For all my non-agility friends and family...

I just wanted to take a minute and thank you for all your wonderful comments and support for my favorite hobby of agility. Especially when you probably don't have a clue what I am talking about!! This post started out from a request from my Uncle Bob, wanting to know a little bit about what I am always talking about.

In agility a Q, is a qualifying run. Besides the fun we have running with our dogs, it is what we are all striving for.

In USDAA, there are 5 types or games of agility. They are Standard, Jumpers, Snooker, Gamblers, and Pairs. Standard is what most people think of when they hear agility. It has all of the obstacles such as the Aframe, See-Saw, Dog walk, Table, Tire, Tunnels, Weaves, and Jumps. Jumpers is just jumps and tunnels. Snooker is apparently formulated after a billiards game, but just about any obstacle can be in it. Object is to get the most points. In Gamblers, you are again going after the most points by picking obstacles to complete, and then doing a distance sequence behind a line(the gamble). You must complete that sequence in order to Q. Last, is pairs. You are paired up with someone, and each team runs half of a course. Both teams must complete it correctly under time to Q.

In AKC, there are 3 types or games. They are Standard, Jumpers with Weaves, and FAST. Standard is the same as in USDAA. Jumpers with weaves can have jumps, tunnels, and weaves. (Weaves are 12 poles that must be taken by the dog in a slalom like fashion, always entering from the right of the pole and existing to the left.) FAST is very similar to Gamblers above.

There are typically 3 different levels of competition. In USDAA, there are Starters/P1, Advanced/P2, and Masters, P3. In AKC, there is Novice, Open, and Excellent. Each level gets progressively more difficult, and the Excellent and Masters have to be completed correctly with no errors under time.

Accumulating 3 to 10 Q's in each level(depending on the level) gets the title in that class and you can then move up to the next level.

That in short is what agility is all about, and thanks again for all of the love and congrats you all give !!!