Agility training
The agility training classes are held every Sunday (during winter months) from 12.30 – 1.30pm for competing dogs and 2.00pm – 3.00pm for beginner dogs. During the summer months the training classes take place on a Tuesday evening from 7.00pm – 8.00pm for beginner dogs and 8.00pm – 9.00pm (or when it gets too dark) for competing dogs.
The training field is situated at Fenton Barns, just outside of Drem
We accept any size or breed of dog to train in agility however they must be over 12 months of age. A dog must be at least 18 months old before it can compete in agility competitions.
We enrol new dogs in agility in twice yearly intakes. These normally being in May and October.
Our training field at Fenton Barns
So what is Dog Agility?
Dog agility involves negotiating a set obstacle course in the fastest time with the fewest faults.
There are a number of agility obstacles including:
- Jumps – These being different heights for different sizes of dogs. A fault will be given if the dog knocks the pole off.
- Dog walk – A raised ramp consisting of 3 pieces of wood with ‘contact’ points at each end that the dog must touch or they get faulted.
- The A frame – 2 pieces of wood shaped to form an A. This also has ‘contact’ points that the dog must touch or incur a fault.
- The see- saw - A pivoted plank of wood with ‘contact’ points at each end that the dog must touch when the see-saw is touching the ground or again they will be faulted.
- Weave Poles – A series of between 5 and 12 poles that the dog has to ‘weave’ through.
- Rigid tunnel -A tunnel that the dog must run through. It can be straight or bent.
- Collapsible tunnel – A tunnel that has a rigid entrance and then a cloth body that the dog must run through.
- Tyre – A raised hoop that the dog must jump through.
- Long jump – A series of low hurdles that are spread to a maximum length of 1.5metres.
Some more advanced courses can contain other obstacles such as a table, wall or spread.
The obstacles are arranged in any order to make the full course normally to a maximum of 20 obstacles to one course. There are generally two types of course being a jumping course or and agility course. An agility course could contain any piece of equipment but a jumping course will not contain any of the ‘contact’ equipment, being the dog –walk, see-saw or A frame.
There are 3 height groups that the dogs could be. These are small, medium or large and some of the obstacles will be set at different heights for the different size category.
There are 7 grades for the dogs to progress through starting at Grade 1 for beginner dogs and leading through to Grade 7 that can be reached when the dogs win classes at the lower levels.
For more information on Agility training please email: eldtc@hotmail.co.uk
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