Agility
Agility is the ultimate game for you and your dog! Agility strengthens the bond between dogs and handlers, it is extremely fun and it provides vigorous exercise for both! In agility, a dog demonstrates an agile nature and versatility by following cues from the handler through a timed obstacle course. The course has jumps, tunnels, weave poles, and other obstacles.
Agility is available to every AKC registered breed, from Yorkshire Terriers to Irish Wolfhounds. The dogs run the same course with adjustments in the expected time and jump height. The classes are divided by jump heights in order to make the competition equal between the different sizes of dogs.
Two types of agility classes are usually offered:
- The Standard Class: includes obstacles such as the dog walk, the A-frame, and seesaw.
- The Jumpers with Weaves Class: only has jumps, tunnels and weave poles.
A third type of class was added starting on January 1, 2007. These are called the FAST classes.
All classes offer increasing levels of difficulty to earn Novice, Open, Excellent and Master Titles
Agility Trials are held annually in October at the Shelby Showplace outdoor, covered arena on Germantown Parkway, Germantown, TN. The next Agility Trials will be announced soon.