Agility

 

Agility is a new dog sport rapidly gaining in popularity. Developed in Britain, it was loosely modeled after equestrian show jumping. To compete, each dog is required to navigate an obstacle course under the direction of its handler within a set time and with a minimum of faults. The set of obstacles includes jumps, tunnels, ramps, catwalks (renamed dogwalks), teeter totters, and a series of upright poles that the dogs must weave through slalom style! Every course is unique. A dog never runs the same course twice.

Agility is an excellent training/bonding activity for Whippets and their owners. Whippets enjoy testing their agility, coordination, and speed while navigating the course.

There are Agility sanctioning organizations in many places around the world. In North America there are six main organizations that sanction Agility trials. Each offers a variety of titles for various levels of achievement. The six North American organizations are:

United States Dog Agility Association - USDAA
Agility Association of Canada - AAC
North American Dog Agility Council, Inc. - NADAC
American Kennel Club - AKC
United Kennel Club - UKC
Canine Performance Events – CPE

USDAA and AAC trials are run under international style rules which are generally considered the most physically demanding of the dog. A fit healthy Whippet should be able to compete under any organization. In addition to standard Agility courses, the USDAA, AAC, NADAC, and CPE offer special categories for Veteran (older) dogs and Junior (child) handlers, as well as strategic agility games. All six organizations allow neutered dogs and dogs with breed disqualifications to compete for titles. All except the AKC allow mixed breed dogs to compete. To compete with the AKC a dog must be registered with the AKC or a foreign equivalent.

Past Triathlon Winners from

The American Whippet Club National Specialty

1995 Ch Chaparral Corazon CDX SC OA LCM TT CGC – Shelly and Louanne Hennessy

1996 Ch Buncrana’s Sligo CDX LCM10 – Pat Mclaughlin

1997 Ch Hound Hill Cheerio CD SC FCH CGC CAV – Mary Hope Schoenfeld

1998 DC Whippletree’s Gold Nugget FCH CD CAV – Rhonda Gold

1999 Buncranas Knickerbocker JC – Barbara Sciarra

2000 Shaldra Mikater Sumpn Spec’l FCH – K Sibinovic – S Olmstead – R Nappier

2001 HIT Northwind’s Dancing Partner Am/Can CD CGC – Irene + Doug Mullaeur

2002 HIT MBIF Ch Fantasy’s Divine Decadence LCM2 CD NA NAJ SC CGC CAVX – Lisa Costello

2003 Northwind’s Dancing Partner Am/Can CD CGC – Irene + Doug Mullaeur

2004 BIF DC UCH UAGI UCD Apraxin Callaben Kristobel CD MC LCM3 NA NAJ NAP NJP CGC CAVX

2005 FC Onyxx Gone With the Wind FCH NA NAJ – Sally Eliot

2006 Ch Seaspell’s Concord Point, CD, SC, OA, OAJ, CR, OTR, NAC, TG-N, CL3, CL4-S, CL4-H, CL4-F, CGC “Patriot”