Agility is a fantastic sport. It is a great way for both handlers and their dogs to keep fit.
One thing that I soon learnt - it is not as easy as it looks, but the feeling of achievment that is felt when a difficult challenge is mastered is just great.
In 2001 ANKC introduced a new class of agility - Jumpers. Jumpers differs from standard agility in that there are NO contact obstacles (walkway, scramble/A Frame, See-Saw or Table). In Novice Jumpers there is no weaving either.
I had planned to keep Ricky well away from jumpers - many of his faults are knocked bars, but in Agust 2002 I was travelling to Sydney to trial so figured I may as well enter him. Who could believe it - he passed! So I then entered him another trial and he passed that too!! I have recently retired hom though so he will be unable to go on and get that last leg.
Piper currently competes in Open Jumpers and Novice Agility. She has been in about a dozen trials so far and has gained a total of 5 passes - 2 towards her AD and the 3 needed for her JD.
There are three levels of both standard agility and jumpers:
Novice - To get out of Novice you need to gain a pass in 3 seperate trials (a pass is a round with no errors and under the judges set time) Once this has been achieved you are able to apply for the AD or JD title (Agility Dog or Jumping Dog)
Open - This is as far as I have got! BOth Ricky and Reagan retired at this level - Reagan with his ADX and Ricky with 2 passes towards his. The courses in Open are more difficult with more obstacles. 5 passes are required to gain your ADX or JDX titles (Agility Dog Excellence or Jumping Dog Excellence)
Masters - I am hoping that Piper will make it to this level in at least 1 of the 2 types of agility. Masters needs 7 passes for the ADM and JDM (Agility Fog Master and Jumping Dog Master) titles and is extremely difficult. The course are much longer and the rules are tougher, but the Masters dogs are meant to be the best. |
