Dog agility competitions: how to start, science on risks, injuries, pros and cons

Getting your pooch into dog agility competitions can be a great way for you and your pet to bond and exercise together. Agility dogs are hard-working, sporty, and very attentive to what their owners want them to do, and with this sport, communication is key.

Dog agility training and competitions is a fairly recent sport which began in England, in 1978 with AKC holding their first competition for canine athletes in 1994. The story of this rapidly growing sport is fascinating and you can read more about the history and what dog agility is on AKC’s website.

With all this communication, dogs learn that their owner is worth listening to, and they genuinely want to do well to impress their person. There are some things to know before getting started with dog agility competitions, though.

Canine agility competitions is a great sport that will entertain you and keep your dog active. Not only will agility stimulate your pet physically, it will give him the mental stimulation that he craves too! And, if you think the breed you have can’t do agility, you’re mistaken. All dogs – big, small, short and tall – can excel at agility training.

For some general FAQs on dog agility training and competitions, The Kennel Club has a great page answering most of the questions of dog owners and handlers that have already started training and possibly even went to their very first competition.

However, with all the great resources on dog agility competitions and training out there, many miss out some of the most important questions that majority of pet owners want to know:

• How and Where do I start?
• Are there any risks involved and potential injuries involved with this?

Both of these are crucial to ask and find answers to, and since there’s not enough information out there, I decided to do some of my own research on canine agility training.

In this article, I’m taking a look at what do vets, dog trainers and science says about the pros and cons of this sport, risks and potential injuries, and of course where does one start with dog agility competitions should they choose to give it a try.

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Here’s why you should try dog agility competitions

Participating in dog agility competitions will solve behavior problems caused by boredom by giving your pup a job. When dogs feel like they have a purpose they stop acting out to focus on the task at hand, or paw.

Agility exercises your dog’s body but also his mind. Because he has to think on his feet and follow commands in a split second, this sport is sure to keep your dog interested and focused.

Dog handlers also get a lot of exercise.

Agility is very physically demanding on both dog and handler, so both need to be healthy enough to run the course. Before starting agility you should talk to your veterinarian to make sure your dog does not have any structural problems that can be exacerbated by the agility. It is particularly demanding on the joints.

While Border Collies are the most common and generally the breed that does the best in competition, any breed can participate. Some associations will not let mutts compete but others do.

Agility demands your dog to follow commands and interpret them into an action. Therefore it will make all aspects of your dog’s training better. Because agility is run by a handler instructing a dog without a leash, this sport greatly improves the dog’s off-leash reliability.

When training with a dog that you are not comfortable with being off leash, make sure any off leash activities are done in a fenced area. Agility can be a really fun thing to show off to your friends, especially if they are not familiar with it.

If dog agility competitions are not your thing, don’t worry. Many people just do agility training with their dog and never compete. In fact, you can buy dog agility kits to set up right in your own backyard, no matter how small of a space you have.

FURTHER READING: Agility Training for Dogs – The Ultimate Beginners Guide

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