meter) square onto which the dog must jump and pause, either sitting or in a down position, for a designated period of time which is counted out by the judge, usually about 5 seconds. The height ranges from about 8 to 30 inches (20 to 75 cm) depending on the dog's height and sponsoring organization.

A Chinook on a pause table

Pause box

A variation on the pause table. The pause box is a square marked off on the ground, usually with plastic pipe or construction tape, where the dog must perform the "pause" behavior (in either a sit or a down) just as he would on the elevated table.

Weave poles

Similar to a slalom, this is a series of upright poles, each about 3 feet (1 m) tall and spaced about 20 inches (50 cm) apart, through which the dog weaves. It is one of the most difficult obstacles for a dog to master. It varies from 5 to 12 poles at one time. The dog must always enter with the first pole to his left and must not skip poles.

Other obstacles

UKC agility allows a variety of other obstacles not found in other agility organizations: swing plank, sway bridge, platform jump.

Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 405 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (1840 × 2723 pixel, file size: 691 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 405 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (1840 × 2723 pixel, file size: 691 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... The Border Collie is a breed of herding dog that originated in the border country of England and Scotland. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 728 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2563 × 2112 pixels, file size: 3. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 728 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2563 × 2112 pixels, file size: 3. ... Notes The AKC foundation stock service (FSS) is a registration service for breeds not yet recognised by the AKC. The Chinook is a rare sleddog type or variety developed in the New England region of the USA in the early 20th century. ... To slalom is to zigzag between obstacles. ...

References for equipment

Equipment specifications for various organizations:

• AKC (PDF), under "Obstacle Specifications and Performance Requirements" (United States)
• CPE, follow the "Rules" link (United States)
• FCI (PDF), under "Obstacle Specification" (International)
• NADAC (North America)
• TDAA (North America)
• USDAA (North America)
• UKC, list of equipment, no specs (North America)
• The Kennel Club, partial specs (United Kingdom)

Agility scoring and clean runs

Each organization has its own rules about what constitutes faults and whether one can earn a qualifying score with faulted runs. A completed run that passes the minimum defined standards for time, faults, points, or so on, is referred to as a qualifying run and in some cases earns credit towards agility titles. A qualifying run is also referred to as a leg. A clean run or clear round is one with no faults.

Different organizations place different values on faults, which can include the following:

Agility classes

Given the available set of obstacles and possible faults, there are many permutations of games, or classes, that one can play on the agility field. A typical course is laid out within a 100 by 100 foot (30 by 30 m) area, with roughly 10 to 20 feet (3 to 6 m) between obstacles.

Judges design their own courses (with the exception of NADAC where judges pick their courses from a book) using the rules of the sanctioning organization. Each organization decides which classes are valid for achieving titles and how each must be performed, but there are many similarities.

Some of the common classes are

• Standard, Regular or Agility: This is a numbered course consisting of (usually) at least one of each of the three contact obstacles plus jumps, tunnels, and weave poles of various flavors. A novice course might consist of as few as 15 obstacles; a higher-level course might have 22. The dog must negotiate the obstacles in the correct order within the standard course time (SCT).

• Jumpers or Jumping: This numbered course consists primarily of various types of jumps and, depending on the organization, also weave poles and tunnels. The dog must negotiate the obstacles in the correct order within the standard course time (SCT). The dogs achieve their fastest speed on these courses because there are no contact obstacles to slow them down.

• Gamblers, Jackpot or Joker: An unnumbered course. The game typically consists of two parts, an opening period and the closing period, also known as the gamble, joker, or jackpot. In the opening period, the dog has a certain amount of time in which to do whatever obstacles the handler deems appropriate and accrues points based on the obstacles completed. At the end of the allocated time for the opening period, a whistle blows. At that point, the gamble begins. The dog has a certain small amount of time (about 15 seconds) in which to complete a sequence of obstacles designated by the judge ahead of time. The challenge is that there is a line on the ground past which the handler must not step, typically paralleling the gamble obstacles, from 10 to 20 feet (3 to 6 m) away depending on the level of competition. The handler must choose an opening sequence that flows comfortably for the individual dog's skills and experience. The sequence must also be planned so that, when the whistle blows, the dog is in a good position to immediately begin the gamble. The greatest challenge is the distance handling – getting the dog to move or even turn away from you.

• Snooker: Loosely based on the billiard game of Snooker. The course has at least three red jumps, each numbered 1, and six other obstacles numbered 2 through 7. The dog accumulates points based on the obstacle's number. This also has two parts, an opening sequence and a closing sequence. In the opening sequence, the dog must complete a 1, then any obstacle numbered 2 to 7, a different 1 and any 2 to 7 obstacle (including the one already performed), and yet another different 1 and another 2-7 obstacle. For example, the dog could perform the red on the left for 1 point, the 7-point obstacle, the red in the middle for 1 point and then the 7-pointer again, then the red on the far side of the course and the 7-pointer one more time, for a total of 24 points in the opening. After successfully completing this, the dog must complete the obstacles 2-7, in order, for an additional possible 27 points. Failure to follow these rules exactly (such as knocking a bar or taking 2 reds in a row) results in the dog and handler being whistled off the course.
  • Strategy and entertainment value: The dogs might have to negotiate between other obstacles without taking them or make a difficult entry to the obstacle, often combined with a longer distance between the reds and the 7 so that it consumes more time to do the higher-point obstacle in the opening.

• Power & Speed: The course consists of two sections. The first is an untimed "Power" section, which features the contact equipment and any of the following at the discretion of the judge setting the course: weaves, table, a-frame, spread jump, long jump. If this section is negotiated without accruing any faults, the dog and handler may go on to the "Speed" section, which consists of a timed jumping course.

• Juniors: USDAA defines this class for handlers aged 18 or younger, who may compete with their dogs at four levels, beginner, elementary, intermediate, and senior. Each level gets progressively harder and gains more obstacles. The competitors earn medals or bronze, silver, or gold or rosettes of blue, red, yellow, or white.

• Team, Pairs, or Relay: Two or three dog-and-handler teams each execute a portion of a Standard agility course, with the handlers exchanging a baton between sections.

Snooker is a cue sport that is played on a large baize-covered table with pockets in each of the four corners and in the middle of each of the long side cushions. ...

Fairness among dogs

Although each organization has its own rules, all divide dogs into smaller groups that are close to each other in size and experience for purposes of calculating winners. This means that there will be winners in each group for each class (or game) over the course of a trial.

Dogs are measured in height at the peak of their withers (shoulders). They are then divided into height groups; for example, dogs measuring between 12 and 16 inches (30 and 37.5 cm) might compete together with the jumps set at a height of 16 inches (37.5 cm). This ensures that dogs who might have an advantage on a particular course because of their size (larger or smaller) keep the advantage to a minimum. The withers is the highest point on an animals back, on the ridge between its shoulder blades. ...

Dogs are further divided into their experience levels. So, for example, you might have the 12 inch (30 cm) Novice dogs competing, the 12 inch (30 cm) Intermediate dogs competing, and the 12 inch (30 cm) Masters dogs competing. Dogs typically have to have certain numbers of successes at lower levels before they can move up to compete with more advanced dogs.

Some organizations even further divide dogs into special categories because the dogs are older (usually over 7 years) or have junior handlers (usually under 18) or the like.

History of dog agility

Main article: History of dog agility

The history of dog agility can be traced to a demonstration in the late 1970's in the United Kingdom. It has since spread rapidly around the world, with major competitions held worldwide. The history of dog agility can be traced to a demonstration in the late 1970s in the United Kingdom. ... The history of dog agility can be traced to a demonstration in the late 1970s in the United Kingdom. ...

Agility worldwide

Main article: Dog agility worldwide

Dog agility is now an international dog sport with many different sanctioning organizations and competitions worldwide. Dog agility is now an international dog sport with many different sanctioning organizations and competitions worldwide. ...

International championships

Some competitions invite qualified entrants from multiple countries, thereby making them international championships. Examples include:

• FCI, the oldest and best-known, always (so far) held in Europe (FCI WC 2006). The event was held as a European championship until 1995, then a world championship from 1996, and is restricted to registered pedigree dogs only. The FCI has more than 80 member countries (via each country's kennel club), over 30 of which typically take part in the FCI World Championships. The British, American and Canadian kennel clubs are not FCI members, but their teams are allowed to participate by special invitation.
• The International Mixbreed Championships of Agility (IMCA 2006), first held in Italy in 2000 as a response to the FCI pedigree-only championships. The competition is held annually with about 18 countries participating, including teams from outside Europe. Now open to any breed or mixed-breed dog regardless of origins, and in Europe considered to be the main international rival to the FCI championships.
• The International Federation of Cynological Sports (IFCS), has since 2002 organized a biannual world agility championship open to any breed or mixed-breed dog regardless of pedigree. English-speaking member or associate member countries include the United States (via the United States Dog Agility Association), the United Kingdom (via UK Agility), Canada (via the Agility Association of Canada), and Australia (via the Agility Dog Association of Australia). Ten countries participated in the event in 2006.
• The Cynosport^® World Games, officially named in 2003, as the consolidated venue for USDAA's three tournament series - Grand Prix of Dog Agility^®, $10,000 Dog Agility Steeplechase^® and Dog Agility Masters^® Three-Dog Team Championship - and exhibitions and competitions in other popular canine sports. USDAA tournaments were opened to invited overseas participants for the first time in 2001, which led to establishment of USDAA affiliates in other countries where qualifying events are now held each year. Prior to 2001, USDAA qualifying events were limited to Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico and the United States. The Cynosport World Games in 2006 attracted some 1,000 competitors in dog agility from twelve countries, and also now includes world championship events in flyball and flying disc. Participants from other countries may still apply for participation by invitation if USDAA qualifying events are not held in their country or region.
• The European Open (EO 2006). An informal annual championships since its foundation in 2002, open to all dogs regardless of origins. It rotates around a small number of countries in central Europe, though attracting competitors from all over Europe, with 25 countries due to participate in the 2006 event. From 2007, the competition will be held under FCI regulations, with a view to developing it into a 'World Open'.

Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) (English, World Canine Organization), is an international Kennel Club based in Thuin, Belgium. ... A kennel club (known as a kennel council or canine council in some countries) is an organization for canine affairs that concerns itself with the breeding, showing and promotion of more than one breed of dog. ... A healthy mixed-breed dog shows hybrid vigor. ... A healthy mixed-breed dog shows hybrid vigor. ...

Training

A mixed-breed dog demonstrates the teeter at an agility class.

Teaching a dog the basic execution of most obstacles takes only a small amount of time and simple training techniques; most dogs can be readily convinced to run through a short, straight tunnel to chase a toy or to go to their owner, for example. However, to compete in agility trials and to develop speed and accuracy, both dog and handler must learn a wide range of techniques for doing the equipment, performing sequences of obstacles, and communicating on course while running full out. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... A healthy mixed-breed dog shows hybrid vigor. ...

The teeter-totter (or seesaw) and the weave poles are the most challenging obstacles to teach, the first because many dogs are wary of the board's movement, and the second because it is not a behavior that they would do naturally over a series of 12 poles. However, it can also be challenging to train the dog to perform its contact obstacles in a manner that ensures that they get paws into the contact zone without sacrificing speed.

Training techniques vary greatly. For example, techniques for training the weave poles include using offset poles that gradually move more in line with each other; using poles that tilt outward from the base and gradually become upright; using wires or gates around the poles forcing the dog into the desired path; putting a hand in the dog's collar and guiding the dog through while leading with a toy or treat; teaching the dog to run full speed between 2 poles and gradually increasing the angle of approach and number of poles; and many other techniques.

Competition process

Competitions (also called trials or matches or shows) are usually hosted by a specific local club. The club might be devoted solely to dog agility, or it might be primarily a breed club that wants to promote the working abilities of its breed, or it might be a club that hosts many types of dog sports. The club contracts with judges who are licensed by the sanctioning organization and applies to the organization for permission to hold a trial on a specific date or weekend; most trials are two-day weekend events. A breed club, in the hobby of dog fancy, is an organization dedicated to breeding and showing of one single breed of dog as opposed to a diverse mixture of dogs. ... Dog sports are activities that involve dogs. ...

Key trial jobs

The club designates a member to be the chairperson or show manager, who is responsible for ensuring that the trial takes place, and another member to be the secretary, who is responsible for providing competitors with the show premium or schedule--a document that describes the specific competition, summarizes the rules, describes the trial site, and includes an entry form--receiving completed entry forms, sending out running orders, producing running-order lists for the day of competition, and compiling the results from the trial to send to the sanctioning organization.

The designated chief ring steward or ring manager is responsible for finding and assigning workers, almost always volunteers, to perform the myriad tasks involved in putting on a trial. For example, if electronic timing is not being used, each class needs a timer, who ensures that the dog's running time is recorded, a scribe, who records the judge's calls as a dog runs the class, and pole setters (or ring stewards), who ensure that jump bars are reset when they are knocked off and change jump heights for dogs of different sizes.

Competition locations

Agility competitions require considerable space. Each ring is usually at least 100 feet (30 m) on each side, though exact dimensions vary according to the organisations. Competitions can have anything from one up to more than a dozen rings. The ground must be level and, ideally, grassy, although other surfaces are used.

In addition, competitors need space to set up quarters for their dogs and gear; when space permits, competitors often bring pop-up canopies or screenroom awning tents for shade. Dogs, when not competing, are usually left to rest in exercise pens, crates, or dog tents familiar and enclosed environments in which they can relax and recover between runs. Handlers also bring reflective cloths to protect their dogs from sun exposure and to calm them down (by covering their crates with the cloths). There also needs to be space for many handlers with dogs on leashes to move freely around the rings without crowding, and space for warming up, exercising, and pottying dogs. Adjacent to the site, parking must be available for all competitors. At weekend or weeklong shows that offer camping, space needs to be provided both for competitors' caravans and tents, and for the small fenced enclosures or gardens that they set up around them. Look up Canopy in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... A crate is a metal, wire, platic, or fabric enclosure with a door in which pets are kept for security or transportation. ... A crate is a metal, wire, platic, or fabric enclosure with a door in which pets are kept for security or transportation. ...

In heavily populated areas, therefore, it is uncommon to find real estate inexpensive enough to devote entirely to agility, so sites are usually rented for the weekend. Even in more rural areas, agility-only sites are uncommon. Popular locations include fairgrounds, large parks, covered horse-riding arenas, and in cold-winter areas, large, empty warehouses in which mats or carpet can be laid. Ferris wheel Amusement park is the more generic term for a collection of amusement rides and other entertainment attractions assembled for the purpose of entertaining a fairly large group of people. ... This article needs additional references or sources to facilitate its verification. ...

Course design

Before the trial, each judge designs the courses that he or she will judge at the competition. The sanctioning organization usually reviews and approves the courses to ensure that they meet the organization's guidelines. Guidelines include such issues as how far apart obstacles must be, how many turns are allowed (or required) on a course, which obstacles and how many of each must appear on the course, and so on. The rules vary by level of competition and by organization.

Building a course and calculating times

Before each class, or the evening before the first class, course builders use course maps provided by the judges to place equipment on the course. The chief course builder is usually an experienced competitor who understands what equipment is legal, how it must be configured, how each must be aligned compared to other obstacles, and can direct several course-building volunteers to efficiently move the equipment into place. To make the job easier, courses are often marked in some way to correspond to a grid: for example, if course maps are printed on a grid of 10-foot-by-10-foot squares, the posts that hold the ring ropes marking the course's four sides are often set 10 feet apart.

When the course builders finish, the judge walks through the course and double-checks that the obstacles are legal, that they are placed where the judge intended, and that there are no unintended hazards on the course (such as potholes, uneven ground, or mud puddles) around which the course must be adjusted. For many classes, the judge then measures the path through the course to determine the optimal running distance of a typical dog. The judge uses that measurement with a speed requirement determined by the rules to calculate the standard course time, the time under which dogs must complete the course to avoid time faults. For example, if the course is 150 yards (or meters) long, and the rules state that dogs must run the course at a rate of at least 3 yards (or meters) per second, the standard course time would be 50 seconds. Other organisations, though, leave the decision on course time to the judge's discretion.

Running a course and determining results

The judge often holds a briefing for competitors before each class, to review the rules and explain specific requirements for a particular course. For Standard courses for experienced competitors, the judge's briefing is often minimal or dispensed with altogether. For novice handlers in classes with complex rules, the briefings can be much longer.

The competitors then walk the course (as described earlier). When the walk-through ends, the gate steward or caller ensures that dogs enter the ring in the running order previously determined by the trial secretary and manages changes to the running order for handlers who might have conflicts with other rings of competition. As each dog and handler team runs the course, the dog is timed either by a person with a stopwatch or with an electronic timer, and the scribe writes the judge's calls and the dog's final time on a scribe sheet or ticket, which is then taken to the score table for recording.

At the score table, scorekeepers compile the results in a variety of ways. Some organizations require or encourage computerized scorekeeping; others require certain types of manual score sheets to be filled out. When all the dogs in a given height group, level, and class have run, the score table compares run times, faults, and any other requirements to determine placements (and, for classes that provide qualifying points towards titles, which dogs earned qualifying scores).

Each ring might run several classes during a day of competition, requiring multiple course builds, walk throughs, briefings, and so on.

Awards

A variety of rosette award ribbons from dog agility competitions.

Awards are usually given for placements and for qualifying scores. Such awards are often flat ribbons, rosettes, commemorative plaques, trophies, medals, or pins. Some clubs award high-in-trial awards, calculated in various ways, or other special awards for the trial. Dogs who complete their final qualifying scores to become agility champions are often presented with special awards. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (502x627, 96 KB) Samples of rosette award ribbons. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (502x627, 96 KB) Samples of rosette award ribbons. ... Examples of a simple flat ribbon award and a folded, two-layer ribbon award. ... Examples of a simple flat ribbon award and a folded, two-layer ribbon award. ... Rosettes can refer for: A small, circular, device that can be awarded with medals (see: Rosette (decoration)). A type of plant with their leaves at an upset stem in a typical form. ... A commemorative plaque, or simply plaque, is a plate of metal attached to a wall or other vertical surface and bearing text in memory of an important figure or event. ... Some loving-cup trophies seen in the London Irish clubhouse at Sunbury in 2002. ... A medal is a small metal object, usually engraved with insignia, that is awarded to a person for athletic, military, scientific, academic or some other kind of achievement. ... A variety of award pins, the largest of which is only 1 inch (2. ... A champion dog most often refers to a dog who has earned the Champion title at conformation dog shows, but it can also refer to a dog who has earned a Champion title in various dog sports. ...

References

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Agility

This article or section includes a list of references or a list of external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks in-text citations. You can improve this article by introducing more precise citations.

• Kennel Club Agility Regulations
• British Agility Association Rules
• USDAA Rules and Regulations
• Agility
• NADAC Rules and Regulations
• FCI Agility Regulations
• Small Dogs in Dog Agility
• (1998) "An Introduction to Agility". ESAA Newsletter October. 
• Agility Club Introduction to Agility
• Video of a dog running a dog agility course
• Dogpatch links to articles on dog agility and Dogpatch "FAQ" on agility

v • d • e Major dog sports

Agility · Carting · Conformation shows · Disc dog · Dogsled racing · Earthdog trials · Field trials · Flyball · Greyhound racing · Lure coursing · Musical canine freestyle · Mushing · Obedience · Rally obedience  · Schutzhund · Sheepdog trials · Tracking Image File history File links Commons-logo. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Dog cart during Mardi Gras in New Orleans Carting is the dog sport or activity of carting, in which a dog (usually a large breed) pulls a cart filled with supplies, such as farm goods or firewood, but sometimes pulling people. ... In a conformation show, judges familiar with specific dog breeds evaluate individual dogs for how well they conform to published breed standards. ... Logo for the Quadruped, a disc dog organization Disc dog is the more generic name for what is commonly called Frisbee dog. ... Dogsled racing is a winter dog sport involving the timed competition of teams of sleddogs that pull a sled, on the runners of which the dog driver or musher stands. ... An earthdog trial tests Dachshunds and small terriers for their working abilities and instinct. ... A Spaniel Field Trial A field trial is a highly competitive event at which hunting dogs usually compete against one another. ... Dogs from two teams race against each other over parallel lines of jumps. ... Several greyhounds before a race. ... Lure coursing is a sport for dogs that involves chasing a mechanically operated lure. ... Musical Canine Freestyle—also known as Musical Freestyle, Freestyle Dance, and Canine Freestyle—is a modern dog sport that is a mixture of obedience, tricks, and dance that allows for creative interaction between dogs and their owners. ... A team of six white, husky-type dogs Mushing also means playing on a MUSH. Mushing also can be used to describe the kneading behavior of domestic cats when they are content or are preparing to settle for a nap. ... An obdience trial is a dog sport in which a dog must perfectly execute a predefined set of tasks when directed to do so by his handler. ... Rally obedience (also known as Rally or Rally-O) is an American dog sport based on obedience. ... Schutzhund is a dog sport that was developed in Germany in the early 1900s to test whether German Shepherd Dogs (GSD) act and peform in the manner that the breed was intended, rather than simply evaulating a dogs appearance. ... A Sheepdog trial (or simply dog trial) is a competitive dog sport in which herding dog breeds move sheep around a field, fences, gates, or enclosures as directed by their handlers. ... A Tracking trial is an event to encourage dogs to make use of their strongest facility by emulating the finding of a lost person or article in a situation where the performance of the dog can be fairly assessed. ...

Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (752x842, 359 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Dog agility Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to...