If you would like to be a part of dog agility, you are not alone. This sport has become hugely popular since its creation in the 1970s. Every dog agility organization is a little bit different. Each has designed its own unique dog obstacles courses and each has its own rules and restrictions, but here are a few bits of basic information that might help those who are just starting out.
There will be a mix of obstacles on your course, and this will include contact obstacles, tunnels, jumps, a pause table, weave poles and perhaps a few other items. Typically, the contact obstacles include the a-frame, a dog walk and a teeter totter. Obviously, it takes a good deal of practice to navigate each obstacle correctly. At Carlson Agility, you can find all the agility equipment you need for agility training, including the dog agility a-frame, dog agility jumps, tunnels, teeters and everything you need to create your own dog agility course.
The goal is to complete a run through the course without incurring any faults. You can earn a time fault if the dog does not complete the course within the time set by the organization. Every organization has different time restrictions, and the restrictions also might vary between competition classes. Generally there will be different classes based on the size, age and experience level of the dogs. Some classes might have fewer obstacles or have more time, and this varies by organization.
In addition to time faults, there are many other faults you might incur. A missed contact fault indicates that the dog incorrectly navigated one of the contact obstacles. Sometimes a dog will get up to the obstacle, then pause or turn away, and this is called a refusal, which also is a fault. If the dog runs passed the obstacle they were supposed to navigate, this is another type of fault known as a runout. Dogs also receive a fault for completing obstacles out of order, and this is called an off course fault. Dogs can earn faults for knocking over a jump pole or for incorrectly going through the weave poles, which are one of the most difficult obstacles to learn.
Even handlers are not immune from earning faults. For instance, handlers are not allowed to touch obstacles or touch the dog, if this happens whether on purpose or by accident, it is called a handling fault. Another fault is given if the handler appears to be training rather than simply giving signals to help guide the dog through the course. Handlers also can get into trouble for bringing incentives on to the course, such as a toy or a treat. Dogs are meant to complete the course without the use of any kind of incentive.
If you wish to train and compete in dog agility competitions, simply contact the organization with which you wish to compete and ask for a set of regulations. Study them carefully and train using their guidelines. The more familiar you are with the rules, the better your training will be and the more likely your dog will be to achieve success on the agility course.
There will be a mix of obstacles on your course, and this will include contact obstacles, tunnels, jumps, a pause table, weave poles and perhaps a few other items. Typically, the contact obstacles include the a-frame, a dog walk and a teeter totter. Obviously, it takes a good deal of practice to navigate each obstacle correctly. At Carlson Agility, you can find all the agility equipment you need for agility training, including the dog agility a-frame, dog agility jumps, tunnels, teeters and everything you need to create your own dog agility course.
The goal is to complete a run through the course without incurring any faults. You can earn a time fault if the dog does not complete the course within the time set by the organization. Every organization has different time restrictions, and the restrictions also might vary between competition classes. Generally there will be different classes based on the size, age and experience level of the dogs. Some classes might have fewer obstacles or have more time, and this varies by organization.
In addition to time faults, there are many other faults you might incur. A missed contact fault indicates that the dog incorrectly navigated one of the contact obstacles. Sometimes a dog will get up to the obstacle, then pause or turn away, and this is called a refusal, which also is a fault. If the dog runs passed the obstacle they were supposed to navigate, this is another type of fault known as a runout. Dogs also receive a fault for completing obstacles out of order, and this is called an off course fault. Dogs can earn faults for knocking over a jump pole or for incorrectly going through the weave poles, which are one of the most difficult obstacles to learn.
Even handlers are not immune from earning faults. For instance, handlers are not allowed to touch obstacles or touch the dog, if this happens whether on purpose or by accident, it is called a handling fault. Another fault is given if the handler appears to be training rather than simply giving signals to help guide the dog through the course. Handlers also can get into trouble for bringing incentives on to the course, such as a toy or a treat. Dogs are meant to complete the course without the use of any kind of incentive.
If you wish to train and compete in dog agility competitions, simply contact the organization with which you wish to compete and ask for a set of regulations. Study them carefully and train using their guidelines. The more familiar you are with the rules, the better your training will be and the more likely your dog will be to achieve success on the agility course.
About the Author:
Cheng Bernhardt loves dog agility training. To find an agility equipment for dogs, or to find useful agility dog training equipment such as dog agility kit, please check out the Carlson-Agility site now.
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