Can neutered dogs compete in agility?
Yes, neutered dogs can compete in agility. In fact, in AKC agility it is a requirement that non-purebred dogs are neutered or spayed in order to enter an event. In other venues such as USDAA, competitors are allowed to show intact dogs of any breed or mix.
In the USA, most organizations currently do not allow females in season to enter competitions. (In many other countries, females in season are welcomed to shows.) For many aspiring competitors this is a reason to spay their female dogs if they want to become more serious about competing, because even if the owner qualifies for a big national event such as the AKC National Agility Championship, they would not be allowed to compete if the dog is in heat.
Can my dog compete in agility?
Generally speaking, chances are that your dog will be allowed to compete at least in some agility associations. Let’s look at the different requirements put forth by different venues in detail:
In order to not encourage competitors to start running full-size agility courses with young puppies, all agility organizations have age restrictions. In AKC agility, dogs are allowed to start competing at 15 months old. UKI agility also allows dogs of that age in some classes.
Other organizations such as USDAA require dogs to be at least 18 months old to compete.
While no agility venue gives a definite upper age limit, you are not allowed to compete with a dog that is not physically sound. Most dogs are not able to do agility safely and painfree anymore once they are about 10-12 years old. If you are looking to start agility competitions with a senior dog, hold off – there are dog sports more suitable than agility.
Any dog needs to be in good health in order to be allowed to compete. If a dog shows any signs of pain or discomfort, is limping or has visible injuries, a judge will disqualify your team right away.
If your dog is currently suffering from any health condition, you need to wait for him to heal and be well again before competing. This also applies to dogs that are very overweight or obese.
Many minor routine procedures such as a neuter surgery only require dogs to stop agility for a few weeks. On the other hand, some health issues might be career-ending for dogs – which is why it is especially important to make sure that your training is always safe and does not push the dog to do more than he can do (especially jumping training)
Yes, mixed breeds can compete in any agility venue. The only restriction is that mixed breeds currently are not allowed at the FCI Agility World Championship. However, every country only gets to send a handful of dogs per height class there anyway and it often takes decades of practice to qualify for this extremely advanced event.
Otherwise, every dog of any mix is allowed to compete in any venue. This even applies to breed-specific venues such as ASCAA (American Shepherd Association of America) – they welcome dogs of other breeds!
The Best Dog Breeds For Agility
Keeping all of the above traits in mind, it’s absolutely true that specific breeds are more likely to have the traits you need for a good agility dog.
No matter how much training you do and how much drive your dog has, you’re not likely to find a Pug that can outpace the average Sheltie – and no matter how fast they are, most Greyhounds simply can’t keep up with the smarts of an Australian Shepherd.
Genetics influence your dog’s behavioral traits, and breed is often one of the best places to start when looking for a specific “type” of dog.