Dog agility: a sport in which a handler directs a dog through an obstacle courses in a race for both time and accuracy. Dogs run off-leash with no food or toys and incentives, and the handler can touch neither dog nor obstacles. Consequently the handler's controls are limited to voice, movement, and various body signals, requiring exceptional training of the animal and coordination of the handler.
^that's a definition, but in no way does it allow the reader to grasp what agility is. Granted what agility really is changes depending on your opinion, but here is mine.
Agility is a sport, a passion, a test of your mind and body, Accuracy and speed combined with concentration and raw power. The will of the handler to do everything heavenly possible for their dogs, so that they are healthy and love the sport the handler adores it. Agility isn't about the obstacles, the competitions, or the handling...it's about you and your dog. I can't reiterate enough how much I detest people blaming the dog, as if it was their idea to train and challenge themselves. Nope, sorry not buying it. If you love agility for the right reasons, then you'll love the failure, the dog, and the people no matter what. Because agility is more than just a sport full of competitors, it is a world in itself. Think about the people you know through agility, for me it is some of my very best friends, some of the most amazing people I have ever met, and to think without this bond I would have never known who they were. Our community might be full of cliques and drama just like any other subculture out there, but I can only think of a few others that incorporate a bond between more than just the people. Think about, just for a moment, having never owned, trained, or bonded with your dogs. The idea of being without them makes my eyes swell with tears, mainly because I actually wouldn't be anything without them. Hell I would be normal and what fun is that? Agility is the combination of sport, people, dogs, it's the journey. The winning, the loosing, the heartbreak, the glory, the hopeless addiction all agility people share is just all part of the game.
^that's a definition, but in no way does it allow the reader to grasp what agility is. Granted what agility really is changes depending on your opinion, but here is mine.
Agility is a sport, a passion, a test of your mind and body, Accuracy and speed combined with concentration and raw power. The will of the handler to do everything heavenly possible for their dogs, so that they are healthy and love the sport the handler adores it. Agility isn't about the obstacles, the competitions, or the handling...it's about you and your dog. I can't reiterate enough how much I detest people blaming the dog, as if it was their idea to train and challenge themselves. Nope, sorry not buying it. If you love agility for the right reasons, then you'll love the failure, the dog, and the people no matter what. Because agility is more than just a sport full of competitors, it is a world in itself. Think about the people you know through agility, for me it is some of my very best friends, some of the most amazing people I have ever met, and to think without this bond I would have never known who they were. Our community might be full of cliques and drama just like any other subculture out there, but I can only think of a few others that incorporate a bond between more than just the people. Think about, just for a moment, having never owned, trained, or bonded with your dogs. The idea of being without them makes my eyes swell with tears, mainly because I actually wouldn't be anything without them. Hell I would be normal and what fun is that? Agility is the combination of sport, people, dogs, it's the journey. The winning, the loosing, the heartbreak, the glory, the hopeless addiction all agility people share is just all part of the game.
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