You have probably seen dogs performing amazing feats of agility on TV and maybe even in person. Do you ever wonder how they do it? Lisa Chelenza has more about agility for dogs and how you can get started in this edition of Pet Pointers.

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They leap, pivot, and sprint with the delight of a kid on a playground. More and more dogs and their humans are participating in agility for fun, for sport, and for some exercise. Most of us assume our own pampered pooches could never compete with the likes of these canine athletes, taking on weave poles with ease and jumps with confidence. However, many dogs thought to be couch potatoes take to agility pretty quickly after a few weeks of lessons and positive reinforcement

“I think the most fun is seeing the bond you develop with the dog and when you reach the point where the dog can read your body language without you having to give them verbal commands and they almost anticipate what you are expecting them to do before you even tell them is a pretty amazing thing,” said Joan Meyers, agility participant.

Recently the American Kennel Club made some changes and now allows all dogs, regardless of pedigree, to compete in the miscellaneous class, as long as they are registered with AKC’s Canine Partners.

No matter how old your dog is or how old you are, there is a place in the agility ring for you. Visit events in your area and take a beginner class to familiarize yourself with the sport. You might be surprised and how much you and your dog love it.