Alternative Dog Breeds for Agility?

Katieg123

Katieg123

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Looking for positive stories (and pictures!) of essentially non-border collie dogs that do agility. We are planning on getting another Flat Coat puppy in the next year or so but have never seen one do agility and this is something I would like to get started on! This got me thinking about what different breeds do agility as you mostly see BC doing it. I lost my old dog last week so looking for something fun and cheerful to help me feel better!
 
Shelties, kelpies, papillons, wockers (working cockers), poodles, Belgians, aussies, field line labs and goldens are all common and can do well in agility.
I used to know a flat coat that got up to masters, she was a nice dog.
Mostly they can do well as long as put together well (eg has a nose, not overly huge or heavy boned)..
Harder to be super competitive if in the same heights as the BCs, though, although I believe you guys have ABC classes (or is that just at Crufts? )
 
KEK said:
Harder to be super competitive if in the same heights as the BCs, though, although I believe you guys have ABC classes (or is that just at Crufts? )
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ABC classes are specials so can't be used towards progression, it's more to provide non BCs with a chance at a prestigious final and as a breed showcase for events like Crufts/Olympia. Labs seem to be doing well at ABC quals last few years.

I am on my fourth non BC agility dog and never will I ever have a BC (or the equivalents that dominate small height, shelties and cocker spaniels) - still competitive!
 
blackcob said:
ABC classes are specials so can't be used towards progression, it's more to provide non BCs with a chance at a prestigious final and as a breed showcase for events like Crufts/Olympia. Labs seem to be doing well at ABC quals last few years.

I am on my fourth non BC agility dog and never will I ever have a BC (or the equivalents that dominate small height, shelties and cocker spaniels) - still competitive!
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I saw the super cool lab maybe at crufts(?) this year .
Yeah I thought they might not be the norm. Fun to watch.
What do you run, blackcob?
 
I had two Siberian huskies, current competing dog is a schipperke and I’ve got a GSD pup due to start later this year. First two were accidental, latter two bought specifically for agility.
 
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blackcob said:
I had two Siberian huskies, current competing dog is a schipperke and I’ve got a GSD pup due to start later this year. First two were accidental, latter two bought specifically for agility.
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Schipperkes look fun, we have 1 running here but definitely not a common breed. Working line GSD? Seen some super athletic ones stunning. Again not common over here (Australia).
Agility is a pretty inclusive sport, I think, really, you can have fun with lots of different breeds.
I've put AgChs on 4 BCs and now my 1st little dog (BC x though), so definitely cheating 😂
 
KEK said:
Schipperkes look fun, we have 1 running here but definitely not a common breed. Working line GSD? Seen some super athletic ones stunning. Again not common over here (Australia).
Agility is a pretty inclusive sport, I think, really, you can have fun with lots of different breeds.
I've put AgChs on 4 BCs and now my 1st little dog (BC x though), so definitely cheating 😂
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I know Australia is a big country but there are a few good working line GSD kennels, Haveloc, Kovacs and Schutzshep just off the top of my head. Their IGP Nationals just took place this weekend past in NSW.
 
Flatcoats definitely can be competitive in agility. There have been a number who have made grade 6 and also made it to Olympia for the ABC finals. My old FCR was very consistent with clear rounds and won out of grade 1. Her big handicap was my lack of running ability consequently she wasn’t the fastest but was better on complicated courses rather than speed ones
 
KEK said:
Schipperkes look fun, we have 1 running here but definitely not a common breed. Working line GSD? Seen some super athletic ones stunning. Again not common over here (Australia).
Agility is a pretty inclusive sport, I think, really, you can have fun with lots of different breeds.
I've put AgChs on 4 BCs and now my 1st little dog (BC x though), so definitely cheating 😂
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Schips are uncommon here too, there's three currently competing in the UK, the other two are my dog's grandfather and aunt! Another dog qualified for the WAO representing Scotland a few years back (2017 and 2018 I think), and there was one in the Crufts team finals twice some time ago now, but that's it. I am often asked even by doggy people at shows what breed he is, I think most people assume pom or German spitz.

The GSD is working line and at 6 months having a very awkward growth spurt but she should finish athletic and fast, hopefully. There are some very competitive ones on the circuit currently holding their own in champ against BCs.

Ag Ch is a vanishingly rare title here - there are top professional handler/dog combos that don't ever achieve it.
 
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Someone I know competes successfully with Japanese Spitz

I think most nicely conformed breeds will do it, but you lessen your chances if you pick something which is not bred to be so super handler focuses.

I have a whippet who has had a couple of lessons but he really just does not see the point! He is a very independent thinker. I think my last whippet would have enjoyed it though.

If you get a border collie or a sheltie or a malinois etc, then the odds are in your favour that they will likely enjoy agility. Some other breeds, you are more taking a punt and have to accept you will need to put considerably more work in.
 
My dalmatian loves agility and is FAST. Even BC owners comment on how quick he is. He lives to run and jump. Not so accurate with contacts though! With a better handler and more training I think he might've been quite good, however we only do it once a week for fun and don't compete.
 
twiggy2 said:
Border terriers, tibetan terriers and whippets are all dogs I have known to excel at agility but any dog can do it (except the brachy ones)
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Re the brachy ones, I do agree, but I've actually known a few people that have been fairly successful with the Cane Corso's in a FB group I'm in. There are some that do some really neat things. As an owner myself, not a breed I'd recommend for it, but I was impressed nonetheless.

If I had to choose the ultimate agility dog, it'd be a Malinois for me. Hands down. I've never met another dog with more intelligence, drive, and athleticism. I love the breed, but don't have enough employment for one at this time! Plus, there are "easier" breeds that will do the job quite well, so not I'd recommend one for most people, but that'd be my breed were I to be serious about such a thing.
 
I do agility with my 2 Lancashire heelers . First one reached grade 6 and is now doing well in veteran classes aged 12. The younger one is in his first season and has several wins at UKA shows and had 2 firsts at his only kc show , I think there are maybe 4 or 5 heelers doing agility currently, certainly not many more .,
 
CorvusCorax said:
I know Australia is a big country but there are a few good working line GSD kennels, Haveloc, Kovacs and Schutzshep just off the top of my head. Their IGP Nationals just took place this weekend past in NSW.
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Well yes, I meant in agility. We currently have 1 running in Perth that I am aware of (not fast), and we've just had the agility nationals and none came over. We definitely have them in the country, and maybe there might be more at the nationals next year as they are in NSW.
 
blackcob said:
Schips are uncommon here too, there's three currently competing in the UK, the other two are my dog's grandfather and aunt! Another dog qualified for the WAO representing Scotland a few years back (2017 and 2018 I think), and there was one in the Crufts team finals twice some time ago now, but that's it. I am often asked even by doggy people at shows what breed he is, I think most people assume pom or German spitz.

The GSD is working line and at 6 months having a very awkward growth spurt but she should finish athletic and fast, hopefully. There are some very competitive ones on the circuit currently holding their own in champ against BCs.

Ag Ch is a vanishingly rare title here - there are top professional handler/dog combos that don't ever achieve it.
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Wins are not required for AgCh here, its done on points (although it will take a really long time if you don't win).
 
KEK said:
Wins are not required for AgCh here, its done on points (although it will take a really long time if you don't win).
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😱

Beyond G4 ours is entirely a win based progression system, with multiple and increasing numbers of wins needed at each grade, and championship classes are a separate multi-phase competition.
 
blackcob said:
😱

Beyond G4 ours is entirely a win based progression system, with multiple and increasing numbers of wins needed at each grade, and championship classes are a separate multi-phase competition.
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Yeah I know. I think wins should be brought in here, especially for stuff like AgCh as we don't have anything beyond that..and how to separate the top winning dogs vs those that are just slogging away on points. However we do have our Top Dog awards which are win based and year long.
 
KEK said:
Well yes, I meant in agility. We currently have 1 running in Perth that I am aware of (not fast), and we've just had the agility nationals and none came over. We definitely have them in the country, and maybe there might be more at the nationals next year as they are in NSW.
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Yes I have seen the WUSV agility world cup in person a couple of times and as I said to BC at the time, it's a bit like watching the town service bus going around all the stops :p although there are some smashing dogs competing in all breeds, one of the top dogs in the UK is a full brother to a dog which has won several IGP championship titles.
 
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