What organization is responsible for agility here in America. Also does anyone know how it works in Germany?

The United States Dog Agility Association (USDAA), the North American Dog Agility Council (NADAC), and AKC sponsor agility in America. I'm told by my friends involved in agility that the best competition is in USDAA and NADAC; unlike AKC they are not limited to AKC registered dogs, even mixed breeds are welcome. Border collies dominate agility, and the overwhelming majority of the best working bred BCs are not AKC. They are amazing athletes.

Laura

How would/or do smallish Malinois hold up against the BCs?

I do agility here in Wales with my 18 month old GSD female. I don't know about how a Mal would compare (I imagine pretty well) My GSD female does very well against the BCs in the class both in terms of speed and agility.

The BCs are very fast but it's hillarious to watch them in training. They have to make sure that they are taken on to each piece of equipment absolutely straight or else they will fall off. Many are also very hyper and waste time by spinning mad circles in between jumps.

Of course the ones we see in top competition have mastered this and are awesome to watch. Beware of a slightly false impression though, there are thousands of thousands of BCs being trained in agility because that's what BCs "do" - therefore a bigger talent pool.

My GSD can approach the equipment at any angle at speed without falling off but her problem is that she tends to try and anticipate and can be obstanate. The BCs don't think for themselves, they just react to commands (whilst turning circles <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> ).

VanCamp, I live within a 1/2 hour drive of a facility that trains North American champion flyball and agility dogs. They run classes in obedience, flyball and agility. These trainers also owned the World Record flyball team (they might still hold the world record, I don't know). Yes, they bred BCs and their champion competing teams were almost exclusively BCs. However, when I was training my dog I remember another person who had a smallish Malinois bitch. She was slightly dog aggressive, had to be kept focused. But boy was she fast, just like a BC. Seeing her do the weave poles was amazing. I have also seen a couple of smaller Malinois in the mixed flyball teams.

I would think that a small working line bitch would be about the fastest thing on four legs. I don't much like BCs and I'm thinking about testing my meddle at agility next year. (I hate to admit to it, though.) My young cousin wants to get involved with dogs and she is too young for Schutzhund I think. 11 years??

I want her to get crazy about dogs so she can do kennel work for me, FREE kennel work. he he he <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

VanCamp,

I don't think that 11 is too yound to start with SchH training. Keep in mind 2/3 of it is obedience and tracking. Both those things can be easily handled by a kid. The only thing that may be a problem would be holding the dog for agitation and that could be handled by double handling the dog or using a back tie so the dog can't get away from her. I have seen that done with adults that can't hold their dogs too. The other thing is that once the dog learns control it isn't going to take any strength because the dog is under voice control anyway. Leverage is more important than strength when holding the dog anyway.

There is a kid here that started working dogs in obedience at 11 and is now doing agitation and has been for around 3 years. The trainer told him that he could start doing agitation when he could get up off the ground in a full bite suit. This kid is a bit different though. His first hit was from a huge Rott. The dog picked him up and slammed him into the ground face first. When he got up there was blood and snot all over the place, the trainer figured that would be the end of his career as an agitator... the kid loved it. He just turned 16 this year. He didn't want a car for his birthday, he wanted a bite suit.

VanCamp, the people who owned this facility had 2 or three daughters. By 6 or 7 all of their kids were handling and training their own BCs for competition in agility and flyball. By the time they were 10 or 11 they were doing big demos, pet shows and fall fairs along with the other trainers and their dogs. They loved it. Of course when your family is so involved in dogs it almost comes naturally.

 Quote:

Originally posted by VanCamp:
I would think that a small working line bitch would be about the fastest thing on four legs. I don't much like BCs and I'm thinking about testing my meddle at agility next year.

I think you would kick their butts. However, I'm willing to bet that a great deal of resentment regarding an "ugly" Mal continuously winning may create a tough political situation (gossip, rumours etc.) that may require extreme self control.

Crap, extreme self control is something that I lack. . .big time.

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

An ugly, pig nosed, dark, KNPV Malinios at that. . .