Agility & the
Boykin Spaniel
Agility is an event
which combines speed and athleticism to navigate over an
obstacle course. Standard classes are judged by the least amount
of faults accumulated on course and then as a tie breaker the
dog with the shortest time around the course to win. Different
games and classes may combine these elements plus strategic
planning to score points, such as in USDAA Snooker and Gambler's
games classes or the AKC FAST game class (new in Jan. 2007).
One of the most
complete pages for resources to purchase or build your own
equipment on the web is:
www.parhelion.us/agility_equipment_links.htm
2 great
informational resource pages for agility are
www.cleanrun.com and
www.dogpatch.org/agility/ Both pages host a large number of
helpful guides, including lists of clubs and instructors to help
you get training.
Titling
Organizations & Venues
There are a bevy of
venues in the USA and abroad that offer agility titling events.
A very complete list is available on the Clean Run website at:
www.cleanrun.com/pages.cfm?ID=45&CFID=431128&CFTOKEN=43475457
The largest in the United States are the AKC, USDAA,
NADAC and UKC. While Boykin Spaniels are only able to currently
compete in AKC Sanction B level matches at this time, it is
projected that they will soon gain full AKC status and be able
to compete in titling events.
AKC (America
Kennel Club)
www.akc.org/events/agility/index.cfm
AKC is possibly the
largest agility sanctioning organization in the United Staes.
They offer thousands of trials each year for AKC breeds in the
classes of standard and Jumpers with Weaves (JWW).
AKC National Agility Championships are held yearly as well
as the newly announced (Sept. 2005)
National Agility Invitational with differing qualification
criteria than the Championship for entries which will be based
on individual breed MACH point earnings. The AKC/USA World Cup
team is invited to compete in England at the largest dog show in
the world, Crufts. AKC is also invited to the agility
World
Championships (WC) held each year in a rotating location in
Europe.
Starting in July
2006, the Boykin Spaniel will be eligible to compete in AKC
agility. Individuals may also win the right to compete in the
AKC National Agility Championships by completing the
criteria set by AKC for all eligible purebred dogs to enter.
USDAA (United
States Dog Agility Association)
www.usdaa.com
USDAA is the oldest venue still in operation in the USA. They
offer traditional standard and jumpers classes as well as
strategy games such as pairs relay, Snooker and Gambler's. Large
regional events as well as local qualifiers are held to enter
the yearly national championship,
World
Cynosport® Games dog agility championships. Equipment specifications can
be more difficult than other venues with a taller A-Frame,
higher jump heights and shorter "contact zones". USDAA allows
all breeds and mix breeds to compete in their events.
NADAC (North American Dog Agility Council)
www.nadac.com
NADAC was formed in 1993. Classes and games include Regular
(standard), Gamblers, Jumpers, Tunnelers,
TouchNGo, and Weavers. NADAC offers a yearly national
championship as
well as many yearly accomplishment awards. NADAC equipment
specifications are somewhat easier than other venues, which
makes classes available for dogs who might not be up to the
physical challenge of other organizations. NADAC allows all
breeds and mix breeds to compete in their events.
UKC (United Kennel Club)
www.ukcdogs.com
UKC offers a slightly different take on agility than other
organizations. They emphasis control over speed and grade the
dog's performance subjectively. Their equipment specifications
are also very different in the second and third level classes,
using items such as sway bridges, swing planks and platform
jumps that are only seen in the UKC venue. UKC allows all breeds
and mix breeds to compete in their events. |
