All About Agility: Is It the Right Sport for You and Your Dog?

Fennec on the agility course. photo: Sarah Hitzeman

Have you ever watched in awe as a dog and its handler navigate a complex obstacle course with speed, precision, and breathtaking teamwork? Welcome to the thrilling world of dog agility! This fast-paced dog sport not only showcases the impressive athletic abilities of our dogs, but it highlights the power of positive training and the relationship between dogs and their humans. 

Today, let’s dive deeper into the world of agility with Olivia Hendricks, a passionate dog trainer who has agreed to share her insights and experiences with agility.  Join me for an in-depth conversation with her about the challenges, rewards, and benefits of this exciting sport for dogs and their humans.

Sara: Olivia, thanks for joining me to discuss your journey and passion for dog agility. To start, can you tell us a little about your background and what led you to become a dog trainer?

Olivia: My road to dog training is a pretty common one, although I didn't realize it at the time. At the beginning of the pandemic, I adopted a 4-month-old puppy, Mabel, who presented with some pretty intense fear and aggression issues. I quickly realized that I was unequipped to handle her behavior so I reached out for professional help. As part of that process, I fell in love with everything about dog training: understanding how dogs learn, how to shape behaviors, how to instill positive emotional responses to different triggers, and just plain having fun with your dog! While Mabel's case sadly ended in behavioral euthanasia, my experience working with her inspired me to become a dog trainer and help others build strong, positive relationships with their dogs.

Fast forward a few years and one agility dog later when I became an "official" dog trainer, teaching beginner agility classes on the weekend. I'm currently working towards the 300 hour requirement for my CPDT-KA certification. Dog training is not my full time job (I'm actually a hardware engineer with a background in chemistry), but it's certainly my most fulfilling job by far.

Sara: It's heartwarming to hear how your journey with Mabel ignited your passion for dog training. Speaking of agility, what was it about this particular dog sport that captured your interest?

Olivia: I brought home my next dog, a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever named Fennec, with the intent of pursuing some kind of dog sport. I was probably drawn to dog agility because of my background in competitive horseback riding. I showed horses in what's called the "hunter divisions," where you navigate smoothly and calmly around a series of jumps. Agility is basically the speedy dog version of that. I was impressed by the athletic ability and quick communication required from both dog and handler to navigate the courses.

Sara: That's a great comparison! Now, as someone new to the world of dog agility, what were some of the initial challenges you faced when starting out?

Olivia: Imagine trying to explain calculus to your dog while simultaneously learning a choreographed dance routine. That's what being a first time agility handler is like! Agility requires a lot of footwork, timing, and coordination from the handler, so you're trying to perfect your own technique while also teaching your dog. It's a real bonding experience because you are both learning, making mistakes, and fumbling through it as you go.

Agility also requires a lot of foundational skills before you can start taking jumps and obstacles safely. You have to be patient and recognize that these "boring" skills will pay off down the road.

Finally, agility requires your dog to focus off leash in an arena full of other dogs training and barking and running and having fun. It takes a lot of work to get to that point alone!

Sara: What are some key lessons you've learned since starting agility training?

Olivia: So many! Probably the biggest lesson, which any dog trainer will tell you, is that progress isn't linear. There are setbacks, and sometimes a skill will fall apart for what feels like no reason. It's easy to get frustrated, but you have to be patient and train the dog in front of you.

Another lesson (that I'm still learning, if I'm being honest) is to know when to quit. My type-A brain likes to keep practicing things until they're perfect. My dog? Not so much. Doing the same thing over and over again gets boring, and if he makes too many mistakes in a row, he gets discouraged. I have to remember to set us up for success and quit while we're ahead, even if I haven't made as much progress as I wanted.

Fennic and Olivia photo: Olivia Hendricks

Sara: Can you share a standout moment or breakthrough you've had while training in agility?

Olivia: Different agility venues hold fun matches, where you can practice in a trial-like environment but without the actual pressure of a trial. At our first fun match, there were two agility rings running simultaneously. I took Fen into the ring, removed his leash, and he immediately took off chasing the dog in the adjacent ring. Not a good look. The next time in the ring, I (wisely) kept the leash on and just focused on Fen's engagement. The time after that, I removed the leash, asked for easy, flatwork behaviors, and then a single obstacle followed by a reward. By the end of the day, we were sequencing obstacles together, and Fennec was as focused and engaged as he is at home. I was so proud of how much progress he made in just a few sessions. We definitely got the award for most improved!

Sara: From your perspective, how does participating in agility benefit dogs? More specifically, how does agility training influence a dog's social and cognitive development?

Olivia: Part of any dog sport is teaching your dog how to learn. With agility, we use a variety of methods (luring, shaping, capturing) to teach our dogs new skills. Dogs learn how their own behavior can influence outcomes (a.k.a. getting a treat), which is really empowering for the dog. It makes them excited to stay in the game because they're more of an active participant.

Agility also requires our dogs to do some pretty wild stuff! I don't know about you, but there's not a high enough value treat that would get me to run across a giant see-saw that drops three times my height. Not to mention the different surfaces, types of jumps, and all of the other obstacles that dogs have to master. This can be a really big confidence boost, especially for shyer dogs who might have some nervous feelings about their environment.

Sara: From your observations, how does participating in agility affect a dog's behavior and manners?

Olivia: The foundation of any dog sport is the dog’s ability to focus and engage in the face of distractions. The actual behaviors and tricks are just things you layer on top of that foundation. 

Outside of dog sports, I would argue that many "problems" people have with their dogs come down to issues with focus and engagement. When the environment is the most interesting thing in your dog's world, you're not going to have much luck getting them to come when they are called, sit quietly at a coffee shop while you enjoy breakfast, or stop chewing the legs of your couch. 

Participating in dog sports helps teach your dog that you are also a source of super cool, really awesome stuff. And if you become a source of fun and excitement for your dog, they are more likely to choose engaging with you over different environmental distractions.

Of course I'm oversimplifying (taking an agility class won't guarantee a good recall), but the skills you learn in agility class to help your dog work around other dogs and distractions will definitely benefit both of you in everyday life. 

One example is name recognition. We spend a lot of time conditioning a positive emotional response to a dog hearing their name. I say "Fennec" and Fennec gets a treat for doing absolutely nothing. How is this helpful? Well, eventually, Fennec starts to understand that responding to his name equals getting a cookie. That means I can start to get his attention in more and more distracting environments like that time he tried to steal a croissant from a small child (true story).

Moreover, agility is great exercise (for the human too, I might add), and learning new skills provides a lot of mental stimulation. This can really benefit dogs who  need an outlet for otherwise destructive or rowdy behavior at home.

Sara: What insights can you offer pet owners who might be considering agility training for their dogs?

Olivia: Just try it - if your dog doesn't seem enthusiastic, then try another dog sport!

Just be sure to look for a facility/trainer who uses positive reinforcement-based methods and who will also make sure you and your dog are safe. No dog sport is without risk of injury, so you want to be sure the person you're working with prioritizes safety. For agility, this involves having clear instructions for using the equipment, protocols for how to progress on each obstacle, and always taking a step back if your dog appears uncomfortable.

Sara: Are there any misconceptions about agility training that you'd like to address?

Olivia: A lot of people think only Border Collies or big dogs can do agility. Agility is for anyone! There are lots of equipment modifications for smaller dogs. There's even a type of agility for tiny dogs called teacup agility. If your goal is to learn a new sport with your dog, have fun, compete, and even title your dog, there's no reason agility can't be for you. That said, if your goal is to become the grand agility champion of the world, then maybe you should get a Border Collie.

Another misconception I had when starting the sport is that everyone has perfect runs when they compete. I was so nervous at my first trial because I thought I would be the only one making mistakes. I couldn't have been more wrong! Everyone makes mistakes all the time. Experienced dogs and handlers go off course, blow through their contacts, miss a weave entry, etc. You will have lots of good company in making mistakes.

Sara: Are there specific behaviors or traits you believe make a dog a good candidate for agility training?

Olivia: It depends on what your goals and preferences are. In my (albeit limited) experience teaching classes, dogs who are enthusiastic about training and working tend to get pretty into agility. Dogs who are toy-motivated are also great for agility because there are some benefits to using toy rewards in different contexts. But overall, my best advice is just to give it a try and ask for feedback from your trainer. They can help you decide if agility is the right sport for your team.

Sara: It's been such a pleasure hearing about your journey and insights into the world of dog agility, Olivia. Before we wrap up, where can readers find more details about your training offerings and agility classes?

Olivia: I'm a part-time instructor at Golden Gate Dog Sports in San Francisco. Find us online and come check out our classes! We have a beautiful, indoor turf facility with amazing instructors in both agility and flyball. If San Francisco isn't accessible to you, check out the Bay Team website for agility resources across the Bay Area.

Whether you're a seasoned dog owner or new to the world of canine sports, agility offers a fun, challenging, and rewarding way to spend quality time with your dog while keeping them mentally and physically stimulated.

So why not give it a try? With the help of dedicated trainers like Olivia and a commitment to positive reinforcement, you and your dog might just discover a new passion that brings you closer together than ever before.