Clean Run - January 2012 - 7

Everything you always wanted to know about agility
By Brenna Fender

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What is the Virtual Agility League?
The Virtual Agility League, known also as the VALOR project, began May 1, 2011, as an extension of a reactive dogs class at Teamworks Dog Training in Youngsville, North Carolina. Creator Michele Godlevski, CPDT-KA, CC, designed the VALOR project as an opportunity for handlers of dogs that are distracted or reactive to demonstrate their dog’s agility skills and to have those skills evaluated and recognized by a sanctioning organization. All breeds and mixes are welcome, as are dogs that are deaf, vision-impaired (but not completely blind), and three-legged. Dogs must be 18 months old or older to enter, and handlers must be at least eight years old. Godlevski says, “It has also become a venue for those needing a lower-cost option than the traditional costly sanctioned-trial weekend.” Each month, the League posts two Standard and two Jumpers courses that are nested to contain three levels of difficulty. Runs are then recorded while being performed in an approved agility facility and submitted via YouTube. There are specific rules for approved agility facilities, including being fully fenced or enclosed, having a non-slip surface, and using equipment that meets AKC, CPE, or USDAA standards. Videos must clearly show both handler and dog at each obstacle and must be taken by a second person, who also serves as a witness for the run. Videos of runs may not be edited in any way, but the dog and handler may practice the course as many times as is necessary to achieve a clean run. Qualifying runs have no off-courses, no missed contacts, and no dropped bars. Refusals are not judged and the run is not timed. Accuracy, not speed, is tested in this venue. There is no dog registration fee in the Virtual Agility League. “The entries are $15 per Standard run and $10 per Jumpers run, but you don’t even have to enter until you actually have a video of a qualifying run! This allows the participants to practice and perfect their skills, and then showcase (in a low-stress, low-cost way) the results online for all to see. Every dollar [handlers] spend on submitting a run is for a qualifying run. The non-qualifying runs only cost them their own time, which is not ill-spent since they can try the course again,” says Godlevski. The Virtual Agility League also offers economical incentives to try their venue or host events for filming VALOR runs. Godlevski says, “We give a $5-off coupon for each title earned to each participant, and we send a free agility jump to any facility hosting 10 VALOR Days events.”

Do you have a question about agility rules or anything else agility related? Mail your questions to Brenna Fender: brennafender@gmail.com Brenna collects the questions and forwards them to us so we never see the names.

The nested courses provide a wide variety of skill levels. According to Godlevski, “Course challenges at the upper level, Expert, are on par with top-level courses in USDAA; however, the lowest level, Beginner, is more like Level 1 of CPE. There is also a training division where treats and toys are allowed.” Like most agility organizations, the Virtual Agility League requires three qualifying legs at each level before a title is earned and the participant can move up to the next level. As of October 2011, there had already been 130 qualifying VALOR runs judged with 30 titles issued. Although the League originated in North Carolina, participants have been from North Carolina, New Jersey, and New York, and there are already VALOR-approved facilities in South Carolina, Virginia, Kentucky, Florida, and Texas. There is interest in VALOR from competitors as far away as Canada and Portugal. Agility enthusiasts running in VALOR seem to be happy with the organization. Leslie Spence, who competes in the Virtual Agility League with her rescued and reactive Belgian Malinois, Danny, says, “I think it is a wonderful idea, a great venue, and all of us who have taken part in it are so excited that it exists. Locally, with the group in New Jersey that started doing small VALOR events… the environment is kept totally controlled to meet the needs of each dog and handler team. What VALOR does is take the stress off the handler, and that to me is what is so great about it. Everyone there understands what you have been through, even if each dog has different problems. When we first started, I think we all wanted to cry, or hug each other, just to be with such a supportive group of people.” For more information about the Virtual Agility League, visit http://virtualagilityleague.com/.

NOTE: While it is not permissible to make copies of Clean Run magazine, we wish to give readers permission to make copies of this particular column for personal use. This means you are free to share copies of this column with students, friends, or club members. The information may also be included in not-for-profit newsletters as long as credit is given to Clean Run. January 12 | Clean Run 7


http://www.virtualagilityleague.com/

Clean Run - January 2012

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Clean Run - January 2012

Clean Run - January 2012
Contents
Editorializing: Why Can’t You Be More Like My Last Dog?
Tip of the Month
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Agility…
Backyard Dogs
Teaching Your Dog to Bend
Harmony in My Head: Using Hypnosis for Mental Management
The New Obstacle Performance Standards
Training to Your Weakness: Exercises for Dogs with Straight Rears
Agility Bloopers
Power Paws Drills: Obsessing on Four Jumps
Agility Mind Gym: Passion, Excellence, and Dreams
Analyze This!
Fit to Be Tricked: Feet on Feet
Why Knowledge Equals Speed
What’s in Your Toolbox?
Building Blocks: Equalizing the Value of Food and Toys as Reinforcers
Hip Luxation Treatment in the Agility Dog
Letters
Clean Run - January 2012 - 1
Clean Run - January 2012 - 2
Clean Run - January 2012 - Contents
Clean Run - January 2012 - 4
Clean Run - January 2012 - Editorializing: Why Can’t You Be More Like My Last Dog?
Clean Run - January 2012 - Tip of the Month
Clean Run - January 2012 - Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Agility…
Clean Run - January 2012 - Backyard Dogs
Clean Run - January 2012 - 9
Clean Run - January 2012 - 10
Clean Run - January 2012 - 11
Clean Run - January 2012 - Teaching Your Dog to Bend
Clean Run - January 2012 - 13
Clean Run - January 2012 - 14
Clean Run - January 2012 - 15
Clean Run - January 2012 - 16
Clean Run - January 2012 - 17
Clean Run - January 2012 - 18
Clean Run - January 2012 - 19
Clean Run - January 2012 - 20
Clean Run - January 2012 - Harmony in My Head: Using Hypnosis for Mental Management
Clean Run - January 2012 - 22
Clean Run - January 2012 - 23
Clean Run - January 2012 - 24
Clean Run - January 2012 - 25
Clean Run - January 2012 - The New Obstacle Performance Standards
Clean Run - January 2012 - 27
Clean Run - January 2012 - 28
Clean Run - January 2012 - Training to Your Weakness: Exercises for Dogs with Straight Rears
Clean Run - January 2012 - 30
Clean Run - January 2012 - 31
Clean Run - January 2012 - 32
Clean Run - January 2012 - Agility Bloopers
Clean Run - January 2012 - Power Paws Drills: Obsessing on Four Jumps
Clean Run - January 2012 - 35
Clean Run - January 2012 - 36
Clean Run - January 2012 - 37
Clean Run - January 2012 - Agility Mind Gym: Passion, Excellence, and Dreams
Clean Run - January 2012 - Analyze This!
Clean Run - January 2012 - 40
Clean Run - January 2012 - 41
Clean Run - January 2012 - 42
Clean Run - January 2012 - 43
Clean Run - January 2012 - 44
Clean Run - January 2012 - Fit to Be Tricked: Feet on Feet
Clean Run - January 2012 - 46
Clean Run - January 2012 - 47
Clean Run - January 2012 - 48
Clean Run - January 2012 - 49
Clean Run - January 2012 - Why Knowledge Equals Speed
Clean Run - January 2012 - 51
Clean Run - January 2012 - 52
Clean Run - January 2012 - What’s in Your Toolbox?
Clean Run - January 2012 - 54
Clean Run - January 2012 - 55
Clean Run - January 2012 - 56
Clean Run - January 2012 - Building Blocks: Equalizing the Value of Food and Toys as Reinforcers
Clean Run - January 2012 - 58
Clean Run - January 2012 - 59
Clean Run - January 2012 - 60
Clean Run - January 2012 - Hip Luxation Treatment in the Agility Dog
Clean Run - January 2012 - 62
Clean Run - January 2012 - 63
Clean Run - January 2012 - Letters
Clean Run - January 2012 - 65
Clean Run - January 2012 - 66
Clean Run - January 2012 - 67
Clean Run - January 2012 - 68
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