ou have seen agility dog trials on television, possibly seen some in person and have been left with both excitement and some bewilderment. There on a standard size course
roughly 100x100 are obstacles in which dog and handler run different patterns, some with success, some with failures which are obvious like the bar which is knocked down. Some dogs and handlers run
close together, others far apart. Upon occasion there is silence as dog and handler complete a course. More often you hear verbal commands.
So let us get up close as to what is actually happening. That begins with a course a particular judge has laid out for your level of agility competition. A course is found below.
Then we shall introduce you some of the actual obstacles which will include the obstacle specifications for AKC sanctioned agility trials, which is taken from Regulations for Agility Trials, amended to September 1, 2006 published by The American Kennel Club (AKC)
The course to your left is part of an agility trial called Jumps with Weaves or simply JWW and contains only jumps and weave poles.
Notice that there are some circles with a number or a s for start and f for finish. We begin at the s for start and proceed in the number order which is beside a standard symbol for the obstacle on the course and end up at the f for finish.
The objective is to have a clean run in the shortest time possible. The cleanest run and in the shortest time determines the winner for a group.
Although the JWW portion of agility is to select a winner or winners there is also the ultimate satisfaction of beating your own time from a previous JWW trial run which also gives both dog and handler an opportunity to plan future courses of action and training to fine tune this exhilarating sport of Agility.
Standard Agility Course
The second Agility course to your left is called Standard. In addition to the jumps and weaves as in the JWW course above it also has any contact obstacle which includes dogwalk, A-frame, teeter-totter, crossover, tunnels, jumps (standard, double, panel or broad), tire jump, table or pause box.
Notice that the course also has the standard symbols as in the JWW course.
The objective is also to have a clean run in the shortest time possible.
A dog may earn a title in JWW and standard in competition level of novice, open or excellent.
These two courses are from a dog trial in which our Shetland Sheepdogs competed which serve to let someone wishing to be involved in the sport of agility, see what you will be handed prior to competition and walking the course. Oh yes, we are given an opportunity to plan strategy for both the handler and dog. First walk the course as the handler, then get down at dog level to see what our fur child may or may not see. Then temper the handlers idea and the dogs idea of how the course should be or could be run. Always expect the unexpected too and realize that handlers make most of the mistakes, not our dogs.
Below you will find some of the obstacles found in an AKC Standard trial.
Here comes Super Dog through the tire jump. A handler does not always see the excitement and precision form of our dog when going through a tire jump because we hope to be past this obstacle, when the jump is completed.
But if you are running your first standard course, having a picture like the one to your left will certainly give you goose bumps and a fond memory of an exciting adventure, for both you and your dog.
The Tire Jump consists of a tire (or a circular object that resembles a tire) suspended from a rectangular frame. The inner diameter of the tire is 24 inches plus or minus an inch, and the wall is 3 to 8 inches thick. There must be at least 7 inches between the outside of the tire and sides of the frame, and the frame must be tall enough to accommodate the tire at seven different jump heights, as specified for the Bar Jump. The uprights of the frame shall be secured to the base must be weighted or secured properly to the running surface. The jump height is measured from the group to the bottom of the tire opening. The tire shall not be displaceable off the frame. The tire shall have a minimum depth of 2 inches and must be made of a flexible material, such as rubber or plastic to allow some give if hit by the dog.
Standard Agility Course
Star masters the teeter and is always very careful either at home or at a trial. The approach is down, then reaching center with a redistribution of weight, there will either be a soft or hard bounce at the end. Working with various teeters (wood, aluminum and planked) will condition both you and your dog for the variety of teeters which will be found at AKC trials and add to the versatility for approaching this obstacle.
The Seesaw (teeter) consists of a plank (or panel) made of a wood or fabricated material that can be properly surfaced and is supported near the center by a base that acts as a fulcrum. The plank is 12 inches wide with a 1-inch tolerance, and 12 feet long. The base extends at least 2 inches past the sides of the plank with a gap not to exceed 4 inches so that dogs can see the pivot point, with the exception of the ground support which may be wider. The plank is balanced so that it hits the group in less than 3 seconds when a 3 pound weight is placed 12 inches from the raised end. The height of the Seesaw measured to the top of the board at the pivot is 24 inches plus or minus 2 inches. The top surface of the plank is painted and has a rough, non-slip surface. Glossy paint is not allowed. (Alternating layers of sand and flat, latex paint are recommended.) Slats are not allowed on the Seesaw. Contact zones, 42 inches long, are painted on each end of the plank with a 1/4 inch tolerance.
This is one happy dog. She loves to jump. So do most dogs and for that reason to work with various jumps like panel and winged ones will be excellent preparation for either a trial or fun match where there is a sense of competition.
Did you notice that Star is not jumping from the center of the jump to your right? Having a clean jump over this obstacle and completing the course in the shortest time possible involves positioning for the next obstacle and how both of you have made the approach from the previous obstacle.
Bar jumps consist of bars that are supported by bar supports that are mounted to uprights. The supports must be positioned so that the tops of the bars can be set within 1/4 inch of the seven different heights (4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24 and 26 inches) Jump heights must be designated on the uprights by number or color coded. An additional position for a bar placed 2 to 6 inches above the ground is also required. Unless a jump is specified as a One Bar Jump by the judge, all jumps shall have at least two bars. In the Novice class, the lower bar shall be placed at about half the height of the top bar. In all other classes lower bar placement shall be determined by the judge.
The bars must be either cylindrical with 1.25 to 1.75 inch diameters, or square with 1.25 to 1.75 inch sides. Construction from wood or plastic, they must be 4 to 5 feet long and striped for visibility.
Additional specifications apply but you should have a good idea of the bar jump.
Super Dog leaping tall buildings, like the A-Frame but there is always the down side and keeping the head lower than the tail so the proper full contact in the yellow zone will be accomplished. Oh yes there is also a contact zone in the upside of the A-Frame too.
Body position is important for the handler, least your dog be inadvertently pulled off the obstacle.
The A-Frame is constructed from two panels, the top surface of which is constructed from wood or other fabricated material that can be properly surfaced. The panels are 35 to 49 inches wide, and their length is with 2 inches of 9 feet. Panels shall be flat and straight, and connected so as to eliminate gaps large enough to fit a dog's foot or toe. Panels may be 4 feet wide at the bottom and taper to 3 feet wide at the top if desired. The height of the A-Frame is to be set within 1 inch of 5 feet 6 inches, except for the 26 inch jump height, which shall have the A-Frame set to within 1 inch of 5 feet 7 inches. The top surface is painted and has a rough, non-slip surface (alternating layers of sand and flat latex paint are recommended. Glossy paint is not allowed. Slats are placed across the width of the panels to provide footing. They are 3/8 inch to 1/2 inch thick and 3/4 inch to 1-1/2 inch wide, and they extend to within 1/4 inch of the panel sides. Slat edges shall be rounded or beveled so as not to be sharp, and 1/4 inch radius is recommended. The centers of the slats are placed at 12 inch intervals with a 2 inch tolerance, and no slat is within 4 inches of the top of a contact zone. Contact zones are painted on the lower 42 inches of both panels with a 1/3 inch tolerance. The color of the zones must contract with the rest of the panel, but may not be white, black or brown. Bright yellow contact zones are recommended. It is recommended that the contact zone color extend to the side of the contact.
Eat you heart out, Mary Lou Retton. This dog walk is lower than one you will find at a trial and is used for training purposes. There is an upside and downside, both of which have yellow contacts
Notice my shoulders are perpendicular to the obstacle which will keep my dog on a straight path.
A dog walk consists of a center section and two ramp sections, the surfaces of which are made from wood or other fabricated material that can be properly surfaced. All sections are 12 inches wide, plus or minus an inch, and all are 12 feet long. Planks shall be connected so as to eliminate gaps large enough to fit a dog's foot or toe. Within a 2 inch tolerance, the top of the center section is 48 inches above the group. The top surfaces of all sections are painted and have rough, non-slip surfaces. (Alternating layers of sand and flat, latex paint are recommended.) Glossy paint is not allowed. Slats that conform to those described for the A-Frame are placed across the width of the ramp sections to provide footing. Contact zones are painted on the lower portion of the plank 45 inches of the ascending side (upside) ramp and the lower 42 inches of the descending side (downside) ramp. Both contact zones will have a 1/4 inch tolerance, using the color specification described for the A-Frame. The slats on the ascending side ramp may be within 4 inches of the top of the contact zone.
Dogs love tunnels. Dogs also love trucks. The tunnel has a solid entrance and I can only imagine what is going
through Stars mind when everything becomes darker in the chute, so I will let her know that I am near and moving where she can follow and not get tangled up in the chute.
But I always glance back to see her emerging from the chute where those ears are perked, short hair raised and an occasional bark, bark. Then I know she is excited and pleased with herself and me too.
There are two types of tunnels, open and closed. The closed tunnel above consists of a rigid entrance section, a solid material on both top and bottom of the chute opening. This construction should be as a continuous barrel look. A flat surface on the top is discouraged. The chute is attached to this barrel type of opening. The entrance section is 24 to 36 inches long, with the opening either 24 inches in diameter or 24 inches in width and height, with a 2 inch tolerance. The top edge of the opening shall be cushioned to prevent dogs from scraping their back when entering. The bottom inside surface of this section must have a non-slip surface, which may be provided by attaching a non-slip material. If the entrance section is cylindrical, the non-slip surface must extend to a height of at least 6 inches. The entrance section is either so heavy that dogs cannot move it when passing through the chute; or else it shall be secured in place.
The major portion of the tunnel is formed by a chute, which is formed by a chute, which is constructed from an opaque, light-weight, rugged, cloth-like, water-resistant material, such as rip stop nylon or pack cloth. It has only two openings, one of which is attached to the end of the entrance section, and one through which dogs exit the tunnel. The circumference of the chute flares from the circumference of the opening section to 96 inches at the exit. The length of the chute is such that the overall length of the Closed Tunnel is 12 feet with a 2 inch tolerance.
At the judge's discretion, the length of the fabric chute may be reduced to six feet in length in severe weather conditions. Severe weather includes rain, sleep and snow, but does not include dew, or windy conditions.
Do you wonder what those alpha strings behind a dogs name mean or stand for? Wonder no more for I have prepared an introduction on this page, which is just for AKC, but you will get the idea of how other organizations form their titles too.
© 2005-2009 Carolyn Lancaster