Agility and how to get started with competitions

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Snowman81

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Hello,

I have been going to agility with my dog for around 6 months now and both of us are really enjoying it. I thought maybe the next step could be to try a little show at beginner level. I wondered how I go about this. I keep meaning to ask at the club but the classes are one quickly after another and very busy so we don't really get chance to talk much at the end as the next class is already starting. The dog is KC registered on the activity register I believe it is called, from past flyball shows. I don't really mind if we do affiliated or unaffiliated, but wasn't sure if it mattered either way at the beginner level. We can confidently jump a simple course with the occasional twisty bit and can do tunnels and basic A-frame etc. She hasn't properly managed the weaves yet though. Do they need to weave in the beginner classes?

I did look up some shows for the winter but they all seem to have had closing dates some time ago. Is this usually the case? We are in the North Yorkshire area.

As you can tell I am pretty clueless but would love to get started so all comments welcome.
 
At KC shows you will encounter weaves even in grade one so I'd probably give affiliated a miss for a while yet. At my first KC show the G1 course had all three contacts, 12 weaves, tyre, spread AND cloth tunnel. I was bricking it. :p

Independent unaffiliated shows often make allowances for new competitors by offering 'anysize' classes, typically short flowing courses that can be jumped at a lower height than the dog would normally run and usually omitting weaves and seesaw. Lots also let you take a silent toy into the ring in these classes or to run not for competition so you can stop and reward between sequences.

Entries do close early, often a month before the show date. You'll find that competitions are also quite thin on the ground at this time of year unless the club has access to an indoor venue, there will be lots more available over the summer months.

I don't know the area at all but if you look at http://www.agilitynet.co.uk/clutch/shows.htm is the Northern Agility Winter Series anywhere near you? That's the sort of thing I mean and would be ideal for a newcomer. They have another show in January. :)
 
Forgot to mention, your dog will also need to be officially measured before you can compete at KC as well as being on the activity register - if a small or medium dog this may involve multiple measures.
 
UK Agility (UKA) are a great relaxed way to start out before competing at KC and they have Steeplechase classes which are just jumps and tunnels which are great for getting used to competing. You can also run Not For Competition (NFC) at UKA shows. This means you can use your run as a training round and still practice your contacts etc. You are allowed to take a toy into the ring if you are running NFC so you can reward your dog but you are never allowed to take food in.

They have a couple of shows in Derbyshire over the winter so I don't know if that is too far for you. It is worth the drive for experience though. UKA is the 2nd biggest agility body. There shows are really friendly and a great place to learn before starting the much bigger KC shows.

http://ukagility.com/Shows.aspx
 
Thanks for the replies, all really helpful. Just looked up agilitynet and also UKAgility. Definately keen to get going and try some shows. The Northern Agility series is quite near us so will take a look at that too:-)
 
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