How do you get started in agility?
Agility can be practiced in your backyard for fun, you can take lessons with a trainer and there are also thousands of competitions (called trials) around the country all year long. You can learn many skills on Youtube where you can also view videos on how to make your own agility equipment. Your dog must also have the basic obedience skills such as sit, stay and come. Building these skills and relationship with your dog may be as far as you want to go. For a list of local trainers, go to Local Dog Training Facilities on our website.
If, however, you enjoy competitions and being around other dog lovers, once your dog has basic agility skills you can enter a trial at the Novice/Beginner level. At your first few trials, your dog will be measured by a Volunteer Measuring Official (VMO) so that you know what size he/she will jump at. After they have been measured several times, you will receive an official “Height Card” for your dog. Dogs as small as Yorkies jump at 4” high bars and Dobermans jump at 24” high bars.
At each trial, a new and different course is built for each class. During a typical day, six to ten classes are held. Each course will have different obstacles (such as jumps, A-frame, dog walk, teeter, weave poles, broad jump, wall jump, tire jump and tables). Your job is to successfully run the course with your dog in the correct order, making only the allowed number of mistakes and within the allotted time. You are actually competing against the clock and your skills, not the other dogs.
Once you do this, you have “qualified, or “Q'd”. In AKC (see "What are the differences between the different agility organization?" below) when you ”Q” three times, you move up to the next level. Again, you must qualify three more times at this harder level in order to move up to the next harder level. Once at the Master Level, points start accruing toward the title MACH (Master Agility Champion).
Trials always have a Judge who will watch your run and call any errors.
Trials are hosted by agility clubs (like our Blue Ridge Agility Club) or by training facilities. All of the administration for the trial is done by the Trial Secretary, a very important and skilled position. Entrance fees differ from trial to trial and are based on the number of classes you enroll in.
Who can run agility?
Anyone who can move can run agility. At any trial you will see young and fast athletes and old and infirmed athletes. They all just love the sport. They are called “handlers”.
Any dog of any size can run agility as long as it is in good health and non-aggressive. Typically puppies cannot run until they are 15 months old so that their bones are strong.
Dogs can be purebreds or mutts, but each dog must register with the sponsoring organizations (see number 3, below) to get an official number.
Dogs can move down to a lower jump height so that it is easier for them, if you so choose.
What are the differences between the different agility organization?
Different agility organizations (American Kennel Club – AKC, UK Agility International – UKI, United States Dog Agility Association – USDAA, North American Dog Agility Council - NADAC, to name a few) sponsor agility trials. You can compete in trials from all of these organizations, although they each have different rules and titles.
Each organization has different levels of competition and different ways of moving up from one level to another. As mentioned above, AKC and USDAA use the number of qualifying runs. UKI and NADAC use points.
Each organization offers some of the same classes and some different classes. Each organization offers a “standard” class (with all the obstacles) and a “jumpers” class (with only jumps and weave poles). There are additional classes, too, that may be offered. UKI offers a “gamblers” class, as does AKC and NADAC. NADAC also offers “tunnelers” and “weavers” classes and USDAA offers a “snooker” class, to name just a few.
Points or qualifying runs do NOT transfer between organizations. Also, you can find that you run at different levels at each organization.
For more information, visit:
AKC
USDAA
UKI
NADAC
How do you enter a trial?
The most important step is to get the Premium, the official notice of the trial. It is always posted on the Trial Secretary's website. It contains all the information you need as well as the entry form. For detailed instructions on filling out an entry form, click here to view Tina Eastman's Entry Form Checklist. You either print the entry form and send it in with your fees or enter the trial online (through Labtestedonline.com).
On the entry form you will fill out which classes you want to enter for each day and at what height you think your dog runs. Each organization has different height cutoffs so your dog might jump at 12” in AKC but 8” in UKI.
If you get your entry in before the closing date and there are runs available, the Trial Secretary will send you an email confirming what classes you have been accepted into. This email will be sent only after the Trial closes.
A few days before the trial, the Trial Secretary will send you an email with the running order and approximate schedule. That way you can see about what times you are running and where in the running order you are.
Some people enter one class a day and some people enter every available class; it is entirely up to you.
It's your first trial - what should you know?
Get there really early, several hours before your first run. You will need to set up the crate, walk and water your dog, get measured and find out in which ring you will be running which classes, etc..
Early every morning of the trial, course maps will be on display for each class (and on the app Agility Gate if it is being used). You can choose to study the maps and start to plan your runs. There are no printed maps except the ones that are posted at the trial; most people just take a picture of them.
Be sure you know if food and drinks will be for sale at the venue; sometimes they are and sometimes they aren't. Regardless, it will be very basic food. If nothing will be for sale, you must bring your own.
You will probably want to bring a chair for yourself, a cooler with food/treats, perhaps a towel (if it is raining), many poop bags, food/water/treats for your dog, dishes for food and water, perhaps something to cover the crate (for your dog's comfort), a tarp, etc. Many handlers have wagons to help them cart all of their things in and out of the venue.
Some trials are held indoors, some are outdoors and some are in covered but open arenas. Be prepared to deal with rain or lots of sun.
There might be two rings running simultaneously offering different classes or just one ring. Agility trials won't work unless many people volunteer during each class. Typically, each class requires seven – eight volunteers and that's not including the course builders. Many clubs will award you a voucher worth a few dollars each time you volunteer; you can use these vouchers for entries at future trials or with vendors attending the trial. There will be big white boards on display and someone will be in charge of recruiting volunteers; you can just write your name next to the job you would like to do. Have no fear about not knowing what you're doing; just tell someone you're new and they will explain everything and help. Some jobs require lots of walking and some require lots of sitting so you can pick whatever is best for you.
During the trial, feel free to talk with other handlers but make sure your dog is under your control (or better yet, in its crate). The only time handlers don't want to talk is before their runs as they are concentrating. Be sure to congratulate people on whatever successes they have; we are a supportive group of people.
