Agility

Agility is a sport that has gained immense popularity in recent years and is fun and exciting for owner and dog alike. Developed in Great Britain, it was loosely modeled after equestrian show jumping. To compete, each dog is required to navigate an obstacle course under the direction of its handler within a set time and with a minimum of faults. The set of obstacles can include different styles of jumps, tunnels, ramps, a dogwalk, A-frame, teeter-totter, and a series of upright poles that the dogs must weave through slalom style! Every course is unique. A dog never runs the same course twice. Agility is an excellent training/bonding activity for Whippets and their owners. Whippets seem to enjoy the speed and challenge of navigating through the course. 

There are Agility sanctioning organizations in many places around the world. In North America, there are six main organizations that sanction Agility trials. Each offers a variety of titles for various levels of achievement. The six North American organizations are:

American Kennel Club - AKC

United Kennel Club - UKC

United States Dog Agility Association - USDAA

Agility Association of Canada - AAC

North American Dog Agility Council, Inc. - NADAC

Canine Performance Events - CPE

USDAA and AAC trials are run under international style rules, which are generally considered the most physically demanding of the dog. A fit healthy Whippet should be able to compete under any organization. In addition to standard Agility courses, the USDAA, AAC, NADAC, and CPE offer special categories for Veteran (older) dogs and Junior (child) handlers, as well as strategic agility games. All six organizations allow neutered dogs and dogs with breed disqualifications to compete for titles, and some allow mixed-breed dogs and purebreds obtained without registration papers. To compete, the dog must be registered with the AKC or a foreign equivalent, or register directly with the organization.