Agility is a dog sport in which you direct your dog through a course of jumps and obstacles. It is a unique test of athleticism and partnership between dog and handler.
Agility can add exercise, training practice, communication, and joy to your life with your dog, whether you are interested in a fun activity or pursuing a competition event.
What is agility?
Agility is a dog sport in which a handler guides a dog to jump over, on, around or through obstacles in a course. Agility can be done as a backyard hobby, as a non-competitive activity with a club or training center, or as a competitive sport where you strive for titles. Agility isn’t limited to the super-athletic dogs you might have seen flying around a ring in an online video: agility can be taught to dogs of every shape, size, breed and ability level.
Why agility?
Dog agility has multiple physical, training and enrichment benefits for you and your dog.
Many dogs love moving their bodies by jumping, climbing or burrowing, and agility is a perfect outlet for that energy. Picture the dog who loves to jump on people learning to jump through a hoop instead. Imagine the dog who regularly runs wild circles around his family learning to weave through a series of poles instead. A dog that learns agility gets physical exercise and mental work as he learns to navigate the agility course, all in a human-approved place to do their natural dog behaviors.
You can learn so much about your dog through agility. To safely navigate your dog through a course, you need to be aware of the environment, read your dog’s body language, and problem solve. You observe how your dog learns, how he moves, and what motivates him. And because you need to guide him through the course, you get some physical exercise too!
Agility can also improve and build on the communication between you and your dog. During agility, you learn to give your dog clear and consistent instruction and your dog learns to respond to your instructions with the appropriate behavior. In the ring, that might mean teaching your dog to go over a jump and then stay on a table for a few seconds. You can see how that could translate into situations in your daily life with your dog, such as teaching him to come when called or to stay while you tie your shoe. Agility is a win-win for the dog and the human.
Agility equipment
Agility courses can feature obstacles like jumps, tires, A-frame, elevated walkways, a pause box, tunnels, chutes, and weave poles. Each of these requires different skills from your dog. Agility equipment ranges from simple pieces you can purchase online for home use to large, weighted items that are used for formal competitions.
In a competition, the agility course is set up differently every time. You and your dog proceed from stations marked 1 to 10 (or more) at different obstacles. Your score on a run is based on how fast and how accurately your dog completes the course.
Agility training
Training for agility involves teaching your dog more than how to jump, climb, and balance. Though those skills are needed, the dog also needs to learn how to pay attention to their handler, run safely, work at a distance from the handler, and navigate the ring and equipment despite distractions.
You need to teach your dog how to approach and access each obstacle individually, since the dog needs different physical and mental skills for each one. For example, teaching a dog to go over a jump requires a different skill than teaching a dog to weave in and out of a set of poles. Each obstacle or skill is broken down into small, achievable steps, which gives both you and your dog a sense of accomplishment.
Reward-based training techniques, such as clicker training and lure reward training, are the way to go for agility training. Agility, or any dog sport, should be a fun and pleasurable activity for you and your dog. Reward-based training will keep your dog motivated and will ensure he’s a willing participant, and isn’t that what we want for our dogs?
Getting started with agility
Before you begin any type of dog sport, have your veterinarian evaluate your dog’s age and fitness for the type of physical actions that will be required. This will ensure your dog isn’t asked to do things outside of his comfort zone and helps prevent injuries. For example, the growth plates of young dogs have not yet closed, and repeated stress on their joints can cause lifelong damage.
If your dog needs a brush-up on basic and foundation behaviors, find a training class or private trainer that uses positive reinforcement training. Then look for agility classes at local dog training centers, agility clubs, or dog sports clubs in your area. There are also online options that could help you get started. Join beginner classes so that you and your dog can learn at an appropriate pace.
Practicing at home between classes will help reinforce what you learn in class and provide a fun activity for you and your dog. You can practice sending your dog around an obstacle, asking for a stay before calling them to you or through a jump, or setting up weave poles in your yard.
Always practice at your team’s ability level, and increase difficulty only when your dog is ready! Safety, confidence, and fun are your top priorities!
Next steps with agility
If you want to learn more about agility or expand on the bit you’ve already started, you can find more through your local agility club or by searching for online positive agility training resources, including classes, coaching, or how-to videos.
Remember that agility should be fun for all involved. If you find yourself or your dog frustrated, avoiding the ring or equipment, or showing less enthusiasm, seek out expert guidance. Also, agility is a test of partnership, not of extreme athleticism. Higher jumps, more extreme turns, or winning every title might not be the best goal for your dog. Remember – your dog doesn’t understand what a title even is! Enjoying the sport and the time with your dog is the ultimate goal.
