It's not surprising that dog agility, which has only been around for about 35 years, is now one of the most popular canine sports. Not only is it fun for the dogs, handlers and trainers, it also is exciting to watch. There are also many benefits for the dog, including exercise and advanced obedience training. You can find dog agility clubs in all 50 states, and many of these clubs host agility competitions; however, there are a few prominent organizations that host large-scale dog agility competitions.
The first group in the U.S. to begin hosting dog agility competitions is the USDAA (United States Dog Agility Association). This group has been hosting events since the sport's early days and is the largest group in general for dog agility events. In fact, some 25,000 canines are part of the USDAA, and their Grand Prix of Dog Agility is the top event in the dog agility world and is televised by Animal Planet. Unlike a few other groups, USDAA allows just about any type of dog to compete, large or small, mixed-breed or pure bred. In addition to the Grand Prix, there are international and regional competitions hosted by USDAA as well as small tournaments in many cities in the U.S.
Since the late 19th Century, the American Kennel Club has been a prominent fixture in the dog world, and they host many dog agility events during the course of the year. The courses are smaller than USDAA, but the obstacles, in general, are a bit easier to tackle. Of course, there are some pure bred dogs that are not allowed in the AKC, and mixed breeds are not allowed to compete either. So if you have a mutt or a breed not recognized by the AKC, you will have to find another group, such as USDAA.
The United Kennel Club is another organization to consider for your animal, and they do allow dogs of mixed breeds to compete in agility courses as well as purebred dogs. The courses can be a bit tricky to master, but if you can succeed on a UKC course, you can generally do well on a course with any other organization. The courses in this organization tend to be a bit smaller, meaning dogs need to be more precise rather than very fast.
While these aforementioned organizations are probably the three biggest in the country, there are some other excellent groups to consider. If you are the owner of a tiny dog, you might look at the dog agility contests hosted by the TDAA, which stands for the Teacup Dog Agility Association. The CPE (Canine Performance Events) are another option, and they allow many different dogs, including dogs that are partially blind, deaf and sometimes even an amputee.
Your dog will need to master a variety of obstacles prior to competing, so it's a good idea to join a local club and to purchase some of your own dog agility equipment. An online store, perhaps Carlson-Agility.com, will have a large selection of sturdy, quality equipment. You can purchase dog agility jumps, different types of dog tunnels, an agility dog walk, an a-frame, weaves, pause tables and anything else you need. When you first start out, consider purchasing a starter kit which will include perhaps three different obstacles to get you on your way.
The first group in the U.S. to begin hosting dog agility competitions is the USDAA (United States Dog Agility Association). This group has been hosting events since the sport's early days and is the largest group in general for dog agility events. In fact, some 25,000 canines are part of the USDAA, and their Grand Prix of Dog Agility is the top event in the dog agility world and is televised by Animal Planet. Unlike a few other groups, USDAA allows just about any type of dog to compete, large or small, mixed-breed or pure bred. In addition to the Grand Prix, there are international and regional competitions hosted by USDAA as well as small tournaments in many cities in the U.S.
Since the late 19th Century, the American Kennel Club has been a prominent fixture in the dog world, and they host many dog agility events during the course of the year. The courses are smaller than USDAA, but the obstacles, in general, are a bit easier to tackle. Of course, there are some pure bred dogs that are not allowed in the AKC, and mixed breeds are not allowed to compete either. So if you have a mutt or a breed not recognized by the AKC, you will have to find another group, such as USDAA.
The United Kennel Club is another organization to consider for your animal, and they do allow dogs of mixed breeds to compete in agility courses as well as purebred dogs. The courses can be a bit tricky to master, but if you can succeed on a UKC course, you can generally do well on a course with any other organization. The courses in this organization tend to be a bit smaller, meaning dogs need to be more precise rather than very fast.
While these aforementioned organizations are probably the three biggest in the country, there are some other excellent groups to consider. If you are the owner of a tiny dog, you might look at the dog agility contests hosted by the TDAA, which stands for the Teacup Dog Agility Association. The CPE (Canine Performance Events) are another option, and they allow many different dogs, including dogs that are partially blind, deaf and sometimes even an amputee.
Your dog will need to master a variety of obstacles prior to competing, so it's a good idea to join a local club and to purchase some of your own dog agility equipment. An online store, perhaps Carlson-Agility.com, will have a large selection of sturdy, quality equipment. You can purchase dog agility jumps, different types of dog tunnels, an agility dog walk, an a-frame, weaves, pause tables and anything else you need. When you first start out, consider purchasing a starter kit which will include perhaps three different obstacles to get you on your way.
About the Author:
Cheng Bernhardt enjoys dog agility training. To find an agility dog course, or to know more about agility equipment like k9 training equipment, please check out the Carlson-Agility.com website today.
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