What’s It About?
An exhilarating sport you and your dog can share, agility sports build teamwork and fitness. At the same time, your dog has the joy of rapidly leaping over, under, around, and through obstacles like jumps, tunnels, weave poles, tire jumps, seesaws, and more. Everyone—dogs, exhibitors, and on-lookers—enjoy the action-packed fun.
AKC Agility Sports at BACM
Our last agility event for the 2024 season takes place on September 27–29.
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All-Breed Agility Trial
— September 27-29, 2024
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Get Ready for AKC Agility
In competition, the judge designs the course by choosing the obstacles and setting the sequence of actions. The chief course-builder positions 14–20 obstacles while ring crew members help with the smaller details. Each course is unique for the trials that day. Your dog relies solely on your cues and body language to guide her through the sequence of challenges successfully.
AKC Agility is open to all dogs 15 months or older who are registered with the American Kennel Club (AKC), either fully registered with the AKC or enrolled as an AKC Canine Partner. The dogs must be in sound health and up-to-date on vaccinations. Dogs can range from small to large.
The AKC Canine Partners program opens the door for mixed-breed dogs, rescues, purebreds “without papers,” and rare breeds to compete in Agility and other AKC events. Dogs must be spayed or neutered to enter the Canine Partners program.
Juniors, as well as adult handlers, may participate in agility sports. Agility requires a good amount of running around, so it is important that both you and your dog are in good health and satisfactory shape. Young dogs should be physically mature, and their growth plates should be closed before attempting formal agility training involving full-height jumps or contact obstacles. The AKC offers Agility for Beginners: Everything You Need to Know, a booklet that discusses the benefits of agility, how to get started, what you can practice at home, safety, and what you need to know about the competition.
Opportunities to Pitch In
At every trial, we build and take down between seven and ten courses a day, depending on the day’s offerings. Additionally, there is the ring crew who monitor the course and wait at the ready to reset any equipment the dog may bump out of position or knock down. Obviously, many hands make light work, and there is almost always a way to put volunteers to work. If you would like to pitch in, even if you are quite new to the scene, please let the Trial Committee Chair know.
Agility Practice
Members of the Beartooth Agility Club of Montana offer peer-guided practice sessions in Agility several times a year. This can be a wonderfully informal way to become acquainted with the sport and get to know some club members. Follow our Facebook group for announcements.
Resources for Agility Sports
- Agility for Beginners: Everything You Need to Know
- AKC Agility Regulations
- AKC Titles and Abbreviations
Premiums from last year
April, 2024 premium list
September 2023 premium list