You may be wondering if agility is something you’d like to commit
to doing with your dog. Drop by a fun match or even an agility trial
and watch what goes on. (Be aware that you may be watching competition,
which is something I don’t cover in this book. If you’re
interested in getting started in competition, check out the agility
books in the reference list at the back of this book.)
Unless you’re planning on participating, don’t bring your dog
just yet.Watch the dogs as they go through the course. Notice the
teamwork between the handler and her dog. Both members of this
partnership have a special bond of trust in each other.
“My dog can’t do that!” you might say. “Look at all the work
that went into training!”Yes, while training is part of agility, it’s not
as hard as you think nor is it harsh or rigorous.The agility training in
this book uses only positive methods that are fun for you and your
dog.
So let’s look at possible reasons why you might think agility isn’t
right for you:
• My dog is a mixed breed. Fact: Mixed breeds do very well in agility
and all sanctioning organizations allow mixed breeds in competition,
except AKC.
• I’ve never trained my dog to do anything before. Fact: It’s never too late
to train a dog to do fun things.
• My dog could never do that. Fact: Unless your dog is older than eight years old, has hip dysplasia, or is incapacitated in some way, he can do agility. Don’t limit your dog by your preconceived notions. Even dogs older than eight can do agility in a limited fashion if they are in good health.
• My dog is too small (or too large) for agility. Fact:Toy breeds and giant
breeds all compete in agility. I’ve seen Chihuahuas, Great Danes,
and Basset Hounds do agility successfully.
• I don’t have time to do anything with my dog. Fact:Why do you have
a dog in the first place? A dog is a commitment and a companion,
not an animal to be relegated to the backyard. If you have a dog,
part of that commitment is to exercise her.
• Agility equipment costs too much. Fact:You can put together some
agility equipment with just basic hand tools, and you can purchase
some very inexpensive pieces as well. Agility clubs and training
centers often have drop-in classes that allow your dog to train on
equipment for a few bucks.
• I don’t know where I could go to learn agility. Fact:There are agility
trainers, classes, and clubs throughout the United States including
Alaska, Montana, and Hawaii. Internationally, there are clubs in
Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Bermuda, Canada, Columbia,
Croatia, England, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland,
Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Peru, Portugal,
Scotland, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland, and more
appear every day. If there isn’t a club nearby, you can always get
information, equipment, and support on the Internet.
• I have a disability. Fact: Many people with disabilities have trained
and competed in agility. Since you’re considering agility for fun and
not for competition, this is a great way to interact with your dog.
• I’m out of shape (or overweight, or older, or can’t run a lot). Fact:While
competitive teams may run around, agility is something you can
do at your own pace and at your leisure. Some people who can’t
run much have taught their dogs to run the course without them
by directing the dog toward the obstacles.
There are some legitimate reasons for not trying agility. These
include:
• Your dog is too old and feeble or has an injury or medical condition
that precludes him from doing agility without getting injured
or harming his health.
• Your dog is aggressive toward people or other dogs.Work out the
behavioral problems with an animal behaviorist before exposing
your pet to others.
• Your dog is too young.Wait until your puppy is about six months
old before starting agility. Then jump him only at heights below
his hock and take extra precautions so he doesn’t risk injury
before he’s fully grown.
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