Your dog can jump onto the chair, climb onto the kitchen table and, from there, he can leap into the sink. Why? So the he can lick the remains of last night’s dinner off the plates that you were too tired to wash up before going to bed. Does that make him an agility dog? Good question. He’s pretty athletic, quite ingenious and he is certainly motivated by food. On the other hand, he has no manners and lacks basic training! It’s a clear cut choice between being a canine dishwasher or an agility dog. Go for agility dog (more hygienic). Seriously before you start your lessons, there are some things you need to know.
The only way to find out if your dog has got what it takes to do agility is to have a go. Dogs that don’t love agility are few and far between and to keep it that way, it’s important to start right. Find a good agility club where experienced instructors can teach you everything you need to know. Learn on new tricks in a controlled environment that facilitates good training practice on agility equipment that meets safety criteria. To locate a club near you with a beginner‘s class, look on the Agilitynet list and choose a few to contact. Give them a ring and have a chat or arrange a visit to watch a training session. There will be questions on both sides.

What THEY will ask you...

How old is your dog?

Would you expect a toddler to be able to run a marathon?  No. And puppies are too weenie to get over full height jumps. The age that a club will accept a dog will vary from six months upward. Most ask that a dog to be at least a year old or has finished growing. This ensures that the dog has the strength and co-ordination to perform the equipment competently and the stamina to last through a class. It also minimizes the risk of injury. Falling off the dog walk is no fun.

Has he any basic obedience?

The basic building blocks of agility are simple control exercises like 'sit', 'down' and 'come'. You can expect to do some of your initial agility training with your dog on the lead, but it will soon go. Agility is a hands-free, off-lead sport. You don’t want to arrive for your first lesson and watch your dog disappear down a rabbit hole only to reappear at the end of the lesson. In addition, if you have already establishing a working partnership with your dog (I command, you do, I give you treat/toy/cuddle), you can apply this to agility and speed up the learning process. Your dog will already know that there are lots of tidbits in your pocket and will be eager to find out what he has to do to get them.

Are you fit and Well?

Starting an agility course in the last month of your pregnancy is not a good idea. Wait till after the baby is born. Everyone can do agility and adjustments can be made if you aren’t one hundred per cent. If you have a hearing impairment, tell your instructor so that he can make sure he is facing you when he speaks. If you have back problems, tell him and he will stop shouting at you to run faster. There are people that compete in agility from a wheel chair. Tell your instructor if you have a disability or medical condition and he can take it into account in his lesson plan. In addition, he won’t insist you lug heavy equipment back and forth during course changes.

Is your dog fit and Well?

If your dog has just had puppies, is in season or is infectious with kennel cough, it would be wise to wait a little longer till you start classes. Some disabilities or medical conditions will rule out agility, but others can be accommodated. Don’t delay explaining to your instructor that your dog is deaf. He won’t be able to tell by looking at it and the sooner he knows, the sooner he can customize your dog’s training. 

Does your dog have any behaviour problems?

Behaviour problems can be very disruptive for you, the class and your instructor.  For example, not all dogs allow their owners to handle them and some bark and snap if another dog gets too close to them.  A good instructor will be keen to help you and may suggest private lessons to iron out things before you throw yourself into a class situation. He might welcome you into the class but ask your fellow students to keep their distance.  If the problem is severe or unmanageable, he would advise you to ask your vet to refer you to a canine behaviourist before you try agility.