Obstacles of canine agility courses

Agility courses for dogs began in England, using equine show jumping as its model. These days, agility is a popular dog sport all around the world. In an agility course, an owner leads his dog through various obstacles. The dog runs along side of the owner, off of his leash, obeying vocal, sound, and hand commands. In a competition, the dog who makes it through the course in the least amount of time and with the fewest faults wins. Faults occur when a dog does not properly complete an obstacle. Dogs compete in groups based on height.

Agility courses often contain a variety of jumps. The jumps may consist of fences, walls, water, plants, and more. The height of the jump varies depending on the size of the dogs. The courses also contain climbing obstacles that may also vary based on height. Sometimes a climbing obstacle is in the form of a plank or see saw. Other times it is an A frame, shaped like a triangle or pyramid that the dog must climb up and then down.

On the ground, dogs are usually expected to go through a tunnel. The tunnels may be in a straight line, or they may form a shape. Again, bigger dogs often require larger tunnels. At some point in the course, the dogs are usually asked to pause. They must stay still for a designated amount of time, usually the length of a few seconds. After the time is up, the dogs continue with the course.

The most difficult obstacle of an agility course often comes from weaving poles. Dogs must weave in and out of a line of poles very quickly without missing any poles. This is the most unnatural obstacle for a dog to complete, and often presents challenges in training.

Agility as a sport offers great rewards to both dogs and their owners. It builds communication, loyalty, and teamwork between a dog and his owner. Agility’s popularity is well-deserved in the dog world.