Just over 30 years ago, a demonstration at the Crufts dog show in England caught the imagination of dog lovers the world over, and the new sport of dog agility was born. The same amazement experienced by the spectators at Crufts was felt by myself about a decade ago when I saw my first dog agility demonstration , not knowing that just a few years later I would become an avid participant. Growing up in an era when the family dog was expected to snooze quietly in the background, my expectations were also limited when I decided it was time to add a dog to the household. One Border Collie later, I found myself looking for an occupation to engage the mind, and a physical outlet to tire out one smart dog. What started as a night out with the dog became an obsession. Agility lessons should come with the warning "could become addictive..."
 Running at high speed, dogs negotiate a series of obstacles, consisting of tunnels, a variety of jumps and the contact obstacles - an A frame, dog walk and see-saw, directed by the handler who uses verbal and body cues to guide the dog through a numbered course. As the sport evolved, different dog agility organizations developed their own set of rules and obstacle requirements for competition. Today, in the United States, USDAA AKC, NADAC and CPE are a few of the growing number of agility organizations that sanction events, but the sport can also be enjoyed on a recreational level by almost anyone who wants to play with their dog.
The most amazing thing about dog agility is that it can be experienced by the average person and the average dog - really! While certain breeds of dogs, such as Border Collies, Shelties and Papillons excel at competition, every type of dog, including mixes can enjoy participating with their human partners, who also come in all shapes, sizes and ages. Agility is a wonderful activity for overactive dogs, it keeps the family dog fit, builds confidence in the shy dog, it strengthens the bonds between dog and owner, while it also helps suppress destructive behavior by providing a physical and mental outlet for the dog, and becomes a social activity for dog lovers to enjoy together.
The initial costs of trying agility are low. To your first lesson you need only bring items you have already; water and a bowl, a flat buckled collar and leash, lots of treats and a favorite dog toy. Long Island has a variety of places and teachers available for reasonably priced lessons, with both group and private instruction available. When choosing an instructor, look for someone who can keep it fun and uses positive reinforcement. Agility is about building relationships, and creating a willing partner. At All Fur Fun Agility, we use shaping, clicker training and rewards to encourage the dog to choose the desired behavior. While it is important for a dog starting agility training to have a reliable recall and understand the basics of obedience, agility training techniques will soon have your dog happily learning new commands, the names of obstacles and even directions. We help guide you towards building a close relationship with your dog, by learning their language, while your dog expands his trust and desire to work for you. Your dog will learn to safely and confidently negotiate the obstacles, and you will learn how to use your body and verbal cues to guide your dog through an agility course.
Spring has arrived, and so has the Long Island agility competition season.
Check out the competition calendar of events on for upcoming agility trials.
Contact:
Katherine Dattoma Co Owner/Trainer
All Fur Fun Agiity
516-449-9724
kdattoma@verizon.net
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