P.O. Box 27882

Austin, Tx.  78755

(512) 302-6712

info@austintag.org

 

 

 

The Travis Agility Group

Promoting the sport of dog agility  in Central Texas

 

TAG HomeAbout TAGAbout AgilityTAG Classes  Field Schedule  TAG EventsTerrific TimesLinks

About Agility

Agility began as an exhibition sport in Great Britain and was imported to the United States in 1977.  The sport was patterned after equestrian events and combines handler control, agility, and confidence.  The sport of agility is comprised of a course set up of many different obstacles.  Agility is meant to be a fun, non-regimented sport, with a lot of spectator appeal.  Obstacles include jumps, tunnels, a dog walk, a see-saw or teeter, an A-frame and weave poles.  Here's are TAG dogs demonstrating some agility obstacles.

The See-Saw or Teeter is accomplished by the dog going up the see-saw, making it tilt down and successfully exiting the obstacle over the yellow zone.

LOT.jpg (32853 bytes)

Lucy demonstrates the See-Saw.

 This is a Pipe Tunnel.  The pipe tunnel is taught by squishing the tunnel until it looks like a hole and then gradually opening it up to full length.  Terriers are particularly partial to tunnels, but don't tell this Border Collie, he looks like he's having too much fun!

CoopiT.jpg (34841 bytes)

Cooper exits the tunnel.
This is an example of a Double Jump.  There are single and double jumps in most formal agility competitions.  Many dogs are natural jumpers, while others have to learn how to jump.

 Nikjump.jpg (47407 bytes)

Nikki completes a double jump.

 

This is the A-Frame obstacle, a "contact" obstacle.  The challenging part of any "contact" obstacle is to make sure your dog gets all the way into the "contact" or yellow zone of  the obstacle.        

      Coopfra.jpg (40952 bytes)
Cooper makes the contact on the A-frame
The Weave Poles are probably the most difficult obstacle to teach your dog.  Many techniques are used to teach dogs to successfully complete this obstacle.  Weave poles are seen in sets of 6 to 12 poles in formal competitions.
            CoopWe.jpg (40896 bytes)  
Wow!  Here's Cooper in the Weave Poles.

The Dogwalk looks like a large balance beam with ramps on both ends.  Some dogs are able to cross this obstacle with amazing speed!

LDW.jpg (30745 bytes)

Lucy starts to cross the dogwalk.

Other obstacles not shown include the Tire, and the Chute, or collapsed tunnel.