Journey into Agility

by Karen Bandekow and MACH Sonic, ADHF OAP AJP CGC CCA

I first learned of the sport of Agility while working at The Seeing Eye. The dogs in the breeding program enjoyed agility as part of their daily enrichment. I soon began to teach my own dog the game and quickly became hooked! Agility is a wonderful game to play with a dog who needs to gain extra confidence, which mine did, a dog who has extra energy to burn, or even if you are just looking for something fun to do. It is an excellent way to bond with your dog.

Agility is a sport in which the handler leads their dog through an obstacle course. Just about any dog is capable of learning the game and it’s never too late to start. The dog is lead off leash through a predetermined set of obstacles which may include jumps, tunnels, chutes, various ramps (called the Dogwalk, the A-frame, and the Teeter), and last but certainly not least, the weave poles. This sport is exciting for both participants and spectators alike!

The history of dog agility can be traced to a demonstration at the Crufts Dog Show in the late 1970’s designed to entertain the audience during intermission. The dogs who participated ran around a course which was designed similar to horse jumping courses. Agility has since spread rapidly throughout the world, with major competitions held worldwide. There are many different venues hosting dog agility competitions now and nearly every weekend there is a trial being held somewhere in the country.

When you start agility training, it is important to remember that it is a game and it should be kept fun for both you and your dog. Depending on your training style, you might use tasty treats (my dog Sonic really loves Bravo’s Freeze Dried Cod!), toys, and praise. There are many clubs and schools which hold both indoor and outdoor training classes. It is important to do your research and find a class that will fit your needs as well as your training style. The great thing about this sport is that the agility community is extremely supportive. There are many different types of people and dogs who enjoy playing the game!! From young dogs to old, small dogs to big, mixed breeds to purebreds, they can all enjoy the game!!

When I began training with my golden retriever, Sonic, it seemed like he was afraid of everything. I had recently adopted him and he wasn’t well socialized and needed a lot of extra encouragement. But sure enough, our training helped Sonic come out of his shell (as well as helped me come out of mine!) and we enjoyed all of our training sessions and looked forward to class each week.

In the beginning, I had no intention of ever competing with him. I just wanted something fun for us to do together. It didn’t take long for me to make the trip to the local hardware store to buy the materials needed to make my own jumps for the yard, which was followed by the purchase of my own set of weave poles. Eventually, we entered our first trial. I don’t think I have ever been so nervous in my entire life, but we had a wonderful time. Just a few short years later, on October 31, 2009 Sonic was named a MASTER AGILITY CHAMPION by the American Kennel Club! I have never been so proud in my life. Sonic is not the fastest dog, he is not the most accurate dog, but I am proud of the journey we made together.

For more information on the sport of agility, please visit the following:

United States Dog Agility Association (USDAA)

American Kennel Club (AKC)

North American Dog Agility Council

Canine Performance Events

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*For those curious what Sonic's many titles mean:
MACH= Master Agility Champion (AKC)
ADHF= Agility Dog Hall of Fame (Golden Retriever Club of America)
OAP= Open Agility Preferred (AKC)
AJP= Excellent Jumper Preferred (AKC)
CGC= Canine Good Citizen (AKC)
CCA= Certificate of Conformation Assessment (Golden Retriever Club of America)