The agility thread

sarah.oxford said:
Me neither. The thought of how many Es we've had this year is terrifying.
We have however, had 15 wins , of which 4 have been Grade 6, so we are nearly there.
I feel like we have had a ridiculous amount of fastest 5f, usually with a pole down.
I constantly remind myself that everyone has a different journey, and every breed is different.
Last night my friend qualified for Crufts at the LIHS with her relatively inexperienced dog who hasn't quite reached 3 years old. She's also been selected for team GB. The stuff dreams are made of, but hell that girl can run and her training and thus dog's skills are phenomenal. I must not compare.
It's been a strange year for agility. Matrix changes seems to have been the talking point and I remember being at Caerphilly and being told about the immediate changes in disbelief.
I don't think there has been a bigger talking point since the intro of intermediate height, although of course that was mainly positive.
I'm still struggling with how this new matrix is supposed to improve things.
I haven't personally been affected, meaning my dog hasn't yet had time faults, despite being a 'less conventional breed' at G6 level.
However..... I teach beginners, and it's bloody hard to convince them they are good enough to compete. One of my clients has a chihuahua and she ia a junior, with a very supportive mum. Obviously micro height would be a huge benefit for this partnership, but even as it stands they are a speedy pair in training, confident and consistent.
Unfortunately at shows while they are getting clears and confidence is growing, the little dog is not yet reproducing what she shows in training thus they have had wins, with time faults.
Because of this and every story I hear of people consistently missing out by a couple of seconds, I will continue to strongly support the groups trying to get a review on the new matrix. I'm gutted for the people affected and I really hope that this situation is resolved sooner rather than later.
Maybe 2026 will be a more inclusive agility year, allowing all competitors the chance to achieve their goals, whether that be clear rounds and warrant points, or Crufts qualification.
My goal is consistency. And I don't mean consistantly getting Es or fastest 6f (Arthur I'm talking to you 🤣)
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Most of my agility friends have only been doing it for a couple of years. Recently a friend ran her golden retriever for a clear round, but the timer wasn’t working. They’re obviously not a fast breed and got a time fault
On her replacement run - she would’ve been really pushing him and they won the class, but she didn’t go up another strike and it was so sad for them.
 
sarah.oxford said:
Me neither. The thought of how many Es we've had this year is terrifying.
We have however, had 15 wins , of which 4 have been Grade 6, so we are nearly there.
I feel like we have had a ridiculous amount of fastest 5f, usually with a pole down.
I constantly remind myself that everyone has a different journey, and every breed is different.
Last night my friend qualified for Crufts at the LIHS with her relatively inexperienced dog who hasn't quite reached 3 years old. She's also been selected for team GB. The stuff dreams are made of, but hell that girl can run and her training and thus dog's skills are phenomenal. I must not compare.
It's been a strange year for agility. Matrix changes seems to have been the talking point and I remember being at Caerphilly and being told about the immediate changes in disbelief.
I don't think there has been a bigger talking point since the intro of intermediate height, although of course that was mainly positive.
I'm still struggling with how this new matrix is supposed to improve things.
I haven't personally been affected, meaning my dog hasn't yet had time faults, despite being a 'less conventional breed' at G6 level.
However..... I teach beginners, and it's bloody hard to convince them they are good enough to compete. One of my clients has a chihuahua and she ia a junior, with a very supportive mum. Obviously micro height would be a huge benefit for this partnership, but even as it stands they are a speedy pair in training, confident and consistent.
Unfortunately at shows while they are getting clears and confidence is growing, the little dog is not yet reproducing what she shows in training thus they have had wins, with time faults.
Because of this and every story I hear of people consistently missing out by a couple of seconds, I will continue to strongly support the groups trying to get a review on the new matrix. I'm gutted for the people affected and I really hope that this situation is resolved sooner rather than later.
Maybe 2026 will be a more inclusive agility year, allowing all competitors the chance to achieve their goals, whether that be clear rounds and warrant points, or Crufts qualification.
My goal is consistency. And I don't mean consistantly getting Es or fastest 6f (Arthur I'm talking to you 🤣)
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I have been guilty of looking at people doing so much better than me with a tinge of green, but a very wise friend once quoted me "Comparison is the thief of joy" and this is so true so I just enjoy my shows now.
Zig only did 4 KC shows this year, at which he eventually won up to Grade 3, but over those shows he had 30 runs ( weekends and one Easter show, he wasn't doing millions of classes a day !) he had 7 x 1sts, 5 x 2nds, 2 x 4th, 8 x 5 f, 3 x 10 and 1 x E. He got his bronze agility warrant too.
At A4A he has gone to Novice performance and Senior steeplechase, and up to advanced at our local summer independent show.
And fingers crossed , we have come second in the Old Fogies league, more correctly known as the Agilitynet Senior league , platinum section .
So I'm very proud of my gobby little bionic dog, who could no doubt do much better with a younger more athletic handler but I'm not sharing !
 
MurphysMinder said:
So I'm very proud of my gobby little bionic dog, who could no doubt do much better with a younger more athletic handler
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I've been trying to palm Fen off to a younger handler but apparently no one wants to run a dog who nips you when he thinks you're telling him the wrong course, who knew?! 🤷‍♀️😉

We're not at the point where we're looking at stats, we're getting faults and time faults on every run but it's because his lordship likes to take detours to check on the audience and/or prefers his own courses. I'm sure I might feel more worried about the new matrix if it wasn't for that. Not that I think we will ever be winning as he's never going to beat the super speedy little cockers.
 
First training session of 2026… lovely time with Barrie James, keeping Rew happy with whatever he did. Felt wonderful that the course handled better than it walked - I’m constantly blown away when I handle something right and it all works. Competing next weekend - first show with only two graded runs. 🙄
 
STMR the restriction in graded runs is tough. Especially for those of us that struggle at the best of times. We have a show next Sunday for which I currently have no enthusiasm sadly. I feel as if I've lost my mojo 🙄
 
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The restriction to only 2 graded classes really doesn't worry me at all. I personally am not chasing wins to grade up. I do agility to enjoy the connection with my dog and the buzz I get from a good run. Being placed is the icing on the cake. I get little pleasure from running in tiny classes and winning even with mega faults. However I started in agility over 25 years ago and remember the classes of often 300+ dogs. 2' 6" jumps then too which look enormous now. In those days I was thrilled to get a place, had a few in the 20's or even 30's. Had only 2 wins ever in those times when only 1 jumping win was enough to take you out of the first two grades. My first girl won out of Elementary (Grade 1) and Starters (Grade 2) with the only 2 wins she ever had. That put me and all dogs I started after that into Novice (Grade 3). My 4th dog who I still have but now retired took me up to Grade 5 at a time when just 1 agility win was enough, she then had 1 agility win towards Grade 6 before Covid and then retirement for her. New rules now mean my latest dog started in Grade 2 and there we will stay as I don't do enough shows now to give us a chance, unless we are very lucky, to grade up.

It saddens me that all the emphasis now seems to be on grading up and not just having fun. There used to be some cracking fun classes at KC shows but you just don't see them now. I used to love Time Fault and Out and another I liked but rarely saw was Brace Pairs. One handler, two dogs. You ran the course or part of the course while your helper held the other dog then switched dogs to run the other part of the course. Exhausting but great fun. Only got one dog now so couldn't do it anyway.

Back then courses weren't so technical and the distances were shorter between jumps. These long spread out courses aren't kind to us oldies, distance handling is a must. I still enjoy it and will continue as long as I can but it is a very different sport from the one I started in, in 2000.
 
Errin Paddywack said:
The restriction to only 2 graded classes really doesn't worry me at all. I personally am not chasing wins to grade up. I do agility to enjoy the connection with my dog and the buzz I get from a good run. Being placed is the icing on the cake. I get little pleasure from running in tiny classes and winning even with mega faults. However I started in agility over 25 years ago and remember the classes of often 300+ dogs. 2' 6" jumps then too which look enormous now. In those days I was thrilled to get a place, had a few in the 20's or even 30's. Had only 2 wins ever in those times when only 1 jumping win was enough to take you out of the first two grades. My first girl won out of Elementary (Grade 1) and Starters (Grade 2) with the only 2 wins she ever had. That put me and all dogs I started after that into Novice (Grade 3). My 4th dog who I still have but now retired took me up to Grade 5 at a time when just 1 agility win was enough, she then had 1 agility win towards Grade 6 before Covid and then retirement for her. New rules now mean my latest dog started in Grade 2 and there we will stay as I don't do enough shows now to give us a chance, unless we are very lucky, to grade up.

It saddens me that all the emphasis now seems to be on grading up and not just having fun. There used to be some cracking fun classes at KC shows but you just don't see them now. I used to love Time Fault and Out and another I liked but rarely saw was Brace Pairs. One handler, two dogs. You ran the course or part of the course while your helper held the other dog then switched dogs to run the other part of the course. Exhausting but great fun. Only got one dog now so couldn't do it anyway.

Back then courses weren't so technical and the distances were shorter between jumps. These long spread out courses aren't kind to us oldies, distance handling is a must. I still enjoy it and will continue as long as I can but it is a very different sport from the one I started in, in 2000.
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I'm the same, we only did 4 KC shows last year which is why it took 2 years to get to Grade 3. I only ever do 3 classes at KC shows, which is usually 2 graded and a combined. Someone who started same time as me is 2 or 3 win towards Grade 7 , but she does shows nearly every weekend. I enjoy A4A and independent shows where my little guy can jump lower height.
When I started in the 80s the classes were huge as you say, but still fun. My GSD went to Senior which I was very proud of, but just as proud of my little Zig.
 
I have a friend who started about 30
Years ago and she laments the many changes. Of course I do it for fun, but there is a little bit of me that just wants a clear agility win, and to be G2. This is simply because so many of my mates are G2 or above, and I feel frustrated to still be G1 after three years of competing. Weaves are our nemesis (and contacts occasionally - he never has a pole) - I need to Be More Barrie when we compete!
 
Errin Paddywack said:
Back then courses weren't so technical and the distances were shorter between jumps. These long spread out courses aren't kind to us oldies, distance handling is a must. I still enjoy it and will continue as long as I can but it is a very different sport from the one I started in, in 2000.
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I had an FB memory come up today of my first dog at training, the jumps behind her were set out in grids and couldn't have been more than 4m apart. That same dog started out on sand and paint contacts with wooden slats which would have me 😱 these days. I have mixed feelings about the changes in the sport - on one hand, the only reason that dog ever got to grade 6 was that she could work a box and minimum distances with way more care and accuracy than a fast collie, something I took a lot of pride in.

On the other, there is significantly more appreciation now for the dog's line, evidence-based changes towards dog safety etc. I also enjoy that there is more theory based learning available; I have had to up my game as a handler and that's been a challenging but (mostly) fun process. I have two dogs now that couldn't be more different from each other and I still think there's a space for each in the sport as it stands currently, and as a 'grassroots' handler we can still stand in the same queue as the pros. For now!

The overwhelming majority of shows only offered two graded runs in any case, and combined classes give a better chance of achieving places for warrant points.
 
Don't discount warrant points. I only realised Ziggy had enough for a bronze (and in fact a good few towards silver)when I was checking his points for the Agilitynet Senior League.
As I think I posted here at the time, we waited forever for a clear agility win to go to Grade 3, got it in the first class at a weekend show then had 2 more wins and 2 seconds over the weekend. I told everyone that I wasn't putting myself under pressure for that agility win but clearly I was. I know its easier said than done but try and just enjoy your shows and I bet you get there. Good luck.
 
Tables had (thankfully!) gone when I started, and we had the lollipop style tyres which were marginally less death-trappy. Still had the cloth tunnel and things like the wishing well.
 
I think for me, that whilst I do it for fun I am competitive otherwise for me I don't see the point. I know I'll never go up the grades to 7 but I feel that my progression opportunities are severely limited by the change to the matrix. To get wins with only time pens, which therefore don't count towards progression, I find demoralising.

I run non typical agility dogs so I accept I'll never beat the WCS on time. But when they go wrong and my girls go clear but are robbed purely due to the change in the matrix I feel cheated. Appreciate back in the day it was different, but I didn't do it then, and can only compare with what I know.

Anyway I entered for an independent tonight with my older girl at Micro. I think the 3 of us just need to go out and have some fun with no pressure 😀

I enjoy the social side and it gets me out but at present just feeling a bit meh 🙄
 
druid said:
So how many of those obstacles are not allowed anymore in modern agility?
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None of them really, at least in that form!

Jump height for large is now 60cm (was approx 76cm)
Minimum distance between jumps is now 5m
Weave pole spacing has increased
The wall has to be an impact absorbing material, with easily displaceable units
No pause table, cloth tunnel or wishing well
Tyre must have easily displaceable elements/open in a saloon style swing
The tunnel isn't permitted to be an acute C shape, and metal cradles can't be used
The dog walk is lower (and I think wider?)
The A frame is lower
 
blackcob said:
Tables had (thankfully!) gone when I started, and we had the lollipop style tyres which were marginally less death-trappy. Still had the cloth tunnel and things like the wishing well.
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The only bad injury a dog of mine ever had in dog sport was with a cloth tunnel. Bad memory! Mind you I miss the 'proper' flyball boxes, back before it turned into flat racing!
 
There were some horrible injuries in cloth tunnels, especially in the wet, and they made for a stupidly inconsistent obstacle on a windy day.

The courses are harder and more technical for the handler now, but should be safer for the dog. It is undeniable that this means they can go a lot faster than they did historically.
 
blackcob said:
There were some horrible injuries in cloth tunnels, especially in the wet, and they made for a stupidly inconsistent obstacle on a windy day.

The courses are harder and more technical for the handler now, but should be safer for the dog. It is undeniable that this means they can go a lot faster than they did historically.
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Pickle got stuck in a cloth tunnel once in the wet , luckily he was fine . Crazy that at 6.5 kg he was expected to push through the same as 30kg plus dogs
 
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