The Agile Shetland Sheepdog: Entering Training Competitions

If you are looking for a fun and competitive way to exercise with your Shetland Sheepdog, pursuing agility training is your best bet. Like all herding breeds, Shelties excel in test of agility because of their intelligence, speed, and dexterity. Training for agility trials is a fantastic bonding experience for you and your pet, as well! You will find that not only will your pet bond with you, he or she will also listen much more intently with day to day commands.

If you are just becoming interested in agility training or competition,

it is advisable to consult your local branch of the AKC to see if there are any agility or Shetland Sheepdog clubs in your area. These clubs can offer helpful training seminars, novice competitions, and general advice and support. They can also offer other resources for training, such as regulation courses and obstacles. All of these clubs will have specific rules so it's important to brush up on your reading before you start training so it's done correctly from the beginning.

The actual agility course is made up of several basic obstacles which can vary from competition to competition. These include hurdles, cloth tunnels, A-Frames, seesaws, the dog walk (a plank raised approximately four feet above the ground), and other obstacles depending on ability, club, and region. Dogs are tested based on proficiency and time. The owner, as the handler, will run alongside the dog in the course, directing him verbally or with hand motions. Treats and other motivational gifts are not allowed on the course and will lead to immediate disqualification, so it is best to phase these out of the training process after your dog learns to master each individual obstacle at home. Dogs are judged on their completion of the course as a whole as well as the proficiency with which they tackle each obstacle.

When you are just starting out, you may feel somewhat intimidated by other competitors, but remember that everyone else and their dogs started out at your level! There are plenty of novice competitions you can enter your pet into, and it always helps to watch and learn from the tactics and techniques of other trainers and handlers. As your dog becomes more skilled at the course and your handling of him or her becomes more confident, you can begin to challenge him with other obstacles, longer courses, and different levels of competition.

Shetland Sheepdogs, being such an intelligent and athletic breed, need to have challenges and stimulation on a day-to-day basis. Training for and competing in agility trials are a fantastic way to go about this. It is a great way to create a stronger bond with your dog, strengthen obedience commands and trainability, and get a lot of exercise for your pet and yourself. The Sheltie loves nothing more than to please his or her owner, so you will probably find that it is very easy to train him or her on the agility course. The sport can become rather addictive once you conquer the first couple obstacles!