Agility
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Agility was created in the late 1970's for all recognized canine breeds and mixed breeds as a competitive sport to test a person's training and dog-handling skills over a timed obstacle course. Competitors race against the clock to direct their dogs through a course set with tunnels, jumps, a dog walk, a tire jump, an A frame, a line of weave poles and a teeter. Handlers and their dogs are competing to earn titles under several different organizations such as the AKC (American Kennel Club), CPE (Canine Performance Events) or USDAA (United States Dog Agility Association).
Agility is a team sport for a human and their canine partner. Together the team must run through the obstacle course completing all the obstacles within an established time. The handler tells the dog where to go next on the course using hand and body movement, eye direction and verbal commands as the dog runs to complete the course as quickly as she can. The courses are set by the agility judges under the guidelines of the sponsoring organization. Jump height is determined by your dog's height at the withers and Berners tend to jump at the 20" Preferred height or higher. Bernese mountain dogs love to work and play. Agility provides a great source of exercise with all the running, jumping, climbing and scrambling required to maneuver the course. Agility training creates a closer bond between the partners as their training and skill level increase. For more information, see |
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