Introduction to Dog Agility Special thanks goes to Janet Gauntt for contributing this introductory information on agility. This is a great place to start if you are new to the wonderful sport of dog agility. The pre-screening should at a minimum consist of hip, elbow, and eye checks. The owner should reconsider their plans for agility if the dog is rated anything less than 'Fair'.
Unobstructed vision is also critical.
Because agility is a fairly new type of dog competition, it is not unusual for a veterinarian to be unaware of the requirements for agility. Both the owner and veterinarian should be particularly sensitive to the dog's weight. What is a good healthy weight for a pet dog with normal activity expectations may be too heavy for agility training and competition. In order for a dog to be able to safely engage in the amount of jumping required for both agility training and competition, the dog must not only possess the proper cardiovascular and muscular structure, he must possess the necessary skeletal structure as well. These months of low jump training are a good time for a handler to work on developing the dog's command vocabulary.