Clean Run - January 2012 - 26

The New Obstacle Performance Standards
By Kathy Keats
© KAREN VAN HOY

A number of years ago, I researched the performance standards in agility. Now nearly a decade later it is time to see how the sport has evolved. Have the standards improved and if so, by how much? What obstacle times does your dog need to achieve in this increasingly competitive environment? The answers may surprise you. Let’s look back at data published in 2002 compared to 2010. This data is a combination of major, regional, and local events and comprises several hundred dogs, with a bias toward major and regional events and performers that are consistently at regional, national, and world events.
Large Dogs: Obstacle Performance in Seconds Obstacle 2002 Dog walk og <2.0 Elite 2010 <1.5 Very good 2010 2002 <2.5 < 1.8 Average 2010 2002 3.4 2.3

Note: Average running dogwalk = 1.5; average quick release = 1.9

A-frame -frame Teeter Weaves

1.3 1.0 2.3

1.2+ 1.0 2.3

1.7 1.4 2.8

<1.4 1.2 2.5

2.4 1.7 3.2

1.7 1.4 2.8

Another interesting observation is that, with the exception of the dogwalk, the other obstacles maximum speed has not been improved a great deal, but what these stats don’t show is the number of competitors who are now able to perform at that level. Where there may have only been a handful of dogs in the world capable of a 1.3 second A-frame back in 2002, now a 1.2 to 1.3 second A-frame is relatively common at the world level. This shows that trainers are getting near the maximum speed for the obstacles, but the training standard has been raised so that more people can achieve those maximums. Solid training methods are becoming more widespread as evidenced by the large drop in the averages of performance times. Specific Observations Something else that is worth noting is the cost in time of a quick release versus the risk of faults, especially on the dogwalk where the difference from a running to a quick release average is 0.4 of a second. The quick release on the dogwalk, even if well-timed, is substantially slower because of the dog’s decrease in speed on the down ramp; whereas a dog running is accelerating on the down ramp, and there is more length on the dogwalk ramp to take advantage of. However, there is an
Clean Run | January 12

Note: Average running A-frame = 1.24; average quick release = 1.5

Note: Average running teeter = 1.2; average quick release = 1.4

General Observations I’ve noted several interesting items from these stats, but perhaps the most obvious is that the dogwalk has made the biggest overall speed advancement in the past 10 years across the board from elite-level performance right through to overall performance expectations. However, the dogwalk is still one of the most highly faulted obstacles at regional and world events as competitors push for increased speed.
26



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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