Agility Is ...- Bearded Collie Club of America

AGILITY IS . . .
by Beth Canner Agility + Beardies = FUN Beardies + Fun = AGILITY Fun + Agility = BEARDIES

This is a foolproof equation. - .I promise. Agility is a new dog sport enjoyed by all who try it. Basically, agility is a Beardie and handler navigating an obstacle course. There is a set number of obstacles, jumps, and tunnels . The Beardie and handler run against themselves and the time determined by the judge. There are four forms of agility in the United States that Beardies can compete in.
They all use many of the most basic obstacles such as:

Agility Index

Agility Is ...

Agility Trials with Tribbles

A-Frame - Beardie climbs up and over touching contacts along the way

An A-frame, similar to scaling a wall or small "mountain "- it consists of two sides with cross pieces and a slightly flattened top that the Beardies climbs. It is a contact obstacle meaning it has two contact zones which must be touched by any part of the Beardie's paw when completing the obstacle

Dog Walk - Beardie Walks up and over touching the contacts on the way up
and down

A dog walk - similar to a " human balance beam." Also a contact obstacle which the Beardie must walk over, hitting the contact zones both entering and exiting.

Teeter - Beardie working the board

A teeter board -- as the name implies, just like a human teeter-totter. This is also a contact obstacle. It must be worked in such a manner that the Beardie demonstrates a working knowledge of the board.

Open tunnel - large round flexible tunnels similar to a covered slinky are placed in various interesting places on the course.

Closed tunnel - either a round or square opening covered with a long chute through which the Beardie must scoot and push his way out.

Weave pole - Beardie enters between the first and second pole on the left and continues down the 8 to 12 poles in order

Weave poles - used in the advanced classes. A series of poles zig-zagged through by the Beardie.

Platform Jump - Beardie sits - jumps
- and sits again

Various jumps for the Beardie to go over. They range from looking like a fence, a tire, a bush, a brick wall, a wishing well, a cloth window and even large cut out dog bone shapes.

A pause obstacle - usually a box-shaped table used at different heights. The Beardie must jump onto and lie down or sit for a five-second pause while the judge counts.

Training a Beardie in agility is more fun than you can imagine. Agility helps a Beardie in all other levels of competition. It helps a conformation Beardie keep fit. It helps a herding Beardie learn to work away from the handler. It helps obedience Beardies learn directed jumping and to WATCH you for direction.

Agility is a team sport. Each time you compete, the course is different because the judge designs the courses well in advance sends the design to the appropriate organization for approval.

You face a different course and set of challenges each time you compete. Points are deducted for going over the allotted time. Standard course time depends on your class. Points are also deducted for wrong ways and refusing to do an obstacle. Eliminations occur when a jump or part of jump is knocked down.

Titles are earned in all 4 organizations. Training is usually done at Agility Clubs and Dog Training Clubs. The time it takes for a Beardie to be ready to compete depends on the age, maturity level and ability to work off lead reliably.

AKC Nationals

These three beardies and another, Tribbles, are tops in the AKC Agility world, as well as many other Agility venues and are the three who competed at the AKC INVITATIONAL NATIONALS.

Left to Right:
Beth Canner, BCCA Agility Chair and AKC Judge,
Charles Gibson and Mikie -
Ch Holm Mike L. Doglas, MX, U-AGII, OAC, OGC, OJC, HC, CGC
Antoinette Krafcheck and Tasha -
U-ADCh Meadow's Fantasia, AX, NAC, NJC, CD, UCD, HC
Jerry Bergen and Breezy -
Ch Baliwyn's Precious Friend, MX, EAC, NJC, CD, TD, HC, CGC
Lu Bergen

© - All materials on this website are copyright protected either by the Bearded Collie Club of America (BCCA) or by their respective authors. Stealing or Pirating of words, images and trademarks is against the Law! This can be enforced in most countries - and we can charge you for the use and legal costs. Based on the provisions of US opyright Law and the Berne Convention, you (any person other than the authors or artist may not take, modify, adapt, translate, or create derivative works based on the images from this website without the prior written consent of the copyright holder. Do not take or use any image, animation, picture or other any other digital or visual representation or use them in original form or modified form without written permission. If you to take any copyrighted materials you agree to pay all fees and penalties, legal costs, lawyer and legal fees, associated expenses including any travel costs, that result from or are associated with the copyright holder or artist enforcing the copyright or this agreement. Disclaimer: The contents of the pages on this web site have been converted to accommodate HTML formatting for use on the World Wide Web. The contents are provided for information only. Interpretation and use of the contents of this page are at the sole responsibility of the reader and neither the BCCA, its officers or members, the webmaster or beardie.net and its employees or provider are liable for its use or interpretation.