There are many dog agility organizations in the United States, and they all have different rules and regulations regarding the participating dogs and agility equipment. Here’s a quick look at some of the differences and similarities between these organizations.
1. There Are Many Dog Agility Organizations
There are many different organizations to consider joining. The United States Dog Agility Association (USDAA) is one of the oldest groups and the most prominent. Other prominent groups include the American Kennel Club (AKC) and the United Kennel Club (UKC). These two groups are known for their fancy dog shows, but each also hosts a variety of dog agility competitions throughout the year.
While those are the three most well-known groups, there are several other groups out there setting up dog agility equipment and hosting contests. Canine Performance Events, usually known as CPE, is another popular dog agility group that hosts events all over the United States. Another group to consider is the North American Dog Agility Council or NADAC. There are, of course, many other smaller private agility clubs that you can join that might host special events and provide training classes.
2. Mixed Breeds Are Allowed By Most Organizations
One of the best things about agility training, dog agility equipment and agility contests is that most organizations open up the field to all types of dogs. For many types of dog competitions, only purebred dogs (and only specific breeds) are allowed, but agility is a bit different. Even the American Kennel Club, a holdout for many years, now allows mixed breeds to compete in agility as well as several other dog sports. So if you have a lovable mutt, there’s no reason why your furry friend can’t practice with dog training equipment and then hit the competition circuit.
3. Puppies Can Train, But Competition Comes Later
While puppies certainly can learn how to use dog training equipment and dog agility equipment, most organizations do not allow dogs less than one year in age to compete. The AKC will allow dogs one year and older to compete, while CPE requires that a dog be at least 15 months old. NADAC as well as USDAA are a bit more stringent, requiring that dogs be at least 18 months old in order to compete.
If you do wish to train a puppy, you might consider starting out with some of our mini agility equipment. We have everything from mini contact equipment to mini tire jumps and mini tunnels. Not only is this smaller dog training equipment safer for puppies, it also is less intimidating, which can make training easier. Our mini dog agility equipment also is a wonderful option for smaller dogs. It also fits more easily in your car to transport to a park or other open space. You can even bring the mini agility equipment inside for some fun training when the weather doesn’t cooperate with your agility training schedule.
4. Dogs Are Arranged By Size, Age & Experience
Each organization has several different classes or groups for their agility dogs. Generally, there is a category for agility beginners or novices as well as an advanced or veteran grouping and a senior category. Within these groups, dogs will be organized by height. Larger dog breeds will have higher jumps than smaller breeds, and novice and seniors also tend to have lower jump heights.
In addition, many organizations will have also have a category for junior handlers, aged 17 or younger. Within each group, there may be several levels. If you are unsure in which group you belong, simply contact an agility organization and provide them with the age, height, breed and experience level of your dog, and they can help you determine the category or categories in which you can compete.
5. Collars Are Not Allowed
Dogs obviously cannot be leashed as they zoom around the course and move through the pieces of dog agility equipment. However, they also are not allowed to wear collars during completion either. Obviously, this means that an agility dog has to be extremely well trained. That’s another perk of agility training. An agility dog is an obedient dog and obedience makes dogs safer in general.
6. Equipment Varies By Organization
There are many pieces of dog training equipment that you and your dog will learn about as you begin your journey into the world of dog agility. When you begin competing, you will see that the dog agility equipment you find on the courses varies by organization. In addition, the exact sizes of this equipment also might vary somewhat.
In general, the pieces of dog agility equipment will include an a-frame, dogwalk, pause table, teeter, a tunnel and a chute, and several types of jumps. Jump heights and types of jumps vary by group, and it is important to note which types of jumps you will be using and the heights. Learning about the many obstacles will help make it easier for you to purchase dog training equipment.
7. No Two Courses Are Ever The Same
While you might know the types of agility equipment and the number of pieces of dog agility equipment that will be placed on a course, you will rarely know more than that prior the beginning of competition. Some groups do allow the dogs and handlers to run through the course prior to a competition but not all of them.
In addition, different groups are known for different course styles. For instance, CPE is known for having lower jump heights and generally easier courses. Their emphasis is more on fun and safety than on advanced competitions. AKC tends to create very tight courses, with little room between obstacles and more faults than other agility groups. USDAA and NADAC fall somewhere in between.
Brad Carlson enjoys dog agility training. To find agility equipment or to find more about training equipment for dog agility equipment, please check out the Carlson-Agility.com website today.
