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Agility
Agility and Shelties seem to be made for each
other. Agility consists of a race through a set of obstacles,
which the dog must negotiate in the correct order within the allowed
time. More than any other organized dog event, agility is a
game for which most dogs are wildly enthusiastic.
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Where it all begins: The Start Line is one of the most
important parts of an agility run. A Sheltie who won't hold the
start line until released is less likely to take the handler's
direction for the rest of the course. The handler may start
the run with the dog at her/his side, or may lead out, walking
beyond several obstacles until in a better position to direct the
dog. Here, Alicia directs Ceili to stay as she begins to lead
out. |
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Jumps:
The jumps may be single, double or even
triple wide, and may include a broad jump and a tire jump.
Most Shelties love the jumps.
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Kerry goes through the tire. |
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Kerry goes over a triple bar jump. |
Molly negotiates the double bar at the age of eleven and a half. |
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In AKC agility events, the dog
will not qualify if she knocks a bar off the jump. |
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Bret clears the broad jump. |
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Jumping is a lot of fun–just
ask Ceili! |
Dustin clears the jump with ease. |
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Tunnels and Chutes: Tunnels come as open
tunnels and as closed fabric chutes. The
dog must negotiate the tunnel without being able to see what is
beyond it. |
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Kerry barrels out of the open tunnel. |
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Kerry blasts through the end of the chute. |
Molly turns towards the next obstacle. |
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Pause Table: Depending on the kind of agility run, the
pause table may require a stand, a sit, or a down. The
Shelties have only one word for the pause table–boring.
It is not uncommon for excited dogs to stand in anticipation
before the end of the table count: "Five and four and
three and two and one and GO!"
Kerry |
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Kerry |
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CONTACT OBSTACLES:
The contact obstacles include the A-frame, the dog walk and the
teeter totter. The dog runs across the entire obstacle.
For safety reasons the dog is required to place at least one foot
into the yellow contact zone when ascending and descending the
contact obstacles. (AKC allows the dog to miss the contact
zone when ascending the A-frame only.) |
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Kerry hits the contact zone on the A-frame. |
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Raven
goes over the top |
A-Frame: The A-Frame is set at 5 feet
6
inches high in standard AKC agility classes. |
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| Kerry |
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Dog Walk: Safely negotiating the dog
walk at a gallop requires that the dog have an acute
awareness of where she is placing her feet. Like all
other skills, this one has to be taught.
Kerry |
Dustin |
Weave Poles: For many
dogs, the weave poles are the most difficult obstacle to learn well.
The dog must enter poles from right to left, and weave through the
entire sequence of six to twelve poles. No skipping poles
allowed!
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| Kerry |
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