Trail's End Boxers

1. What is agility?

Agility is a dog sport that tests the speed and accuracy of the dog/handler team through set obstacle courses.

2. What do all those abbreviations mean that are tagged onto a dog's name?

There are four main organizations that hold agility trials (AKC, NADAC, USDAA, & CPE) and all have their own abbreviations for earning certain agility titles. All "performance" titles are tagged onto the end of a dog's registered name. Conformation and Performance Champion Titles, go at the front of his or her name. Once a more advanced title is obtained in an organization, the lower titles are replaced.

For example: CH Trail's End In Hot Water AX, AXJ, NF, NAC, NJC

(Key to the above name: Java is a conformation champion (CH), and has an AKC Excellent Standard Title (AX), AKC Excellent Jumpers with Weaves title (AXJ), an AKC Novice F.A.S.T. Title (NF), a NADAC Novice Standard Certificate (NAC), & a NADAC Novice Jumpers Certificate (NJC).)

For a complete list of agility titles from the different organizations see this link: http://www.dogpatch.org/agility/FAQS/faqmis04.html

3. Are there levels in agility or do all the dogs do the same thing?

In all four organizations there are 3 main levels: a beginner, an intermediate, and an advanced level. You must earn 3 qualifying runs at each level before you get that title and can advance to the next level. As you move up the levels, the courses get more difficult, the times get faster, and you're allowed fewer mistakes.

Once you have completed your advanced level title, you can opt to keep competing towards "superior" titles that show mastery of speed and accuracy. This level is for the elite and is a challenge to attain. In AKC agility this superior title is a MACH (Master Agility Champion); in NADAC agility it's called a NATCH (NADAC Agility Trial Champion). These titles go at the front of a dog's name and remove all other titles from behind the name due to the difficulty in attaining the title and the crowning glory of achieving it. For example: MACH Trail's End Future Titled Dog.

4. I went to an agility trial and there were two rings running with different obstacles in each one. What was I seeing?

Each organization has different "classes" where you can earn titles. For example, in AKC agility there are three different classes: Standard that has all the contact obstacles such as the teeter, a-frame, and dogwalk, a Jumpers with Weaves class that only has jumps, tunnels, and weave poles, and now a FAST class that has all obstacles plus a "send" where the handler must get the dog to perform obstacles from a distance. Again, each class has three levels: a beginner, an intermediate, and an advanced level in which you can earn titles.

5. Agility looks easy and fun. How do I start competing with my dog?

The fun part is correct. The dogs typically LOVE it and people get addicted to the sport!

The easy part is another story. It takes a time commitment to learn all the nuances of the sport and to train your companion. It's also a financial commitment when you begin going to agility trials. Entry fees & travel expenses can add up.

To begin, your dog needs to have basic obedience: sit, down, stay, come when it's called, even around other dogs and distractions, and it needs excellent off leash control. It's best to find an agility/obedience trainer in your area and sign up for lessons.

Any dogs that are in relatively good physical condition can compete in agility. AKC agility only allows AKC registered/papered dogs to compete in their trials. The other organizations take all dogs, registered or mixed breed.