Above: A walk on the downs

Agility Bits News and Updates

Kennel Club - New rules from January 2019

The Kennel Club has announced the new rules to apply from January 2019.  It includes a lower dog walk and tougher criteria for moving up the grades.  If you have a new young dog and you're grade 3 you can start the dog in grade 2.  New jump heights will come in on 1st January 2020 and there will be a fourth measured height.
The press release, FAQs and a link to the record book insert for intermediate dogs can be found on the Kennel Club page.

Dog Blog - A Startline wait in 6 days - Can we do it?

Given Jilly has no wait at all on the startline and that as soon as I move she moves as well this is quite a challenge.  Can we do it?  read more on  The Dog Blog....
Updated 15th October - Did we do it?

Dog Blog - Ready for measuring?

It's not long now until the Kennel Club decides whether to accept the Agility Liaison Council's recommendation to introduce a new measured fourth height.  If they do you might need to get your dog measured.  Read more on the dog blog....

Dog Blog - Hoopers fun at the Cornwall Agility Club show

Hoopers is becoming more and more popular and is great fun to run alongside agility shows.  Can it be run as a competition? 
 

Kennel Club ALC Meetings

Kennel Club Agility Liaison Council meetings minutes

Links to the minutes of the meeting and all the annexes held on 12th July are available.  This includes the recommendations for new jump heights.

Dog Blog  - Seeds, seeds and more seeds

It's that time of year again.  They go out looking clean and tidy and come back looking like ragbags.
Do your dogs get covered in seeds and burrs and all sorts of horrible bits?

Dog Blog - Painful knees and a load of shoes

How a major shoe crisis solved a knee problem.  I'd tried everything else except healing and that was next on the list.
 

Read more on the dog blog.  It might just help some knee sufferers.

Dog Blog  - We get a measured fourth height for KC shows

Great news for those of us who have been asking for the jump heights to be reviewed so that we can have a properly measured 4th Height.

In memory of Bernie

Visitors to Agility Bits may have noticed that the website has been quiet for a while.  Sadly I have to give you the news that my beloved husband Bernie passed away on 21st July.

New Equipment

I made a breakaway tyre and it works.  To have a look at this marvel go to the equipment pages.  It's actually quite easy to make.

New Menu

I've been playing with the site and to make it tidier I've used a menu icon at the top of the page instead of using acres of screen.  I hope you like it. It should work on mobiles and various different browsers.  When I have time I'll put it on all the pages.

The Dog Blog 3rd March - First Place in The Shadows Skills video trial

Jilly has tied for first place in the February Wag It Games Novice Shadow Skills trial and we have a title/

Kennel Club

Put your dogs on the Activity Register online.
 

Hoopers Update

The new dog agility game that has come over from America is gaining in popularity. 

Parkour for Dogs

Sasha and Jilly have discovered great fun activity using the dog's natural athleticism to negotiate natural and man made obstacles.

Are you looking for a show near you?

The Kennel Club has a useful show finder tool on their website where you can search for any kind of Kennel Club licensed show to enter or go as a spectator.  It includes

Agility, Breed / Dog Showing, Canicross Race, Flyball, Heelwork To Music, Obedience, Rally and Working Trial/Bloodhound Trials

Kennel Club Show Finder

You can also find useful Kennel Club links and all the minutes of the Agility Liaison Council Meetings on the Kennel Club page.

The Dog Blog - Jilly wins at Barnstaple

Well done Jilly.  She won her agility class at Barnstaple with her first clear round outdoors at a KC show.

Training bits

We've  learned lots about contacts on our training courses.

Puppy and adolescent training

For those people who have just got a puppy this is a really good ebook.  If your puppy has got to the hooligan stage (adolescence) there are some excellent chapters to help you through this difficult phase.

Don't ever let anyone tell you that you must have a collie to do agility.  Take a look at this clip of an American trial. (Opens in a new window)

Some of the bits in Agility Bits

The Doggie shop

Lots of bargains from our partners.  Find everything you need for your dog.

Check out the special offers from our grooming partners

Our new partner is brilliant

 

Equipment

Make your own equipment.  Lots of ideas and designs for jumps, contacts etc.

Eligibility for Classes

If you're grade 1 or 2 it can be confusing working out which classes you're eligible for, especially if you want someone in a higher grade to run your dog for you.  Here are the rules with some examples.

Training

A compendium of bits and pieces on dog training from loose heelwork to leg weaving.  Training also includes

Rally Obedience
Sasha goes to regular rally classes and I have started compiling a section especially for people who are interested in this.

Other Bits

Various articles and a complete online ebook on pulling dogs.

Classes and Shows

All sorts of information on starting to compete and what the classes are like.

Kennel Club
Handy links to the Kennel Club Agility Pages, including minutes of the Agility Liaison Committee meetings and the Agility regulations.

Agility Fun

A light hearted look at the funny side of dog agility including how to teach the dogwalk using a chicken, a cat and a plank.

Dog Breeds

Most dogs love agility and this breeds directory includes comments from handlers of various breeds. 

Dog Games

Here's a selection of games to play with your dogs plus a couple of daft computer games.

Dog Names

Are you having trouble naming a dog? Most of the names in this section were sent in by visitors to Agility Bits and they may give you inspiration.