What You Should Know About Dog Agility Competition

If you’re considering training your dog for a dog agility competition, then good for you! Dog agility training is not only a great way to bond with your dog, but also a wonderful opportunity for your dog to become more physically fit, harness pent-up energy, strut his dog agility expertise and boost his confidence (not to mention get some well deserved praise and recognition). Sound interesting? You bet. In this brief article, we’ll discuss the fundamentals of dog agility competitions and what you need to know to help your dog excel.

When you first begin, you will most likely start by attending local events to learn the ropes. This will not only enable you to scope out the competition, but will allow you to meet other people who are interested in dog agility competitions, as well. Here are some fundamentals that you’ll likely pick up while attending local events:

Professional dog agility competition scoring is comprised of three basic traditions of the dog’s performance. This includes standard scoring, time plus faults scoring, and points-based scoring. By means of the method of standard scoring, the handler and the dog are judged and determined by the supervision of the judge of the dog agility competition, by comparison of the Standard Course Time also known as STC. Depending upon whether the agility competition is a starter, advanced or masters’ trials, the exact time will be set accordingly.

When based on the standard scoring of dog agility competition, any blemishes are determined a penalty. The winner is determined by the shortest time with the least number of penalties. If a tie has been determined, the competitor with the fastest time is the winner.

Speed comes into play while determining the scoring of time plus faults. The dog and its handler in the agility competition that is calculated by the actual time on the agility course plus any penalties will determine time plus faults scoring. Therefore, if the time score was 38.27 seconds on the course, although the dog came across nine penalties, it follows that the score would be 47.27 seconds. In cases such as these, the dog with the lowest total score determines the dog agility competition. A jump off is used determine the winner if there is a tie of score for any of the dogs. Points based scoring is of course the last scoring choice.

The points based scoring in dog agility competitions determines the winner according to other classes such as snooker and gamblers. Certain obstacles are assigned values by the judges with each performance having a time requirement.

Throughout the obstacle course, the competitor’s points are accumulative. When the dog completes something, for instance, no faults for performance, such as no faults, the dog is given extra performance points in the dog agility competition.

The team of dog and its owner with the highest points earned is the winner of a points based score. The dog with the fastest time when there are ties clarifies winning the competition. You will be able to become familiar with the rules of each organization as you partake in competitions from the starter status or beginner’s position on up to the master level champions. All in all, you and your dog trained in agility are sure to have an enjoyable time at dog agility competitions.

Now that you’re comfortable with the fundamentals, you can train your dog on your local group’s course or you may be able to enter your dog in the United States Dog Agility Association’s master tournaments. Either way, you and your dog will have a blast preparing for and winning dog agility training competitions.