Tunnels, Jumps and Poles, oh my!

Dogs are wonderful for myriad reasons, muddy paws and all, and playing with them is a bonding experience that strengthens the relationship. Those who spend time training their dogs and participating in agility sports find enhanced trust and obedience, in addition to physical exercise, mental processing and excitement that benefits both people and dogs. 

Pups and their owners of all shapes and sizes can participate in agility workouts. “Some dogs find the activity itself to be intrinsically rewarding, and others enjoy it because they are being rewarded with food or toys or praise,” states Andrea Lengi, owner of All-American Dog Sports in Blacksburg. “I would say that any size and shape of dog can be good at and love this sport. I have had everything from tiny Chihuahuas to Bernese Mountain Dogs in my classes that have done really well.  Competition is grouped by dog height, so a little dog will only be competing against similar sized dogs.”

But one does not have to be interested in competing in agility trials and contests to enjoy the benefits of the sport. A tired dog is a good dog, and the physical exercise cannot be matched at the end of a leash. A variety of equipment helps dogs overcome fear, build confidence and develop self-control. It’s a great form of distraction training, as your dog must be focused on you for instructions on when and where to go, turn and stop. Among the obstacles are tunnels, jumps, poles, seesaws, cones and ramps.  

 

All-American Dog Sports

 

Andrea Lengi has been obsessed with dogs for as long as she can remember. Despite pleading for a dog, the largest animal she was permitted to have as a child was a gerbil.  She adopted her first dog as a graduate student and joined a local training club. “I planned on doing competition obedience because that was available,” she recalls. “Then the new sport of agility came over the horizon, and I was hooked.” 

She participated in an instructor training program and advanced to become a dog training program manager. She also credits having trained horses in hunter jumper style for her natural acuity in dog training. 

When she moved to the New River Valley in 2001, Andrea did not find much in the dog agility sport, so she started All-American Dog Sports on her own. She is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer who conducts private agility and obedience training, clicker training, trick training and problem solving sessions. She also offers beginning agility classes and events, as well as the relatively new “nosework” training which involves search and scent activities. 

Canine competitions often use “All-American” to refer to “mixed breed” or “mutt” as there are no restrictions on what kinds of dogs participate. Rescue dogs are often found in competition. Andrea’s pooches have competed successfully at the highest levels of agility, and four of them are in the North American Dog Agility Council (NADAC) Hall of Fame. 

 

Fun for You and Your Dog

 

The cliché “something for everyone” might be over-used, but Andrea believes it works with dog agility. “I have students who aspire to compete at a high level and others who have no interest in competition but are looking for something fun to try with their dog.  There are some dogs with physical limitations that may preclude them from doing much jumping, but even in competition, there are classes that don’t have any jumps. There is one class that is all tunnels, and some that have hoops the dog runs through instead of jumps.”

An encouraging note is that there’s a “veteran” division for older dogs which provides lower jump heights and extra course time.  And, thinking of e.v.e.r.y.o.n.e., there’s also a “veteran handler” division that allows older humans a little more time to get around the course. It’s like they have considered every angle to make the experience – with or without competition – be enjoyable. 

Is your dog a candidate, whether for fun or competition? People often ask Andrea if she can evaluate their dog to see if it’s a good match for agility. “I’m happy to do it but, honestly, the answer is almost always going to be yes.

 

Text by Joanne M. Anderson
Photos courtesy of Fur Fetched Photography