Dog Agility

Get Over It...

Under it, around it and through it! Agility is a teamwork sport where the dog and handler navigate a course with a variety of obstacles, under various conditions to race for their own best time while performing the obstacles safely and accurately. It requires conditioning, concentration, strategy and focus... plus the ability to think on your feet!

We're addicted! It started out very innocently. In 1994, my sister-in-law Vicky took Pat to the Grand Opening of a pet store in the Chicago area. Her dog club was doing a dog agility demo. The idea was to show how any dog could do agility and would enjoy it. They used our English Setter, Mutley in their demo. Mutley did enjoy it and so did Pat. He came home very enthusiastic and started training agility with Mutley. It looked like fun, so I also gave it a try. Once we were both hooked, Pat handed Mutley over to me and adopted his own agility partner, Doberman Pinscher named Raven. She had a tragic accident and unfortunately died, way too young. But "when one door closes..." with a grieving but open heart, we found our extraordinary Doberman, Second Chance Diamond "Dax". Mutley and Dax boldly took us where we'd never been before (geeky Star Trek reference)...

Agility is my favorite canine sport! The most common misconception about agility is that it’s about the obstacles. Wrong! In reality the obstacles take the shortest amount of time to learn and are easiest to teach. It takes a dog/handler team their entire career to fine tune their communication and develop the kind of partnership required to become a truly great team! What happens between the obstacles is the most challenging, dynamic part of the sport. The courses change each time and the handler only gets 10 minutes to walk and strategize a successful plan for any course. What an adrenaline rush! Then if things don't go as planned, you need to improvise and quickly think on your feet while running the course!

There are many different venue choices that offer a diversity of challenges, height categories, classes, levels and some even offer unique obstacles. All the venues have their own strengths and weaknesses so it comes down to personal enjoyment!

We mostly do AKC agility. Before Entles were allowed in AKC, I did a lot of NADAC, ASCA and some USDAA. Over time AKC agility became our personal preference because it's much more convenient, less expensive, and offers the best mix of rules, courses, games and challenges. In our area, AKC trials are offered almost every weekend within a 2 hour drive.

Entlebuchers and Agility

Entles are capable of being an awesome, competitive agility breed! They are not built physically as ideal for the sport as a slightly squarer, lighter breed but they are still a fun, competitive, above average choice! Ours and other Entles consistently earn qualifying placements even at the highest levels. Our entles usually clock in on average, close to or over 6 YPS in Jumpers and just as respectable in Standard. Kai placed 3rd in 2016 and 8th in 2018 at the prestigious AKC Invitationals.

The Entlebucher weight to height ratio places them toward the upper-end of the mesomorphic (middle/moderate) body type. They do not have endomorphic (heavyset) body frames, like their larger Swiss cousins the Greater Swiss and Bernese Mountain Dogs. Since "form follows function", the Entle's historic drover herding qualities clearly call for stamina, agility and balance over extremes or exaggeration of proporton- especially in the amount of bone &/or weight. Bigger is not better!

Weight to Height Body Ratios

The book, Jumping from A to Z by Christine Zink & Julie Daniels cites: "The heavier a dog is in relation to his height, the more effort will be required during locomotion, and the more stress there will be on the musculoskeletal system". The book cites through research and observation, "dogs with a weight:height ratio of less than 2.5 will generally enjoy the longest, healthiest jumping careers. Dogs with a weight:height ratio of 2.5 to 4 can expect average or better jumping careers with a proper conditioning program. And dogs with a weight:height ratio of over 4 are in the danger zone for jumping, they should be trained with great care and jump at full height only under the best conditions". Weight:Height ratios are a structural factor that influences any dog's athleticism and abilities.

Fun with math -illustration examples:

A female Berner could be 24" tall & weigh 86 lbs. (86 divided by 24 = 3.5)

Our female Entle Kai is 17.5" tall & weighs 45 lbs (45 divided by 17.5 = 2.5)

A tall male Berner by their standard, at 27" could weigh upwards of 110 lbs (110 divided by 27 = 4.05)

A tall male Entle by our standard, at 21" should never weigh more than 70 lbs (70 divided by 21 = 3.3)

A dog with more bone can support a little more weight in general, but there comes a point where the dog's structure will pay the price. If you do agility or any dog sports, work with a breeder that understands the needs and physical demands of the sport. If you do agility with an Entlebucher it is extremely important to keep your Entle in lean, muscular condition to prevent injuries and minimize the wear and tear on their body. Continue to educate yourself about structure, health, and fitness. Read, learn and develop a solid conditioning program for your Entle so they can perform better and stay healthier throughout their career and life. We have found the FitPaws products and educational resources invaluable in helping us develop and maintain our Entle's core strength, minimize their weaknesses and maximize their strengths. For more articles, illustrations and books on this subject refer to my links below.

The Entlebucher height standard puts them in the AKC 16" or 20" regular division. Bayla was a taller female, she measured into the 20" division, so does Risa. Jaylah is under the cutoff and jumps 16", so did Kai. Jaylah has an advantage being taller at the withers than her jump height. Geordi measures into the competitive 20" division, so did Data. It does not overly concern me due to the advances in jump training methods and their structure plus we are more experienced, knowledgeable and proactive when it comes to health, fitness, and conditioning!

Competitive jump heights are not more important than overall sound structure, solid temperament and good health but it is something to consider when looking for an Entlebucher if you are interested in agility. Most males will jump 20" regular or 16" preferred but most females will measure into the 16" regular height division (12" preferred)... it's a definite advantage!

Favorite Agility Links

Clean Run Agility Magazine Premiere resource for agility fanatics
Say Yes! Dog Training Susan Garrett website
LoLaBuLand Experience Silvia Trkman website
Canine Sports Productions Christine Zink website
Jumping Series Excellent 4 Part article series by Suzanne Clothier
Agility University Innovative online classes and resources
FDSA- Fenzi Academy Online classes & webinars from Top notch instructors
Dogwise.com Vast resource of books on agility and dog training
J & J Dog Supplies Vast resources; supplies for many sports
Agility Nerd Fun, informative blog site with courses and videos
Rush to Tug Great motivational interactive tug toys
The Liver Lady 4 Paws Up! Our K9's recommend enthusiastically
FitPaws USA Canine fitness, rehab, and performance products and services

Venues

* Data Photo Credit: Cathi Winkles	* Kai Photo Credit: Jessica Vanden Langenberg