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D O G A G I L I T Y
submitted by Frank Sommer, truman@weimaraner.com Sacramento Valley Weimaraner Club
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. Agility was originally modeled to loosely reflect equestrian stadium jumpers competitions. Since that time, the sport has evolved its own obstacles, scoring system and performance standards. Agility made its debut as "half-time" entertainment for spectators at the Crufts Dog Show in 1979; it has since become the most rapidly growing dog sport.
In addition to the American Kennel Club, agility events are sanctioned throughout the US by many other organizations. The primary ones are the United States Dog Agility Association (USDAA), and the North American Dog Agility Council (NADAC).
Agility is very much a team sport and, like any other team sport, requires close cooperation between team members. Agility requires lots of training and practice, but there is nothing quite like the feeling you get from running a competition course when both you and your dog are "in the groove". Although they are not widely recognized in agility yet, agility is a sport in which Weimaraners can excel. Currently the number 7 dog (all-breed) in the nation is a Weimaraner from Southern California named Chloe. Go Weims!  |
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