Quite a few Rough and Smooth Collies (and their owners) are currently training and/or competing in Agility, so I thought it might be of interest to the rest to describe something of the agility world…..

Winter agility shows are normally held in equestrian venues, while summer shows are held at outdoor sporting venues or in fields, and are often for the whole weekend, even a week. Most summer weekends see several shows taking place around the country. There will normally be from 4 to 8 rings in operation, and judging tends to start at 8.30am, by which time competitors will have walked the first courses in order to plan their preferred method of running the course.

No benching, so dogs are left in carefully shaded vans, cars or caravans. Most enthusiasts run a pair or team of dogs, all at different levels. There are seven levels from 1 (Elementary) to 7 (Advanced). Wins out of grades 1 and 2 (Starters) are for life (of dog and handler) while the others are just on the wins of that dog. You can only compete in classes that include your dog’s grade. Championship shows are just normal shows that have an additional CC class for Advanced dogs only. There are also special classes (like the spiral helter-skelter courses) and ABC (anything but border collies).

So, what are the shows like? Well, busy! Entries for some classes can be over 600, necessitating a split into smaller classes of around 200. With course times of around 50 seconds, and few absentees, they can reckon on getting through about 40 to 50 dogs an hour. Competitors are sent their running orders prior to the show, and a board by each ring holds the current maximum order number up to which they will accept you to join the queue.

 

And noisy! Some dogs bark constantly in the ring. Others only bark to curse the handler if commands are not sufficiently clear! Many dogs in the queue bark in excitement, or in frustration as it isn’t yet their turn. Also tannoy announcements keep competitors up-to-date with the running orders currently being accepted in each ring, ends of classes, new courses ready to be walked, and presentations of awards to take place. Rosettes are normally given to 10% of the entry, and even one with a high number on it is much treasured.

The judge has to plan courses that enable clear vision of all the contact points (on A-frame, dog-walk and see-saw), all jumps, tunnels and weaves. Five faults are given for refusal, knock-down or missed contact, while taking the wrong course, touching the dog or a canine mishap (cocked leg or worse) is elimination.

The judge will raise a hand for faults, and mime cutting their throat for elimination. Collars with tags, tit-bits, and toys are all forbidden in the ring. The ring party will comprise a scribe who records the judge’s marking and the course time achieved onto score sheets for each competitor; with people to tick off the dogs as they join the queue; to move the dog’s lead from the start of the course to the finish so that it is to hand; to put up fallen jumps, and to record individual results onto one Course Sheet, so the overall results can be calculated and displayed. Competitors are expected to help run the rings, to give the host club members time to have a break or run their own dogs.

Like breed shows there are stalls selling dog-items, but there are also agility equipment sales (normally by the company that is hiring out the equipment for the show), and often photographers selling photos taken around the rings. Burger vans are attractive not only to hungry human competitors, but also provide an often irresistible attraction to less-focused dogs who are supposed to be running in nearby rings!

It is the judges who design the courses. Dimensions of all equipment are set by the KC, so it is the layout of the course that must test the competitors. Some courses are won on speed, while others are designed with frequent turns, often immediately in front of tempting obstacles like the tunnel, to test control as well as speed. Poor control and hence elimination is usually the fate of a large percentage of every class. As judging is less subjective than in breed, camaraderie seems good. If someone gets a bad result then they know they need to go away and improve their training routine. It cannot normally be attributed to the judge! Clubs often wear team colours at shows, and park their caravans in a group.

Although border collies and working sheepdogs predominate, rescued dogs, cross-breeds and pedigree dogs are also much in evidence. However, to compete abroad at FCI events the dogs must be registered pedigrees, so this affects the thinking of the top handlers. Unlike breed shows, the agility scene continues to grow fast and there are frequent rule changes from the KC and the Agility Council to cope with larger numbers, improved equipment and to increase safety. There are also an increasing number of unaffiliated shows, which are quite separate from the KC and which have their own rules. These are often particularly good for those (humans or dogs) just beginning their agility career.

Regular training is needed at all levels, and most belong a local training club. This is more fun, and much cheaper, than owning all the equipment needed to train at home. Dogs need to know commands for each type of equipment and turn, although handler body movement is the most effective aid (but also the easiest to get wrong). To do well the dog needs to enjoy it, and also have the understanding that they should do the course the handler wants. This is surprisingly hard! Roughs and Smooths get bored easily, so be careful not to overdo the training, but build it up gradually and don’t repeat the same exercise too often.

Most important fact of all – it’s fun! There is a real sense of achievement to do a fast clear round – a true partnership between handler and dog. And I’d encourage anyone to give it a go……….
Jean Tuck
Secretary, Rough & Smooth Collie Training Association www.rscta.co.uk