Dog agility is a dog sport in which a handler directs a dog through an obstacle course in a race for both time and accuracy. Dogs generally run off-leash with no food or toys as incentives. The handler can touch neither dog nor obstacles, except accidentally. Consequently, the handler's controls are limited to voice, movement, and various body signals, requiring exceptional training of the animal.

This is a diagram of the first agility course that was run at the Crufts Dog Show in London, England in February, 1978. Today it is very similar.

The obstacles a dog may need to perform include a variety of jumps, tunnels, a seesaw, a narrow "dogwalk", a tall a-frame, weave poles (a series of poles the dog must slalom between), and a table where the dog must stop in a sit or a down position for a count of 5. The handler runs with the dog and guides the dog to the correct obstacle with voice and signals. A dog needs to be healthy and reasonably fit to participate safely, but it's a game dogs of all sizes and shapes, mixed breed and purebred can play.

In the United States, the major agility organizations (AKA, USDAA, NADAC, CPE and UKC) hold trials where dog/handler teams compete and can earn titles. Complexity of the course and criteria for a qualifying performance (called a "run") increase in difficulty as a dog progresses through 3 levels of competition - from starters/novice through open/advanced (the intermediate level) into the masters/elite/excellent classes. Each organization also offers championship titles to dogs who demonstrate excellence in the highest level of competition. There are national competitions for teams which meet the requirements. Agility is also popular in Great Britain and Europe and there is an annual International event.

The sense of fun and teamwork which develops while training a dog in agility is something which carries over into other dog sports and most importantly into your whole relationship with your dog.

Agility Videos

Learn more about some other similar performance sports.

Agility Organizations:
AKC American Kennel Club Agility

USDAA United States Dog Agility Association

NADAC North American Dog Agility Council

CPE Canine Performance Events

UKC United Kennel Club

Equipment:
Agility equipment