Tag: agility trials

More Notes and Vlog #2

Our first class is tonight! Here is a brief vlog about Belle (and her sister Luka) getting their shots. Belle needs hers for class, but they were both due to get them. Don’t worry, their big ol’ Lab butts don’t feel a thing.

Agility is an athletic event which demonstrates a dog’s willingness to work with its handler in varying situations. It requires conditioning, concentration, training, and (most importantly) teamwork. Handlers and their dogs traverse an obstacle course against a clock.

As I mentioned in a previous post, I hadn’t found out much about the classes.

BUT NOW I HAVE!

Sort of…

Continue reading More Notes and Vlog #2

Some Preliminary Notes

Since my Agility Class at Wonderdogs does not start until March 2nd (I’m going to have some late Mondays), I thought I’d look up some details about Agility Trials. I found the AKC (American Kennel Club) Beginner’s Guide to Companion Events. Unlike other competitions I have been in, Classes are not defined by their level of difficulty. For example, I won’t be competing in the Novice Class, I will compete at the Novice Level. But let’s start at the beginning and answer “what is agility?”

Agility is when “a dog demonstrates its agile nature and versatility by following cues from the handler through a timed obstacle course of jumps, tunnels, weave poles and other objects. It’s an activity that strengthens the bond between dog and handler and provides fun and exercise for both…” (source)

There are many obstacles, some of which have contact zones, on which the dogs are required to make place at least one paw before moving through or over the obstacle.

Continue reading Some Preliminary Notes

Vlog #1: The Beginning

As part of my Core 2 research project, I am training my Labernard, Belle, to compete in AKC Agility Trials. I start classes on March 2nd, 2015, at Wonderdogs in Berlin, NJ and I just wanted to make a quick post about where I am at the start of all this and also to introduce you to Belle!

Click here to check out the whole project: Woofing It