agility

rules of agility

Agility has become the greatest canine sport and can be practiced by any breed of dog, the competitors being classified according to size categories (see details below).  Agility competitions are governed by several rules of speed and precision: the course must be completed in a defined order and the obstacles overcome as "cleanly" as possible.

Failure to comply with these rules results in penalties, the aim being to complete the entire course with as few faults as possible. Timing makes it possible to decide between the participants in the event of a tie, but the address and cohesion between the dog and its handler must take precedence over speed. Indeed agility, as its name suggests, is above all an agility sport based on the quality of execution: the dog must overcome each obstacle by placing at least one paw on the entry and exit area. .

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The different obstacles

The obstacles encountered in agility are many and varied. They are classified into two main categories: "zone" obstacles (bridge, palisade, swing) and "jumps" (hedge, oxer, wall, tire). There are a number of variations of these basic obstacles, as well as other obstacles like the soft or hard tunnel and the slalom. The latter, made up of 12 posts planted at regular intervals, must be carried out entirely and in a single movement. Each obstacle presents more or less complex requirements that vary the difficulty of execution.

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Size categories

These categories are important because they make it possible to adapt the dimension of the obstacles. There are four official categories:

• category A: dogs less than 37 cm at the withers

• category B: dogs from 37 to 47 cm at the withers

• category C: dogs over 37 cm at the withers

• category D: molossoid dogs and heavy breeds

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The benefits of agility

In addition to enormously strengthening the bonds between the master and his dog, who practice as a close-knit team, agility offers an essentially physical expenditure but it also contributes to mentally stimulating the dog. It is therefore a beneficial sport for energetic breeds because it allows them to let off steam, which can be effective in reducing certain behavioral disorders related to hyperactivity and nervousness. Benefits are also observed in terms of intelligence and obedience, due to the concentration required by the practice of agility and the ability to listen that it develops. Finally, the agility practiced in a club is excellent for the socialization of the dog with its congeners.