AGILITY
Many people think agility offers the most fun it’s possible to have with a dog, and it might be hard to argue. What could be more of a thrill than running with your dog as he leaps over jumps, plunges through tunnels and chutes, and flies over the dog walk, A frame, and teeter?
Agility is enormous fun, but it has serious benefits as well. Agility can build confidence in a timid dog, bring a shy dog out of his shell, help a slightly portly dog take off weight and build muscle. Perhaps most important, agility training fosters a strong bond between dog and handler. Many a “problem dog” has found a path to redemption among the jumps and tunnels of an agility course.
You can get started in agility without making any big decisions about whether or not you want to compete. In our beginning classes, your dog will learn efficient jumping and climbing skills, and you’ll master the basics of agility handling. Almost from the start, we’ll work on weave poles, too. After all, they’re the only agility skill with no counterpart in real life, so they’re a bit more challenging to master.
As you and your dog begin to gain confidence,
you’ll start putting together combinations you
can use on a real course. If you’re planning
to compete, you’ll start learning strategies to
put to use in the ring.
Kim will keep a sharp eye on your development
and let you know when you and your dog are
ready to sign up for a trial. When the big day
rolls around, you’ll find that you’re there in the
company of other DSK students, and you’ll
watch each other’s performances and trade
tips and support. You may also be astounded
to find, even as a beginner, that top handlers
who also train at Kim’s will recognize you at trials
and offer friendly advice from time to time.
In the St. Louis area, AKC offers by far the most agility trials each year, but you can also compete in a few offered by CPE (Canine Performance Events), USDAA (United States Dog Agility Association), NADAC (North American Dog Agility Council), and, if you have a small dog, TDAA (Teacup Dogs Agility Association).
Until April 2010, only purebred dogs could compete in AKC events, so mixed-breed dogs had many fewer options. Now, though, with the opening of AKC to mixed breeds, all dogs compete on the same level and vie for the same awards.
This has opened up a whole new world of opportunities for mixed-breed dogs, and at Dog Sports at Kim’s, we’re training these dogs to compete and win in AKC competition.
