The site was last updated on
24 Aug 2000
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Basics
of Agility
Dog agility is a
sport in which a handler is given a set amount of time in which to direct a dog
off-leash through an obstacle course. Originally loosely modeled on equestrian
stadium jumpers competitions, the sport has evolved its own additional
obstacles, scoring systems and performance ideals. Agility made its debut as an
entertainment for spectators at the Crufts Dog Show in 1979; it has since become
the most rapidly growing dog sport in England, Western Europe and North America.
Spectators continue today to get caught up watching the dog and handler's
enthusiasm in their athletic race against the clock.
In Israel, there are several
national organizations for agility which sanction tests or trials held by local
dog training clubs. Trials which are based on the original international rules
and specifications call for the highest level of agility from the dogs both in
terms of speed and the physical ability to perform the obstacles. There are also
domestic varieties of the sport that call for less actual agility (by using
lower jump heights and smaller obstacles) from the dog and focus more on the
handling aspects of the game.
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