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 SLODOG contact:  Lynn Goodwin, agility@slodog.org
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Apr 5 |
Saturday Run-Throughs |
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Apr 12 |
Therapy Dog visit |
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Dog agility is a sport in which a handler is given a set amount of time to direct an off-leash dog through an obstacle course. The sport is very exciting, both to watch and participate in, and it helps build a bond between dog and handler that reaches far beyond the confines of the ring. Canine agility has become tremendously popular since its 1979 debut as an entertainment for spectators at the Crufts Dog Show. It's currently the most rapidly growing dog sport in England, Western Europe and North America. Champions come in all shapes and sizes, from the Great Dane to the Jack Russell Terrier to every hound, herder and mutt in between. Small dogs compete against small dogs, large dogs against large dogs. Dog agility courses were originally modeled loosely on equestrian stadium jumper courses and consisted largely of jumps that combined height, breadth and proximity to each other to establish levels of difficulty. But during its evolution the sport has developed unique obstacles -- hoops, weaves, tunnels, to name a few -- and its scoring systems and performance ideals are today very much its own. In the United States, any of several national agility-focused organizations can sanction tests (called "trials") held by local dog training clubs. International rules and specifications govern the trials, which demand extreme canine agility in terms of speed, obstacle-related athleticism, and focus on a handler's on-the-spot instructions. Upcoming trails held in the U.S. can be found at The Clean Run Agility Events Calendar. So-called "domestic" trials call for less actual agility (lower jump heights, smaller obstacles) and instead focus more on the interaction of dog and handler. These are extremely popular because most any handler and dog can at least foresee getting through the course (even if actually accomplishing that goal proves more difficult then at first it might appear). Agility's popularity has resulted in WCASA (West Coast Australian Shepherd Association) launching an all-breed agility tour. A minimum of $500 cash prize money will be presented to the Tour Chamption in the small, medium and large dog categories; a $250 cash prize will be awarded in the same categories for the Verterans division. Visit the WCASA website for more information as the year progreses. As of March, 2005, SLODOG has added Agility to our Saturday run-through practices, which previously were limited to Obedience and Flyball. Many agility obstacles are far too cumbersome to tote around, but we try to bring some weaves and a few jumps. This is NOT a lesson environment; it's just club members getting together to practice agility and have fun. Experienced members are generally glad to help newcomers, but if you're interested in agility classes, per se, we recommend visiting Canine Academy in Atascadero, which hosts all levels of agility classes and events throughout the year. Read more about SLODOG Saturday Run-Throughs on our Events page. Many SLODOG members actively participate in agility. Most gather at Canine Academy in Atascadero. If you're not in the Atascadero, California, area, try going to dogpatch.org or the North American Dog Agility Site; both contain links to numerous agility dog clubs, through which you should be able to find something in your area. Feel free to contact us at agility@slodog.org if you're interested in canine agility. |
Apr 14 |
General Meeting |
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Apr 20 |
EVENT: DOG DAYS 2008 |
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May 3 |
Saturday Run-Throughs |
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May 10 |
Therapy Dog visit |
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May 17 |
Saturday Run-Throughs |
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May 24-26 |
C.O.A.S.T. Agility + Stockdog Trials |
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note... |
No May Member Meeting |
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