Origination of Agility
Designed after horse show jumping agility is becoming increasingly popular for dog enthusiasts.  Currently agility remains the fastest growing dog sport. It is a sport that finds dog and handler teams leaving the agility course celebrating whether they have qualified in their run or not. It is also very popular among spectators because the action is fast and it is always entertaining no matter if the dog wins or not.

Components of An Agility Course
Agility courses are created with obstacles the dog must perform correctly. The judge determines the direction and placement in which each obstacle must be taken.  It is the handler’s responsibility to direct the dog off leash through the obstacle course. Courses differ but usually include various jumps weave poles teeters chutes a-frames and a pause table. Each course is timed and the dog that finishes with the fewest course faults and the fastest time wins. This rule varies according to the sanctioning organization of the trial.

Jumps can include hurdles panels or wall jump. The spread jumps include the double bar triple bar and broad jump. A suspended tire jump can also be found among the jumps on the course. There are other specialized jumps such as the water jump brush jump and wishing well which can also be seen on an agility course depending upon the class and the sanctioning organization.

The climbing obstacles are also known as contact obstacles. Usually made of wood they include a dog walk a-frame and teeter. Dogs must come into contact with both ends of the obstacle which is usually determined by yellow paint.  This serves as a safety feature for the dogs since they are trained not to jump off the top of the obstacles which could lead to injury.  The teeter or seesaw is a moveable contact board.  

Weave Poles are a series of upright poles that the dog weaves in and out between them all. Dogs must enter with the first pole at their left shoulder and then proceed down the line of poles until there are no more. The number of poles can vary. This obstacle usually takes the longest to train successfully train for.

Two types of tunnels can be found on an agility course. Pipe or rigid tunnels can be formed to make various shapes that the dogs run through. The chute or collapsed tunnel is made up of two parts. The entry portion is made of a rigid barrel on which a chute of material is attached. Dogs enter the barrel and burrow their way through the chute material to emerge on the other side. This is a crowd favorite when the little dogs go through. Tunnels are also considered a favorite obstacle by most dogs.

Lastly courses include a pause table which is a place to stop and take a break from the action. The top is a 3' x 3' square that sits on a stand that it is adjusted to the various jump heights. Not all dogs take kindly to this break in the action.

The successful completion of agility courses under the regulations of the sanctioning body results in agility titles for the owner. No matter the outcome the dogs enjoy the experience and the owners experience a sense of exhilaration from the sport.