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Agility: popular dog sport for active four-legged friends

Agility

Agility is one of the most popular dog sports at all and represents a great occupation possibility for active humans and animals. 


How Agility works exactly, what you have to pay attention to during training and which requirements your four-legged friend should have for this dog sport, we will explain to you in the following. You will also learn how to optimally support your dog in agility with the right nutrition.

How does Agility work?

The basic principle of agility is that you have to guide your dog through an obstacle course. This obstacle course consists of up to 22 different stations, which you have to master in the shortest possible time.


The obstacles are numbered and must be completed in a given order. Your dog does not wear a leash during agility and may not be touched by you. The four-legged dog is led exclusively with the help of sound signs and the body language of the owner.

Agility Jumping and A-Run

The Agility Parcours can either consist exclusively of jump hurdles or additionally contain so-called contact zone obstacles such as seesaws and catwalks. The first variant is called Jumping. The second version is called the A-run.


Independent of this, the obstacles are built up differently each time, so that agility practically never becomes boring and the course challenges your dog again and again. 

Why Agility is a great employment opportunity

Agility is ideal to satisfy your dog's urge to move in a creative way and with a lot of fun. With Agility you have the possibility to use your four-legged friend in an appropriate way, to improve his coordination and to promote him mentally. 


The common training improves also the fitness of humans and animals equally and strengthens beyond that the connection between you and your quadruped. In addition, your dog can make valuable social contacts with other dogs while taking part in the course, while you can exchange ideas with other owners.

Not every dog is suitable for Agility

Basically, a species-appropriate and varied activity for the health and well-being of your dog is a good thing. However, Agility is not suitable for all animals equally. 


Because the dog sport demands a lot from the body of your four-legged friend. Before you start with Agility, you should make sure that no health problems or other factors speak against the training with your dog.

Every dog should meet the following requirements for Agility:

  • The animal should be at least four months old to avoid damage to the bone structure and musculoskeletal system.
  • The dog must be completely healthy, which should be checked by a veterinarian if in doubt.
  • Dogs suffering from joint diseases such as arthrosis or hip dysplasia should not do agility.
  • Animals that suffer from psychological problems or are particularly sensitive to stress are also not suitable for agility.

In addition, you should also refrain from agility with certain breeds and instead look for another occupation for your four-legged friend. This applies both to particularly large dogs, as for example Bernhardiner or Neufundländer, and to dog breeds with very short legs, as for example dachshunds or Bassets.

Official Agility Tournaments according to VGH Test Regulations

If you don't want to limit yourself to regular training with Agility, you also have the opportunity to participate with your dog in official tournaments. However, some requirements must be met. 

Official Agility Tournaments


In addition to a rabies vaccination, your dog needs a microchip or a tattoo to participate in an agility tournament and must also have passed his companion dog test. In addition, you must be a member of a club affiliated to the VDH and have concluded a dog owner's liability for your four-legged friend.


In order to limit the burden for the participating dogs to an acceptable level, Agility tournaments are started in different size and performance classes. The animals are divided into the size classes Small, Medium and Large based on their shoulder height.


In addition, the classification into performance classes A1, A2 and A3 allows animals with a similar performance level to compete against each other. For four-legged animals with an age of at least six years there is an additional senior class for agility tournaments.

Agility training at home

Of course you do not necessarily have to attend a dog school or even take part in tournaments for the agility training. There are also exercises that you can do with your dog at home.


For example, get an indoor agility tunnel, build a catwalk with two beverage crates and a sturdy board, or set up your garden chairs as a makeshift slalom course. With a little creativity you can easily keep your four-legged friend occupied with agility exercises and bring some variety into the dog's everyday life.

Agility also involves risks

If you decide for Agility, you should be aware that this dog sport also has risks. Improper training and excessive ambition on the part of the owner will damage the dog's body in the long run and lead to high stress levels. 


In order to avoid such consequences, it is therefore important that you approach the subject of agility slowly. Avoid driving your dog to peak performance all the time and learn to recognize when your four-legged friend needs a break.


After all, agility should be fun and good for your dog's body and mind. That this is the case is always your responsibility in the end.

Agility and nutrition

A balanced and species-appropriate diet is crucial for the health of your dog. This is especially true if you practice dog sport like Agility with your four-legged friend. Because the additional physical load leads inevitably to an increased nutrient requirement, which you must consider with the feeding.

Our recommendation to support your dog in agility

In addition to additional energy in the form of calories, it is especially important that you provide your dog with enough high-quality proteins. These help him to regenerate quickly after the agility training and to maintain his performance as well as his muscles.


We therefore recommend a natural dietary supplement with our Fitness Powder for all dogs who practice Agility. Bellfor Fitness Powder contains insect protein as a high-quality source for all essential amino acids and provides your four-legged friend with important vitamins and minerals from chia seeds and dried bananas.


The special composition of easily digestible natural ingredients makes Bellfor Fitness Powder the ideal companion for the daily feeding of your active dog.

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