I've been doing Agility with Willow since June 2007 and it has proved to be the activity she has enjoyed the most and has been one of the most fun things I've ever done with my dogs to-date. Don't let a Leo's size stop you from giving this activity a go, they adjust so well to it and with care and patience you will see a side to your Leo you didn't know was there, they also love it.

What is Agility? There are several types of, the best know is full 'Agility' this is basically an obstacle course for dogs, the equipment consists of Jumps at different heights, the Tyre/Hoop, Tunnels both hard and soft, distance jumps, the weave - probably the most challenging for the bigger dogs, a 6ft high 'walkway', the 6ft high 'A' frame and finally the seasaw. A combination of all these items is used to set up a course and the owners navigate their dogs through each item until the end is reached, usually against the clock, but this would only be in a competitive environment. Then there is also something called simply 'Jumping' which is a of just jumps done to a specific order and timed not as easy as it sounds either. There is then something called Steeple Chase, this involves all the equipment of an agility course apart from the contact equipment, so there would be no 'A frame', Walkway or seasaw, so you are left with Jumps, Tunnels, Hoops Weaves and distance jumps, this is great for the bigger dogs as sometimes the Walkway and Seasaw can be risky for the bigger dogs to negotiate.

As well as the non-contact equipment, you will learn to do something called 'contact points', this skill teaches your dog to hit the contact points on certain pieces of equipment, indicated by the Red areas on the Seasaw, A frame and Walkway. If the dog misses these areas whilst racing around the course they will receive a time penalty point against them for not making 'contact' with these areas. It can mean the difference in competition to winning or losing. The bigger dogs tend not to miss these contact points, its usually the quicker smaller dogs that jump off the bottom of the equipment before they have had time to touch the contact point.

How do I go about joining a group? To find a local group in your area try contacting the Kennel Club, they should be able to provide you with a list of approved Agility Groups, or do a search on the net a group should come up for you in your area, you could also try your local vet. There are also very good website I could recommend dedicated to Agility, AgilityNet and UKAgility, these sites list club, groups and shows you can attend. If you can't find one nearby, call the closest group to you, they are likely to know of other groups that might not be registered with the KC but are closer to you. Always make sure your group has properly trained instructors and that your dogs safety is taken into consideration at all times.

Will I be able to start agility straight away? No, most clubs will insist you attend an assessment where very basic handling skills will be assessed and the dogs temperament will be under scrutiny. The instructors will be looking at how your dog reacts to you, that they are paying attention to you and that they are happy to be with you and following your basic instructions. They will be looking for a 'harmony' or a 'bond' between dog and handler that will stand them in good stead for such an activity. They will also be making sure that the dogs temperament is suitable, they will not be interested in a dog that shows overly aggressive tendencies and that will not listen to their owner when a command is given. Don't misunderstand me, they are not looking for an obedience champion, basic obedience is all that is needed. Don't' forget that Agility is a team event - you and your dog working together.

Will I have to do any special training beforehand? No, but it helps to have basic obedience, this is all that should be needed. Once you pass an assessment you will be told if you have been successful in obtaining a place on a course, usually 8 weeks long but this can vary depending on your group, where you will slowly learn each of the agility obstacles, if you manage to pass the course successfully, you may be offered a place as an improver and you will then attend a weekly training session with the other Group members.

Will it cost a lot of money? This may vary from group to group, but it should not cost too much to attend. The course I attended cost £65 for 8 weeks of 2 hour sessions per week. We then joined the club as members once we were successful in being offered a place in the Club, this cost £15 membership fee for the year and £2.50 per week for each session, usually paid in quarterly installments.

Do I need to buy any special equipment? No, you can buy agility equipment quite cheaply on the internet, but it depends how involved you wish to be. The Group you join will have all the equipment for the training, but you can, of course, buy your own if you have a big enough garden to practice in. I would however never recommend learning agility without professional guidance as you could end up injuring yourself or your dog.

Will my dog need any special equipment? Yes, a good collar and lead, take a spare of each just incase you have a breakage. An instructor will insist on this, if you break either the collar or lead you will be asked to leave the class as you must be able to maintain safe control of your dog while others are being trained. Also a favourite toy that your dog likes to chase or treats to help reward your dog are a good idea. Also make sure you have a 'contact' this can be a clean Jam Jar lid or a flat piece of soft edged plastic (no sharp points) this will be for the above 'contact' training which you will learn about on your course.

Will 'I' need any special equipment or clothing? Not really, but this depends on the venue you end up training in, a jumper to keep you warm and a good pair of training shoes is a good idea. Most Groups train in large undercover barns which can be cold unless you are running around. Don't wear your best jeans get an old pair or tracksuit bottoms, it can be a messy activity.

How do Leos cope being much bigger than most Agility Dogs: This depends from dog to dog, but Agility with a Leo is no harder than with any other dog, their size can be mean a slightly slower learning curve as it can be a bit of an obstacle in itself. They will find it harder to do certain obstacles, for example, the weave requires quick and agile movement, the smaller more nimble dogs will be much quicker, but the Leo is less likely to miss a weave as they will take their time doing it. Overall, they will never be as fast as some of the smaller more agile dogs but they have the advantage in being more 'steady' and less likely to miss a contact point. There size should not stop them from achieving good results in Agility.

How old do Leo's need to be before they can do Agility? Your Leo will need to be at least 2 years old before they can start this activity, you Leo could sustain serious injury if you started such a activity before they have matured to this age. Smaller breed dogs can usually start training after 9 months old, but cannot enter competitions before they are 18 months old. I wouldn't recommend doing agility with a Leo older than 8 years but this depends on the individual dog.

Do's and Don'ts' Tips:

Don't forget, DO NOT feed your Leo (or any other dog) before a training session, your dog could suffer a torsion if they have just eaten and you then encourage them to jump and run about an agility course. Make sure you feed them much earlier than you would normally or after you have got home and your dog has rested for at least 3/4 of an hour or when calm.

Do remember to take a bowl and some water for your Leo to drink, don't give too much just enough to wet the mouth and have a small drink after the session, your Leo will be thirsty after all their hard work.

Do always show your Leo how happy you are when they get it right, like any training this will be the only way they know they've got it right.

Don't ever get cross when your Leo doesn't manage to do what you have asked, they will be disappointed too that they haven't managed to achieve what you've asked of them, reassure them and above all be patient, they'll get there in the end.

Do remember to have fun, and enjoy it, its a great activity and your dog will love the fun it brings into its life.

I hope that the above has given you some clue of what to expect and how to go about getting involved in Agility. I am completely enjoying taking Willow and Rudi on Tuesday nights and it is turning out to be one of the highlights of my week and I am sure Willow and Rudi feel the same.

Good luck and have fun.