FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS: (From PDAA Blog)
I am interested in starting my dog in the sports of dog agility. How do I go about it?
First you must train your dog in basic obedience. The dog should know STAY, COME, SIT, DOWN to start with. (Please do not confuse “basic obedience” for competitive obedience – the discipline for getting an obedience title for a pedigreed dog. In agility, only basic obedience is enough). After which then you train your dog to perform the different obstacles which includes hurdles, tyre jump, long jump, tunnels, table, A-frame, see-saw, dog-walk, and weave poles.
Why do I have to train the dog in basic obedience? Can I not just go straight to getting him to do the obstacles?
You will need the basic commands to get the dog to follow you, or to go to the next obstacle. In the pause table for example, the dog is requested to be in the down position for 5 seconds. So you will need the down stay command for that. These are just some of the reasons why you need the basic obedience command for you to enjoy the sports of “dog agility”.
How many and what obstacles are required in the sport of “dog agility”?
From a minimum of 12, to a maximum of 20 obstacles. You would need only one of each of what they call the “contact obstacles” – which are the A-frame, the see-saw, and the dog walk. But you can have around 6 to 8 of the hurdles. You should have a “ribbed tunnel” and a “collapsed tunnel” at least. You should have a weave pole. Plus a pause table.
What are the measurements of these obstacles? How much do you estimate these will cost?
The PDAA can give you these measurements, just request But if you are near a book store, there are books on “Dog Agility” being sold. You can try the National Book Store, they are selling the book of Margaret Bonham, INTRODUCTION TO DOG AGILITY. If the branch of National Bookstore near you does not have it, have them order from their main branch. The book is quite complete and full of information about the sports including the rules, the measurements of the obstacles, and how to train your dog. Book used to cost around P560. The book also tells you how to make cheap hurdles made of PVC. A budget starter set of obstacles may run a low as probably P10,000 or to make competition standard hurdles, maybe as high as P40,000. That is why the PDAA recommends you get other people interested to join you, form a club or group, and divide the cost of the obstacles between all of you. Individually, the cost of obstacles becomes expensive. And forming a group softens the cost and gives the group the opportunity to compete against one another – which provides the fun to dog handlers all over the world.
Will the PCCI recognize competitions that the PDAA sponsors?
No formal agreement has yet been made, but officers of the PDAA have already brought up the subject matter with some PCCI officers, and the possibility of working out some agreement and recognition with PCCI is definitely there. We would wish to compliment the work of PCCI, and will update the members from time to time on the status of this particular subject matter. We have been communicating, and are about to affiliate with the United States Dog Agility Association (USDAA). Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Australia, and New Zealand, our southeast asian neighbors have already affiliated with the USDAA, and we would not wish the Philippines to be left behind. We do not believe that affiliating with USDAA will hamper our relations with PCCI.
If I have a small place at home good for 3 to 5 equipment as practice obstacle, what should I have?
When you say small place, I am assuming you have about 100sqm available. You should start of with a 1) simple hurdle. With this you can start teaching your dog to jump hurdles, and in an actual course dogs are asked to performed around 6 to 8 jumps. Then maybe you should have a tunnel. You can begin probably with just a drum whose top and bottom have been cut out and sharp edges hammered in. After the dog goes through the tunnel easily, you can wrap one end with textile to make it a “collapse tunnel”. A third obstacle might be a 3) weave pole, which you can make easily by having 12 pvc poles that you can stick in the ground (assuming that you place is not all cemented). If you usually have a small 4)table. Coffee table high. You have 4 obstacles which you can practice a dog in your house. When he gets to a “real” course, you will not have too much problems anymore. These are “make do” obstacles I have mentioned … but if you want to make the real ones, please write us for the exact measurements.
On difficulty of training dogs, which obstacles would you gauge the easiest, and which obstacles would you consider the most difficult?
I will enumerate the obstacles from easiest to the most difficult to train: 1) hurdle; 2) pause table; 3) long jump; 4) tyre jump; 5) A-frame; 6) ribbed tunnel; 7) collapse tunnel; dog walk; 9) see-saw; and 10) weave poles. But of course each dog differs; their fears and phobias as a puppy will play a big part in which obstacle they will not like. In training dogs for dog agility, the “positive reinforcement” method is most recommended. Forcing the dog while in the learning stage many times hampers progress.
Do you need pedigreed dogs to join the competitions?
No. Mixed breeds, mongrels, unrecognized breeds are all welcome as long as they are in good health, and controllable by the owner/handler. Ultimately, dogs that join competitions will be registered and graded as to their abilities by the PDAA, but at the moment, this system has not been implemented because not enough dogs that have been trained here in the Philippines, hopefully by 2007, we might be able to start the registration system. This would be like a “handicap system” in the sports of golf. Even in the USA, the US Dog Agility Association (USDAA) does not require pedigree in their agility competitions. FCI though requires pedigree papers.
What size of dog is best used in the sports of dog agility?
All sizes. That is why the sports has become very popular all over the world. Terrier can compete against Great Danes because of size categories. Small dogs are allowed longer time, and lower/shorter obstacles – therefore there is an equalizer (like a handicap in golf) and different dogs can therefore join a competition without problems.
If I have to train a dog for dog agility, should I not just train the “fast” breed of dog so that I can have a better chance of winning in competitions?
Not really. The principal objective of the sports is accuracy – that the dog follows the correct sequence, that the dog touches the mandated contact areas, or that the dog cleanly performs the obstacles. Speed comes into consideration only if there is a “tie” in the dog’s performance. So speed is secondary, accurate handling and performance is primary.
Can dogs not memorize the sequence of the obstacles after joining several competitions?
The placement and sequence of the obstacles changes every competition. The judge is responsible for designing the course for each competition. So the course changes every time. Dogs are not allowed to go through a “run through” prior to each competition, the handler is allowed to “walk the course” prior to the start of the first run. It is therefore his obligation to “instruct” the dog which obstacle he is to perform, and it is the dog’s obligation to get instructions from the handler and do what he is told. This is the challenge of the game, and the best team (handler and dog) stands to come out as winners.
Do we follow the same rules used in other countries?
Yes we will adhere to international rules so that ultimately the best dogs from the Philippines can be afforded the opportunity to compete also in Japan, or the USA, or Australia. The sports of Dog Agility has become an international sports and we would wish to see the Philippines ultimately joining in international competition. In fact on December 2006, the Philippines had an entry in the HongKong International Agility Competition which was recognized by the USDAA, and to which we were invited.
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