MAL EDUCATION - by Ruth KelloggINTRODUCTION TO AGILITYWhat dog activity combines athletic ability, speed, control, teamwork, and fun? It's agility work. Dogs of all sizes, shapes, and breeds can enjoy this activity with their handlers. Dogs and handlers in many countries are now enjoying this activity. Dog agility trials are similar to equine jumping classes in that there are a variety of obstacles, "faults" awarded for errors, and timed ..runs". The winner of each class is the team that has the fastest and ..cleanest" run, In most of the classes, the obstacles must be negotiated in a set pattern. Agility obstacle groups are: climbing, jumps or hurdles, tunnels, weave poles, and pause table/box. The climbing obstacles are: A-frame, dog walk, crossover, and teeter-totter. Jumps/hurdles are: tire, brush, brick wall, double-bar, triple-bar, spread, water jump, wishing well, long jump, and any variety of bar, broad or high jump. The tunnels are either open at both ends (curved or straight) or collapsed (rigid at one end with 12' length of cloth to burrow through). Dogs slalom through 5 to 12 weave poles. The pause table/box demonstrates the dog's ability to be controlled in a down position for 5 sec. during the dog's run. In agility trials, individual. dog and handler teams usually complete their obstacle runs separately. The exception is the "Pairs" class in which two dog/handler teams work at the same time. As opposed to formal obedience, the handler can use any amount, number or combination of hand, voice, and/or body commands. As the dog cannot wear a collar or lead, the handler must have established good off-leash control with his dog. To achieve this control, the handler must have developed a strong mental leash with the dog. This is best developed through formal obedience sessions. However, formal obedience work is not imperative for agility but it will increase the amount and degree of success in agility trials. I have found Cross training (a term that I define as the practise of using identical learned commands in a variety of activities) is extremely useful in agility. With the exception of learning the names of the various obstacles, I did not have to teach my first agility dog, Selena, any new commands. Through our various activities (obedience, biking, harness, and playing), Selena already knew the commands as well as the shaping shortcut tool, targeting (Targeting is defined as the modification of behavior when the dog focuses on, for example, bait in a handler's hand). The commonly used commands in agility are: down, wait, stay, over, up, easy, and directions (eg., right/left or gee/haw). Handlers can enjoy agility work even if they have no intention of going to trials or have limited or no access to the equipment. A little imagination during walks and play times is all that is needed. For example, in addition to my obedience jumps, I have hung a tire from a tree limb, placed some 1/2" dowels into the ground as weave poles, and created some different jumps. During pleasure walks, I have used whatever is available (eg. logs, boulders, playground equipment) to teach my dogs "over", "Lip", and walking on logs. The "walking on logs" skill makes a tremendous difference when dogs are introduced to the elevated dog walk. Playing with my dogs is both a stress reliever and enjoyable activity for me. Since I've set up my jumps, tire, cross-over, tunnels and poles in my yard, the play sessions with all my dogs have been brightened and enlightened. Agility is a strenuous athletic activity that gives both the dog and handler a good workout. It is a highly motivational activity. Skills learned through agility benefit formal obedience work, strengthen the mental leash and bond with the handler, and bring much happiness and enthusiasm to many dogs and handlers.
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