Barrier for dogs in the apartment in the doorway - purpose

What is agility

Agility for dogs began in the 70s of the last century in Great Britain. On February 10, 1978, the first obstacle course competition was demonstrated during a break between the main events at the Crufts exhibition, organized by John Varley and Peter Minuel. It is believed that the example for the new sport was the equestrian competitions , of which Varli was a fan. The enthusiastic reaction of the audience gave impetus to holding a repeat competition a year later, and then agility gradually turned into a full-fledged sport for dogs with its own rules and program, the popularity of which went beyond the borders of the United Kingdom and spread throughout the world, including Russia.

Today, agility is a complex of sports competitions that involve quickly overcoming an obstacle course. Both the pet, who performs the exercises, and the owner, who gives commands with gestures and voice and guides his ward, directly participate in the competition, so such events are of a team nature. The basis of this sport is precisely the established contact between man and animal, high-quality and in-depth dog training.

Dog breeds for agility

Agility is a very democratic sport in which dogs of any breed and even mongrels can take part. You do not need to present any documents confirming your pedigree to participate in competitions. The main requirement for a dog is the ability and desire to carry out the orders of its owner. In addition, to successfully overcome obstacles, it must be light, flexible and quick. Young and adult healthy dogs are allowed to compete (with the exception of pregnant ones), but agility classes are recommended for pets older than 1 year, since their backbone is already formed and the risk of injury during exercise is significantly reduced.

What breeds are suitable for agility? Although technically any dog ​​can participate in competitions, not every pet exhibits the qualities necessary for this sport. The most popular dogs are herding breeds (border collies, shelties, Australian shepherds, etc.), since historically they have spent a lot of time with people in team work and have developed the closest contact; they are easier to train. However, this does not mean that other dog breeds are not suitable for agility - all pets are individual, so the success of training depends not only on their innate qualities, but also on the owner’s ability to unleash the potential of his ward.

In agility, division is accepted depending on the height of the dog at the withers. Typically, these are the following three categories:

• S (small) - for dogs whose height at the withers is less than 35 cm;
• M (medium) – for dogs from 35 cm (inclusive), but less than 43 cm;
• L (large) – for dogs from 43 cm at the withers and above.

In each category, there are the best breeds for agility, distinguished by the most optimal set of necessary qualities. Animals of different categories never mix with each other either during training or competitions, since obstacles of different heights are installed for them. In class S, Spitz are most often used, in class M – sheltie, in class L – border collie. The latter are considered the fastest, and therefore many breeders try to breed smaller dogs of this breed to participate in S and M class competitions. The competitions themselves take place in an increasing order - first animals of class S participate, then M and finish with L, while the height of the obstacles increases.

Features of construction

The foundation of such a structure is mainly concreted and covered with crushed stone. The back and side walls are made blank. The other three are made of gratings, rods or meshes. There must be a gate with a shutter so that you can feed the dog and wash the area. In the middle, 2 places are installed: one for overnight stay (kennel), and the other for food (feeder). In order for your four-legged companion to feel safe and comfortable, the following requirements are imposed on do-it-yourself dog enclosures:

1. Consider the size of the pet. Animals up to 70 cm need an area of ​​5-8 square meters. m, and for larger ones - from 10 m².
2. It can be open type (2 or 3 mesh walls) to ensure good ventilation. For regions with cold climates, closed-type sites are made, where only the front wall is open.
3. The removable roof is made from durable roofing material.
4. For the floor, exclusively dry planed boards are used.
5. The gate for the owner should be his height or 15 cm less, so that only his head can be tilted when entering. It should open inward. A secure lock is required.
6. The size of the feeder corresponds to the needs of the animal (2 pcs.). It is better to fix the containers by attaching a mechanism for rotation.
7. The booth is built in a small size so that the pet can lie, sit and turn freely. A warm covering is laid on the floor.

Since it is sometimes necessary to make an enclosure for a dog in an apartment, you can use improvised materials. For example, make a fence from slats or mesh. At the same time, attach it to one of the walls of the apartment. Much depends on the wishes of the household members themselves.

Animals need to be walked from time to time. They should run and frolic. Otherwise, the muscles atrophy and the blood stagnates.

Types of obstacles in agility

The competition course is a complex of sequentially located obstacles. The rules may establish different sizes of agility equipment, angles of inclination and other parameters. At the same time, their general form and principle of operation remain unchanged. Depending on the nature of the interaction between the dog and the obstacle, agility equipment is divided into the following types.

Contact obstacles

Such agility obstacles require the presence of zones of direct contact with the dog’s body:

• The slide consists of two shields connected at an angle, raised at the top 1.5-2 meters above the ground. The contact zone of the obstacle is painted yellow or red, and transverse strips are fixed on its surface to make it easier for the dog to move. To get a dog over a hill, the handler usually uses the commands “Hill!” or “Home!”

• The swing is made in the form of a board that rotates around the base as the dog moves from one end to the other. In order for the animal to run up an obstacle, the balance of the shield shifts slightly towards one of the ends. To overcome a swing with a dog, domestic trainers use the command “Swing!”

• A boom is a type of slide in which a horizontal board is located between inclined surfaces. It also has a yellow or red painted contact area and cross strips. At this obstacle, the handler gives his dog the command “Boom!”

• The tunnel is made in the form of a barrel-shaped short hole, to which a long fabric part with an open end is attached (soft tunnel), or a rigid pipe of a straight and winding shape (hard tunnel). In both cases, the commands “Tun”, “Tut-Tu” or “Bottom” are usually used.

Jumping obstacles

To overcome such obstacles, the dog must make a high or long jump:

• The usual barrier consists of two vertical posts with an easily knocked down bar located between them. The dog must jump over it on the command “Hop!”, “Bar”, “Jump!” or "Up".

• A ring is a type of barrier in the shape of a circle (tire, hoop) mounted in a frame on a support. The dog needs to overcome it by jumping through the hole on the command “Tire!” or “Circle!”

• The dog performs a long jump through several parallel benches (platforms), without touching any of them with its body or paws. At this obstacle, the handler uses the commands “Hop!”, “Bar!”, “Jump” or “Up”.

• The double barrier is also a variation of the usual one, but consists of two parallel bars. To jump, the dog is given the command “Hop!”, “Bar!”, “Jump” or “Up”.

• The barrier fence is made in the form of a solid wall, on the upper edge of which there is an easily knocked down pad that prevents injury to the dog. To overcome this obstacle, the same commands are usually used as for other barriers - “Hop!”, “Bar!”, “Jump” or “Up”.

Other obstacles

This group includes projectiles with which the dog interacts in various ways:

• Slalom is a series of 12 racks located on the same line, through which the dog must run in a “snake”, going around each one. For this task, the handler commands the pet to “Trrrrrrr” or “Hop.” If the latter has already been used to overcome a barrier, you need to choose another one - you cannot use the same commands in agility on fundamentally different obstacles.

• A podium (square) is a square platform raised to a height of 2-75 cm with a side one meter long, onto which the dog must run and stop for a time set by the judge (in a sitting or lying position). The square performs the same function as the podium, but is simply performed as a base area fenced around the perimeter.

Agility classes

Today, FCI rules establish two official classes of agility competitions.

• Standard. This class is a classic agility sport that includes all three types of obstacles. For beginner athletes, a platform with 15 apparatuses is used, while for experienced participants their number can reach 22.
• Jumping. A special feature of this class of competitions is the presence of only jumping obstacles and a starting platform. Depending on the specific competition, the agility course may also be supplemented with tunnels and slalom. Due to the absence of contact projectiles that slow down movement, jumping dogs develop the highest speed.

Competitions may also include the following types of agility that are not approved by the International Canine Association.

Joker or jackpot. This competition is divided into two periods:

• during the introduction, the dog overcomes obstacles at the handler’s discretion, earning points;
• Finally, the animal must overcome a series of obstacles selected by the judge in a short time.

The difficulty is that in the second period the handler must not cross the line, which is drawn at a distance of 3-6 m parallel to the obstacle course, thereby he has to control the dog from a distance.

Snooker. Developed on the principle of a billiard game, this type of agility involves overcoming numbered obstacles - three red ones for jumping over with the number 1, and six other types, numbered 2 to 7. The competition is divided into 2 stages:

• at the introductory stage, the dog passes the first one of the red obstacles with number 1 and one of the additional ones with numbers 6-7, then this is repeated with the remaining two main equipment;
• at the final stage, the dog must pass consecutive obstacles numbered 2 to 7 to gain additional points.

Relay race. At this competition, 2-3 teams of handlers with dogs sequentially pass an obstacle course located on the agility site (each with its own section), passing batons to each other.

Competitions

The competitions are held on an area whose minimum dimensions are 20x40 m. The tracks are laid at a distance of 10 m from each other. The length of the obstacle course is from 100 to 200 m. Depending on the competition category, the number of projectiles varies from 10 to 20 pieces. Height – no more than 0.7 m.

The time to complete the route, which will be considered standard, is calculated using the following formula:

length of obstacle course / speed of passage.

The maximum allowable time is determined by multiplying the standard time by 2.

Before the start of the competition, the judges introduce the handlers to the obstacle course, tell them the standard and maximum time, and announce the conditions for passing and the evaluation system.

The competition begins with the handler standing at the starting point and the pet behind the starting line. He should not be wearing a collar or leash.

The owner is prohibited from holding objects or touching projectiles.

The judges give the start, and at their signal the handler commands the dog to start. From the moment the animal crosses the starting line, the countdown begins. And it will end when the dog crosses the finish line.

Agility rules

Before the start of the competition, the handler has the right to familiarize himself with the course without the dog in order to remember the sequence of obstacles and develop the optimal trajectory for its passage. In turn, the judge conducts a preliminary conversation with the participants, where he reminds them of the rules of agility, informs them of the control and maximum time. The dog is first released from the leash and collar for safety reasons.

A handler can start an agility race only after the corresponding command from the judge. Control over the dog is exercised exclusively by voice, gaze and gestures; touching the dog is prohibited. There should not be any objects in the hands of the animal owner.

The goal of agility is not only speed, but also the correctness of the dog’s passage through the course. Accordingly, penalties are awarded for mistakes by the animal and the handler:

• exceeding the control time – 1 point per second;
• passing through the start or finish line – 5 points;
• touching the dog or obstacle by the trainer – 5 points;
• knocked down obstacle – 5 points;
• the dog’s refusal to overcome an obstacle or its incorrect passage (for example, running over a long jump apparatus) – 5 points, while the handler can return and overcome the obstacle correctly;
• absence of the dog touching the contact zones at the entrance and exit from the obstacle – 5 points.

The judge also has the right to remove the dog and handler from the course for the following reasons:

• inappropriate attitude towards a judge;
• rough treatment of the dog;
• violation of the sequence of passing obstacles or skipping them;
• 3 refusals of the dog to pass the obstacle;
• exceeding the maximum time;
• the presence of any objects in the hands of the handler;
• disobedience of the dog to the handler (from disobedience to commands to direct aggression);
• unauthorized termination of work as a handler and some other reasons.

Agility competitions vary in difficulty level:

• Agility/Jumping-1 only for dogs without an “Agility Certificate”;
• Agility/Jumping-2 is open to dogs with an “Agility Certificate”;
• Agility/Jumping-3 is only for dogs that have won prizes at Agility-2 3 times

The “FCI Agility Certificate” is awarded to dogs that have received the “Excellent” rating three times in Agility 1 for completing the course without penalty points in the presence of two different judges.

Agility equipment

The article outlines and describes the standards for equipment used for dog sports - agility. The Gilda school does NOT sell agility equipment !

Agility is a competition open to all dogs. The essence of the competition is for dogs to overcome various obstacles without mistakes, and to develop the dogs’ intelligence and agility. This sport requires perfect mutual understanding between the trainer and the dog, so competitors must be familiar with the elements of training and the basics of obedience. Obstacles are installed on the route, the location of which determines its difficulty and speed. The distance must be covered by the dog within the specified time, and the obstacles must be overcome in the correct order.

Barriers

Wall

Table

Boom

Swing

Slide

Slalom

Hard tunnel

Soft tunnel

Tire

Long jump

We recommend a dog sport - agility, if your dog is very energetic and lacks exercise, as an additional solution to some behavior problems. The following dog breeds are best suited for this sport: herding breeds (border collies, various shepherds, shelties, etc.), various terriers, and mixed breeds. But in general there are no breed restrictions for this sport.

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How to start agility training

Before teaching a dog agility, it is necessary to instill in it the basics of obedience, that is, the skills to perform basic commands - “Sit!” , "Lie!" , "Stand!" etc. This way you will establish closer contact with your pet, teach him to understand voice commands and gestures. After this, you can conduct agility training yourself.

Classes can take place both at home using purchased or homemade equipment, and in cynological schools. The second option is preferable, since your dog gets used to following commands not only in a calm environment, but also in the presence of extraneous stimuli in the form of other dogs and people. And at the same time, you have a unique opportunity to communicate with like-minded people and learn from their experience. As a rule, amateur classes take place 1-2 times a week and last 3 or more hours. The price for agility in Moscow in most cases does not exceed 500 rubles per lesson.

Classes must be structured so that the pet finds it interesting. Remember that for a dog, agility training is not a duty, but entertainment, a way to release its overwhelming energy. Vary the tasks and make changes - this will help prevent your pet from becoming bored with the exercises and prevent their rejection. In addition, at first, try not to show the animal your annoyance and under no circumstances hit him for passing the projectile incorrectly . On the contrary, actively praise and encourage correct behavior and simply ignore incorrect behavior. This will help your dog develop a positive attitude towards training and look forward to it.

If you want to get acquainted with the detailed rules of the competition, requirements for animals and their owners, want to clarify at what age a dog can train in agility, etc., use the information from the official website dedicated to this sport in Russia, or contact to your nearest dog training center. Remember that the most important thing is not achieving victories, but the feeling of complete unity with your four-legged friend.

What it is

A modern type of sports competition for dogs and their owners, which appeared in the 70s of the last century in England and quickly gained popularity in all countries of the world, this is what agility for dogs is . In fact, at its core, agility competitions are very reminiscent of the animal training process adopted by Soviet dog breeders clubs under DOSAAF, namely OKD training.

The essence of an agility competition is that the owner guides the animal along a course consisting of a number of different obstacles. During the passage, both speed and cleanliness of work are important, that is, accuracy in overcoming obstacles.

The animal should not “work” for a reward or follow a toy or other lures. The owner can only direct the dog using voice commands and gestures; a whistle cannot be used either. All this is completely similar to what happened at the training sites for the “General Training Course” under DOSAAF.

Where can you learn agility in Russia