Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, July 17, 1994 TAG: 9407190022
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 12 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Karen Davis
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
``Agility is a complicated obstacle course for dogs that evolved from elements in horse show stadium jumping and police canine obstacle courses,'' said Julie Daniels of North Sandwich, N.H. Daniels, an agility trainer, competitor, judge, and author of ``Enjoying Dog Agility,'' was in Roanoke recently to give a two-day agility training seminar.
Racing against the clock, dogs jump equestrian-type hurdles, burrow through tunnels, traverse a teeter-totter, scale an A-frame pyramid, negotiate a narrow dog walk and zig-zag through a line of closely-spaced ``weave poles.'' In competition, dogs perform these feats on command and ``naked,'' that is, without collar and leash, Daniels said, so agility training is a good way for dog and owner to develop off-leash control.
The sport originated in England at the Crufts International Dog Show in 1978, Daniels said, as half-time entertainment between group judging events. By the mid-1980s, the sport had spread to America, where several versions now exist with their own rules and regulations.
The United States Dog Agility Association (USDAA), established in 1986, patterns its rules and obstacles after the English version and is the most demanding, emphasizing speed and precision, Daniels said. But other versions, such as the National Club for Dog Agility (NCDA), founded in 1991, offer a more low-key approach and require less ring space in which to set up obstacles. Some versions are open to mixed breeds, some are not.
With the American Kennel Club now developing its own version of the sport, agility's ``popularity will explode in 1995,'' Daniels predicts. There's already even a game show variation of the sport, called ``That's My Dog,'' that airs on cable TV channels.
Because of the variations available to all breeds and abilities, agility has been touted as the ``sport for all dogs.'' Any healthy, fit dog can do it, and owners find it a fun way to spend ``quality time'' and develop a positive working relationship with their dogs, Daniels said. To dogs, agility is like constructive play. Even spectators enjoy the sport's excitement and simplicity.
``It's like watching stadium jumping with horses,'' said dog trainer Kaffa Shank. ``The average person can watch and readily see why this dog won and that one didn't.''
Dogs that fail to complete an obstacle properly score faults, and the dog with the fewest faults wins, with time as the tie-breaker.
Agility training can be undertaken at any age, said Shank, a partner with Canine Consultants, which began offering agility classes in the Roanoke area about two years ago.
``Puppies need to be vaccinated and controllable on a leash,'' Shank said. ``Puppies are fearless and curious, and if they're presented to the obstacles in a safe environment, they'll learn to enjoy the sport.''
While prior obedience training is not a requirement, some knowledge of basic commands, like ``come,'' ``sit'' and ``down'' are a plus because they help the owner maintain control during class, Shank said.
Canine Consultants' agility classes typically run for six weeks and are now underway every Thursday in a grassy field beside Mud Lick Kennels on Old Salem Road. Additional classes are planned for fall. At present, the nearest agility competition takes place in Danville, Shank said.
Training is undertaken in slow increments, with jumps gradually adjusted to new heights, so as not to intimidate the dogs, Shank said. After a minimum of six months training, dogs usually are ready to test their skills in introductory level trials or fun matches.
Obstacle training is said to be the easiest part of the training, while developing the communication necessary to tell the dog which obstacle to perform in a pre-set sequence is harder. Agility course configurations require the handler to direct the dog through right or left turns toward the next obstacle. Sometimes, an obstacle may be repeated from the opposite direction. Pause obstacles require that the dog lie down and stay put for several seconds, and faults are scored if the dog gets up too soon.
While the accurate performance of each obstacle is what wins the awards and titles, the true essence and beauty of the sport is the smooth teamwork between dog and handler as they move around the course together.
Karen L. Davis is a Roanoke free-lance writer and pet owner. Her column runs twice a month. Send general-interest questions to The Pet Podium, in care of the Features Department, Roanoke Times & World-News, P.O. Box 2491, Roanoke, Va. 24010-2491.|
|STEPHANIE KLEIN-DAVIS/Staff
by CNB