Agility is a dog sport  first created in England to provide entertainment during equine events.  An agility course is a series of obstacles that the dog must complete correctly in a specified amount of time.

EARLY HISTORY OF DOG AGILITY

The fun sport of dog agility was first seen at Crufts Dog Show in London, England, in February 1978.
To understand how the idea of agility first developed, we have to go back a year earlier and look at the 1977 Cruft's Dog Show. A member of the Cruft's Show Committee, John Varley, was given the task of organizing fun entertainment in the main arena. The intent of this entertainment was to hold the public's attention during a break in the proceedings after the obedience championship finished, and before the group judging commenced.
John's main interest was in horses, not dogs. With horse show-jumping in mind, John conceived a dog event with obstacles... a canine version of horse show-jumping. Not having expertise with dogs, John approached his friend Peter Meanwell, a well known Working Trials competitor and judge, John asked him to develop a set of obstacles for this fun agility event and rules based on his knowledge of dogs.
By February 1978, the first public display between two teams took place at Crufts. It was such a huge success that even at that early stage in it's development, the future of dog agility was secured.
Over the years following, the sport evolved and became the fastest growing, fun dog sport. Dog agility has spread throughout the world in a very short space of time.
Thanks, John Varley and Peter Meanwell, for such a great fun sport to enjoy with our dogs. Agility is fun!

Footnote: In the early 1980's John Varley emigrated to Sydney, Australia, to work with the PAL Superdogs Demonstration Team, (an "Agility-like" performance event, with very large obstacles). Living in the foothills of the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney, a few years later John became very ill and died

Basics of Dog Agility

Agility is a sport in which a handler is given a set amount of time in which to direct a dog off-leash through an obstacle course. Originally loosely modeled on equestrian stadium jumpers competitions, the sport has evolved its own additional obstacles, scoring systems and performance ideals. Agility made its debut as an entertainment for spectators at the Crufts Dog Show in 1979; it has since become the most rapidly growing dog sport in England, Western Europe and North America. Spectators continue today to get caught up watching the dog and handler's enthusiasm in their athletic race against the clock.
In the United States, there are several national organizations for agility which sanction tests or trials held by local dog training clubs. Trials which are based on the original international rules and specifications call for the highest level of agility from the dogs both in terms of speed and the physical ability to perform the obstacles. There are also domestic varieties of the sport that call for less actual agility (by using lower jump heights and smaller obstacles) from the dog and focus more on the handling aspects of the game.
There are several obstacles common to all the different organizations:

• Aframe
• Dog Walk
• Teeter
• Tunnel
• Collapsed Tunnel
• Pause Table
• Weave Poles
• Tire or Hoop Jump

Various Types of Jumps The obstacles used in agility have been designed with both safety and spectator appeal in mind. All jumps have easily displaceable bars so that the dog should not experience injury should he misjudge and take down a jump bar. All obstacles that the dog must physically scale have 'contact' zones painted on the equipment; the contact zones enforce safe training techniques since handlers know that dogs will be faulted unless one or more feet are in the contact zones when ascending/descending these contact obstacles. All contact equipment surfaces are roughened for good traction in both dry and wet weather.
In competition, the obstacles are arranged in various course configurations, always unique from trial to trial, that offer levels of challenges appropriate to the class and experience level of the dogs competing. The handler must direct their dog around the course in the sequence that has been predetermined by the judge. At the entry levels of competitions, courses contain few complications and are more of a test to prove the dog can competently perform the equipment within a reasonable amount of time. As the dog and handler earn their way into successively higher levels, the courses increase in complexity and begin to require split second timing and coordination between the handler and dog in order to accomplish the course within the 'Standard Course Time' (SCT) established by the judge.
The rules are fairly simple; handlers may give an unlimited number of commands or signals to their dogs, but may not touch either the equipment or the dog. Dogs are 'faulted' for actions such as taking down a jump bar, failing to put one or more feet in the safety or contact zone when ascending/descending contact equipment, taking obstacles out of sequence, and running past or stopping before the next obstacle to be performed. Time penalties are additionally assessed against dogs that exceed the SCT.
Dogs compete only against dogs of similar height at the withers within a fixed number of jump height divisions. The number of height divisions and the ranges of dog heights assigned to a height division (and therefore the difficulty factor) differ considerably from organization to organization. Regardless of the organization, the dog with the lowest number of faults and the fastest time wins the class or height division.

More information can be found at: www.erinet.com/ghost/agility.htm

Your job...
 

Teach -  your dog can’t do it unless you teach him how

• Dogs learn best from success not failure – set your dog up to succeed
• Test your dog only after you are 100% sure he knows what to do!
• Re-teach if necessary – you probably did not communicate effectively the first time!
• The timing of rewards is critical!  Unless you use a clicker the reward must come at the instant of success!

Coach  -  never forget to encourage your dog to constantly increase his level of performance

• Keep your dog fit! Keep his weight down!
• Warm up your dog – stretch him as any athelete would (Don’t forget to stretch yourself!)
• Don’t Nag your Dog!  You are your dog’s cheerleader!
• Always test for distance
• Speed – never work slow – all practice must be at top speed and drive – you must maintain enthusiasm

Lead  -  in training and on course your timing and signals must be impeccable – your dog can’t read your mind!  You are ½ the team!  If you didn’t do your part right your dog can’t do his right. If your heart isn’t in it don’t train!  Wait for a better time!

Reward-  always let your dog know when he is correct and that you are pleased!  Positive reinforcement works better than negative reinforcement.  Rewards can be in the form of a treat or toy – both are used at Zonies!  Jackpot super effort!  And of course praise is always important and will increase the bond between you and your dog making an even better team!
Never yell at your dog!

Safety - at anytime you do not feel conditions are safe for your dog or for you – speak up – DO NOT WORK YOUR DOG!  Many of us have refused to run a dog at a trial due to wet or windy conditions!  You know your dog best and are the only one who can determine what is best for your dog.  Small dogs are affected most by windy conditions. Large fast dogs are effected most by wet slippery conditions!  All dogs are affected by extreme heat or humidity.

Have Fun!
 
 

Your dog’s job...

Perform each obstacle fully and completely – exactly the way you taught him

• Come to a full stop in all contact zones
• Perform “ALL” weave poles
• Enter weave poles correctly
• Find the tunnel entrance without help
• Obstacle discrimination

Understand and perform directional commands upon request

• Turns, Switches, Out, In, RVP etc

Commitment – Eagerly pursue obstacles in front of him unless he is told otherwise

Follow your lead

• Be tuned into your body and  voice – be ½ the team

Have Fun!
 

REMEMBER:    THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE FUN!  If at any time you or your dog are not eager and in a hurry to get to class or practice something is wrong!  If you can’t figure it out ASK FOR HELP!