Your Pets Daily - Dog agility

Kennel Club's International Agility Festival celebrates successful results for 2024

Tom Stone — Sat, 17 Aug 2024 07:00:00 +0000

The Kennel Club International Agility Festival concluded four exciting days of agility excellence on Sunday 11 August 2024. The festival saw thousands of dogs and their handlers, from across the UK and all over the world, compete in over 200 competitions at Rutland Showground, Oakham.

The festival, supported by Skinner's, welcomed dogs of every size, shape and breed, to take part in competitions across four size categories, 18 rings and 200 classes. Competitors displayed high levels of skill and training, navigating through courses with various obstacles including hurdles, poles, tunnels and more.

Competition was tough, and some top dogs and their handlers are now celebrating qualifying for London Arena agility events at the London International Horse Show in December, with others heading to the world's greatest dog show, Crufts, in March 2025.

Ben Skinner, of Skinner's, said: "A huge congratulations to each of the winners and participants of The Kennel Club International Agility Festival. It is a pleasure to see all these amazing dogs and their owners take part in the competitions – we are always proud to sponsor this wonderful event.

"It is inspiring to see the dedication and skill demonstrated at these events. Everyone who has taken part should be very proud of their achievements in the ring."

Catherine Guiver, Head of Events at The Kennel Club, said: "Congratulations to all the winners at this year's International Agility Festival! We were so impressed by the talent displayed and we look forward to seeing many of them return to further competitions at Crufts and the London International Horse Show.

"And well done to all the dogs and handlers that have competed and shown great skill and confidence in the rings over the last four days."

The top three placings in each of the main competitions at the festival were as follows:

Kennel Club British Open Final
Large Kennel Club British Open Final

1st – Pia Glover and Soldaze Dark Side Of The Moon (Sushi)
2nd – Jen Slade and That's Why As Bold As Brass (Brokkoli)
3rd – Lindsey Lightowler and Breewhych Days Future Past (Havok)

Intermediate Kennel Club British Open Final

1st – Jen Slade and Ag Ch Dare To Dream It Must Be Fate (Fate)
2nd – Steve Seale and Devongem Try Fleck (Flec)
3rd – Georgina Baker and Fandabidozi Extra Of Dust (Extra)

Medium Kennel Club British Open Final

1st – Maria Ljungdahl and Sandvretens Bojan (Bojan)
2nd – Maria Ljungdahl and Hammarstigen's Mac Beltra (Limpan)
3rd – Jamie Wright and Dream On Dexter AW(G) (Dexter)

Small Kennel Club British Open Final

1st – Maria Campoy Ortiz and Samba De Bruccan (Samba)
2nd – Adam Watson and Cooper The Girl AW(D) (Cooper)
3rd – Angela Williams and Venexia Luna Eclipse (Boo)

Kennel Club Championship Finals (with first place in each height category qualifying for Crufts)
Large Kennel Club Championship Final

1st – Sarah Young and Darleyfalls Fairy Tail (Delicious)
2nd – Dalton Meredith and Ag Ch Fandabidozi Eclipse of Dust (Eclipse)
3rd – Sara Bacon and Bizzyberry Blissful Dream (Bliss)

Intermediate Kennel Club Championship Final

1st – Chris Kerton and Poughkeepsie The Funky Duck (Funky Duck)
2nd – Jen Slade and Ag Ch Dare To Dream It Must Be Fate (Fate)
3rd – Naomi Read and Classic Firefly (Fly)

Medium Kennel Club Championship Final

1st – Dalton Meredith and Ag Ch Fandabidozi Munchykin Jive (Munchy)
2nd – Liz Carpenter and Ag Ch Moseleywood Winnie AW(P) (Winnie)
3rd – Laura Warwick and Midnight Bloom AW(G) (Blossom)

Small Kennel Club Championship Final

1st – Julie Bishop and Hunbart Blue Star Dancer (Blue)
2nd – Tamsin Harris-Bryant and Earl's Sweet Acceleration (Axl)
3rd – Rachel Ward and Blazecroft Midnight Akemi (Nimbus)

Kennel Club Starters Cup Semi-Final (With the top six in each height category qualifying for London Arena agility events at The London International Horse Show)

Large Kennel Club Starters Cup Semi-Final

1st – Amy Bennett and Wynwich Waves Of Craziness (Nutella Daniella)
2nd – Gray Apostolou and The Larking Lion Leo (Leo)
3rd – Janet Melville and Stormbeck Calypso (Caly)

Intermediate Kennel Club Starters Cup Semi-Final

1st – Lily Hayward and Naledi Catch My Drift (Drift)
2nd – Rob Morley and A Rhapsody In Red (Rush)
3rd – Kesia Guillery and Liskarn Catherine Wheel (Koro)

Medium Kennel Club Starters Cup Semi-Final

1st – Chloe Brown and Licosateria Lyte Dynamite (Flare)
2nd – Michèle Taffijn-Du Bois and Licosateria Frankie Goes To Amsterdam (Frankie Valentine)
3rd – Brian Hair and Devongem Shadow Chaser (Sonic)

Small Kennel Club Starters Cup Semi-Final

1st – Julie Bishop and Flashablue Girl On Fire (Belle)
2nd – Cathrine Sondergaard and Arwen Della Linea Dei Pensieri (Pura Vida)
3rd – Sarah McLean and Soxnizz Twix Of Fate (Twix)

Kennel Club Novice Cup Semi-Final (With the top six in each height category qualifying for Crufts)

Large Kennel Club Novice Cup Semi-Final

1st – Harriet Harding and Play With Madness Mai Tai (Zero)
2nd – Laura Beevors and Ivormyth Peak Call The Chief (Chief)
3rd – Rory Tidmarsh and My Bob Rockett Sox (Bob)

Intermediate Kennel Club Novice Cup Semi-Final

1st – Georgina Baker and Fandabidozi Funky Music (Music)
2nd – Kirsty Armitstead and Infinity Runners Cuba'n Sunrise (Cuba)
3rd – Brian McDougall and Gaunyersel Careless Wispa (Wispa)

Medium Club Novice Cup Semi-Final

1st – Liz Naylor and Breckmarsh Repeat After Me At Hornspike (Echo)
2nd – Megan Huggins and Lavacious Lola (Lola)
3rd – Pam Jeffery and Bolly Knickers (Bolly Knickers)

Small Club Novice Cup Semi-Final

1st – Sarah Paterson and Devongem Juniper (Weasel)
2nd – Lauren Langman and Devongem Stay Wild (Wild)
3rd – Demi Wright and Kiss My Dust (Shelby)

For more information on The Kennel Club International Agility Festival, please visit thekennelclub.org.uk/IAF

Find the full list of results at agilityplaza.com/results

A specially-made video for owners interested in getting started in agility with their dog can be found at thekennelclub.org.uk/newtoagility

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Dog agility

Agility Team GB celebrate successful European Open Championships

Katie Court — Wed, 07 Aug 2024 11:00:00 +0000

The Kennel Club would like to congratulate Agility Team GB on their success at the FCI's European Open Agility Championships, which concluded this weekend, and saw the team win a total of six medals, including one gold.

Agility Team GB competed over three days at the Championships, with handlers and their dogs showing an impressive level of skill across both team and individual competitions. This was also the first Championship event in history that Team GB achieved three medals in the team finals.

The European Open Agility Championships were held in the UK for the first time, hosted by The Kennel Club at Dallas Burston Polo Club in Southam, and were sponsored by Agria Pet Insurance, with additional support from Galican, South West Agility Goods and 4 Legged Flix.

Medals were won in the following competitions:

Gold medals:

Martin Reid, from Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, with his Shetland Sheepdog Get It With Eager to Work (Selfie) in the Small Individual competition. This partnership won gold at the European Championships in 2023 which meant they defended their title.

Silver medals:

Marita Ogilvie, from Bourne, Lincolnshire, with Border Collie, Darleyfalls Cryptic Enigma (Cicada) in the Intermediate Individual competition – this is Marita's first international medal

Bronze medals:

Euan Paterson, from Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire, with his Border Collie Ag Ch Devongem Quick Time (Crazee) retained their bronze medal (also won in 2023) in the Intermediate Individual competition
Team GB Time for Tea won a bronze medal in the Small Team finals – the first Small Team medal for Team GB. The team was comprised of Jo Gleed and Devongem Classic (Sinner); Karen Boardman and Devongem Tiz Unbeatable (Robyn); Laura Farrow and Quinlent Dubplate Special (Dubs); and Liz Naylor and Devongem Bright Skye at Hornspike
Team GB Remake won a bronze medal in the Medium Team finals – securing a medal for the third consecutive year. The team was comprised of Dalton Meredith and Ag Ch Fandabidozi Munchykin Jive (Munchy); James Adams and Ag Ch Devongem Tiz Gold Standard (Willow); Lily Dakin and Wavesong Honky Tonk Blu (Scout); and Stephanie Best and Z-Atomic Spice Koryfej (Skedaddle)
Team GB Place Your Bets won a bronze medal in the Large Team finals. The team was comprised of Chris Kerton and Infinity Runners Shanapu (Cop); Dave Munnings and Ag Ch Comebyanaway Wot A Legacy (Legacy); Martin Reid and Ag Ch Lilhaze Spring Into Shape (Shape); and Naarah Cuddy and Ag Ch Lilhaze Dark Pleasure (Lemon)

Place wins were also achieved in the following competitions:

1st – Euan Paterson, from Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire and Border Collie, Ag Ch Devongem Quick Time (Crazee) – Intermediate Individual Jumping

1st – Martin Reid, from Leamington Spa, Warwickhire and Shetland Sheepdog, Get It With Eager to Work (Selfie) – Small Individual Agility

2nd – GB New Endeavour To Win – Medium Team Agility

2nd – James Adams, from Stratford upon Avon, Warwickshire and Working Cocker Spaniel, Devongem Tiz Gold Standard (Willow) – Medium Individual Agility

3rd – GB Remake – Medium Team Jumping

3rd – James Adams, from Stratford upon Avon, Warwickshire and Working Cocker Spaniel, Devongem Tiz Gold Standard (Willow) – Medium Individual Jumping. James and Willow have now won six medals for Team GB, which is more than any other partnership in the team's history.

The team were chosen following the two try out days which were held at Dog Sports, Derby.

Agility Team GB is supported by The Kennel Club, Natural Instinct, South West Agility Goods, Dog Sports Derby and Galican.

Agility Team GB Manager, Greg Derrett, commented: "Competing on home soil added a little extra pressure this year on our handlers to perform and I am thrilled with the results they achieved while representing Great Britain at this year's European Open Championships!

"Winning so many of medals, from all four heights and in both the individual and team events, shows the depth of talent we have in British Agility."

A spokesperson from Natural Instinct, sponsor of Agility Team GB, said: "Natural Instinct are proud to sponsor Agility Team GB and we congratulate the team on their fantastic success at the European Open Championships. We are extremely proud of all those who competed. Well done to all!"

Daniel Millwood, owner of SWAG K9 said: "The European Open 2024 was our first time being able to watch Agility Team GB live at a major championship and they didn't disappoint! We witnessed some amazing runs, giving great results and some of those very nearly runs that show what an exciting future Team GB has! SWAG K9 are proud to have been there to support the event and we look forward to continuing our support of Team GB."

For more information, visit: eo2024.co.uk

More information about Agility Team GB can be found on The Kennel Club website: thekennelclub.org.uk/agilityteamgb

More information about dog agility and how to get involved is available at thekennelclub.org.uk/agility.

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The Kennel Club

European Open Agility Championships

Crufts worthy: 4 tricks you can easily teach your pooch in your own back garden

Jessica Curtis — Tue, 09 Jan 2024 20:00:00 +0000

We all wish our dogs were a little more obedient and could do a few more entertaining tricks so Dr Emma Scales-Theobald, PhD (dog behaviourist) from pet wellness brand Pooch & Mutt, has shared her top tips for training your pooch some new Crufts-worthy tricks from the comfort of your own garden.

Whilst your dog might not be quite Crufts ready, agility tricks are not only great for their health, but they are a great mental stimulant and will keep your pup both happy and healthy.

Dr Emma's pre-training tips

"Before jumping straight into training, there are a few things you, as the owner, need to check and make sure you have in order for your training to run smoothly and for both you and your dog to get the most out of it."

Patience - Training isn't always easy, and more often than not, it is very repetitive, so patience is crucial. As much as we wish we could, we can't communicate with our dogs, so they aren't going to understand or pick things up straight away, which of course, can be frustrating, but like you, they are doing their best. Maintaining a level of patience throughout training will make it a more positive experience for both you and your dog.
Tasty treats - Unfortunately, most dogs won't perform without some kind of incentive, so you're going to need some tasty treats to give them something to work for. Choose something you know they love but don't have every day - cooked chicken or cheese are often good options!
A safe space - Safety is always key when training your dog, as there is always potential for accidents or falls. So, make sure you have plenty of space, and you move any objects that could cause injuries if your dog was to run or fall into them.
Consistent commands - Consistency is key. Nailing down your commands and hand gestures before you get started will save your dog from getting confused and help them learn the tricks much quicker.

Dr Emma's training tips

Jumping over a hurdle

This is a trick that requires patience as you will have to go about it in stages. Firstly, you want to start with a hurdle low enough for your dog to step over and your dog on a lead. Begin simply walking your dog over the bar, marking it with a 'yes' and rewarding them with a treat every time they step over it. This will help them gain confidence around the hurdle, as well as getting over it.

Once your dog has this nailed, you can slightly raise the bar and have your dog sit on one side whilst you are on the other. Try calling your dog over the hurdle, making sure they have a good view of their treat. Use the lead to guide them over if they are struggling. Once the dog reaches the other side, mark and reward.

Again, once your dog is confident with this, you can start introducing the name of the command. This should be something such as 'jump' or 'over'. Call your dog over the hurdle, and once their feet are off the ground, say your command and then mark and reward again once they get to you. You can then start increasing the height of the hurdle as your dog's confidence grows.
Weaving through obstacles

Start by placing cones (if you don't have cones, placing plastic cups upside down is an easy alternative) in a straight line spaced evenly apart. To begin, make the gaps between each cone quite spacious. Once your dog is getting the hang of weaving, you can move the cones closer together to make it a little more challenging.

Before encouraging your dog to weave through the cones, you want to get them familiar with following a treat. To do this, make it known to your pooch that you have a treat in your hand and work on getting them to follow your hand, marking with a 'yes' and the treat when they have followed your hand successfully.

Once they are getting good at this, you can move to guide them through the cones, again with a treat in hand. Keep the treat close to your dog's snout and weave them through the cones. Once your dog reaches the end, mark and reward. Repeat this a few more times until your dog is following you confidently. Once they are, you can start introducing the command 'weave'. Guide your dog again as they make their way through the cones, say 'weave' and once they complete the course, mark and reward. Continue practising this until your dog is confident. Once they are familiar with the command, you can move to start saying the command without having to guide your dog through the cones, marking and rewarding once they reach the end. If they struggle, that's fine. Jump back a step and guide them through again.
Running through a tunnel

If you have children, you might have a play tunnel lying around. If not, you can make one by opening up the bottoms of some large cardboard boxes and placing them together.

Firstly you need to get your dog familiar with the tunnel, let your dog sniff and get close to it, and reward any positive behaviour towards the tunnel with a 'yes' and a tasty treat. Once you are happy that your dog doesn't fear the tunnel, lay out a trail of treats through the tunnel to entice your dog to manoeuvre through it. Ideally, you will have one person holding your dog at one end and another person on the other to call and encourage the dog. When your dog reaches the end, give them lots of praise and extra treats and repeat this process until your dog is confidently moving through the tunnel.

Now, repeat the last step without the treats in the tunnel, and save them for the end reward. Have one person call and encourage your dog to come through, and when they do, mark it with a 'yes' and a big reward. Repeat this until your dog is running through confidently every time, then move on to introducing the command.

Once your dog steps into the tunnel, say a command such as 'through' to mark the action, and as normal, mark with a 'yes' and reward once they reach you on the other side. Repeat this as many times as you need to until your dog runs through the tunnel upon hearing the command without needing a treat on the other side.
Spin on the spot

Teaching your dog to spin takes a lot of practice as it is a little trickier to master, but with plenty of patience and rewards, you and your dog will master it in no time.

Start with a treat held closely to your dog's snout and begin by luring them round to one side, as they start to turn, mark and reward with the treat. Repeat this a few times, ensuring you always lure them the same way until they get used to the motion of turning.

Once your dog is confident with that, you want to start luring them in a full circle with the treat close to their snout. Your pooch won't get this every time, so it is important to be patient and just go back to your starting point and try again, marking it with a 'yes' and rewarding once they have completed the full circle.

Again, when your dog is confidently following your hand in a full circle motion, you can move on to incorporating the command, 'spin'. Lure your dog round and as they start the movement, say the command, and when they finish, mark and reward. Continue repeating this until your dog gets it right every time. Only then can you start to try getting them to spin without luring them with a treat. You should get to a point where you can simply say 'spin', and your dog will know exactly what to do!

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Dog agility

Dog enrichment activities

Wet weather enrichment games to entertain your pup

Your Pets Daily Editor — Tue, 28 Nov 2023 16:00:00 +0000

Your dog needs lots of enrichment and entertainment to keep them happy, and in the summer months, getting outdoors can be the perfect way to give them the activity they need. However, as winter rapidly approaches, the classic British weather doesn't always give us perfect walking conditions but there are still plenty of ways to keep your dog entertained. Here, the experts from Webbox share their favourite indoor enrichment activities that can keep your dog happy and active on a rainy winters day.

Play hide and seek

Everyone remembers this classic rainy-day game from their childhood, so why not play it with your furry friend too? There are two ways you can play hide and seek so your pup won't grow tired. The first option appeals to your dog's natural foraging skills and involves hiding small dog treats around your home and encouraging your pet to sniff them out. Start with easy hiding places at first while your dog gets the hang of things, increasing the difficulty slightly each time you play. If you have a dog breed with a very keen sense of smell, such as a bloodhound or German shepherd, you could even leave a trail of scent, touching various objects around your home with a treat to transfer the scent, before finally hiding it. Another option is to test your dog's recall skills by hiding somewhere in your home and calling them to you. Make sure to reward them with a treat each time they find you.

Make a DIY enrichment toy

Like hide and seek, enrichment toys help to encourage your dog's foraging abilities. These toys usually combine a puzzle with your dog's favourite thing: food! Puzzle toys include treat dispensers, which work with treats and hard food, and lick mats, which are best for wet dog food and creamy treats (like Dog-e-Lix).

If you don't have a dog treat toy at home already, you can make your own by adding treats and hard food to a cardboard box filled with shredded paper. Alternatively, make your own homemade lick mat using a silicone baking sheet. Spread your dog's favourite creamy treat across the sheet and let them lick it off.

Build an indoor agility course

If your dog is particularly boisterous then an indoor agility course will help keep them entertained and blow off some steam. This is your chance to get creative using whatever you can find around the house to set up the course, and try to include a good variety of obstacles and surfaces. Not only does this offer mental stimulation for your pooch, but it provides extra sensory enrichment by giving them the opportunity to experience different heights and situations.

For example, you could create a tunnel from a cardboard box or, for big breeds, by draping a blanket over two chairs. Create a hurdle from a low stool or upside-down basket and lay out a variety of objects for your dog to weave in and out of. Again, remember to reward your smart pup with a treat at the end.

Have a spa day

Why not treat your furry friend to a little rainy-day R&R? Make sure your dog is nice and relaxed by playing some games with them to tire them out. Then, create a doggy spa by setting up a relaxing grooming station. Shampoo and condition their fur, trim their nails, and brush them from head to toe, giving them plenty of love as you do so. Not only will you be giving your dog's coat all the attention it needs, but it's also a great bonding experience for you both.

You could even give your dog a little massage to pamper them even more. Gently stroke your dog's back until they lie down then start rubbing their neck gently in circular motions before moving onto their back, stomach, and legs and feet if your dog will allow it. Just be sure to stop if they show any signs of discomfort.

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Dogs

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Winter activities with dogs

Dog enrichment activities

Dog agility

Canine massage