This week I’m bringing you a three-part series on what to expect at your first agility show. Competing can be great fun, but it’s always daunting to start something new when you don’t know the dos and don’ts. I hope these guides help you to have an enjoyable debut with your dog.
The Basics
- Your dog. I can tell you from first-hand experience that in a multi-dog household, it is actually possible to leave home minus one of the dogs you were planning to compete with…
- Collar with no tags. The only collars allowed in the agility ring are flat collars with one D-ring no attachments. This means no slip or martingale type collars, and no council or contact info tags. If your collar doesn’t meet the rules, you can either take it off before each run, or keep a dedicated collar that you put on for agility shows. Some people like to swap collars the night before so that there’s one less thing to do on the morning of the show.
- Dog treats in a sturdy container. If you want to use treats, these need to be in a container that is at least casually dogproof, like a small Tupperware container or a pill bottle. Please don’t bring treats in soft plastic packaging, or leave loose treats lying around unattended. Remember that some agility dogs have dietary restrictions or medical conditions (including my dog Able) – you don’t want to make a dog sick!
- Dog toys. If your dog prefers toys to treats, don’t forget to pack her favourite agility toys.
- Your shoes. I always keep three sets of shoes in my car – a pair of sneakers for fine days, a pair soccer/touch/rugby shoes for muddy days, and a pair of gumboots for the really bad days. I don’t feel safe running in gumboots but at least I can wear them in between runs to keep my feet dry.
- Water and a bowl. Dogs should always have access to water while they’re waiting in the car.
- Poo bags. More than you think you’ll need.
- A copy of the schedule. Either on your phone or a paper copy. Your day will go more smoothly if you know which classes are in which ring when.
Preparing for the Weather
- Sun protection. Sunblock and a hat, so you can slip slop slap.
- Rain protection. An umbrella, gumboots, a waterproof coat, and a jersey. I always pack a spare pair of socks for the drive home too.
- A crate for your dog. This is one of the most important things that is often overlooked by new competitors. At the show you won’t be allowed to leave your dog tied up unsupervised, either to the car or near the show rings. This means you need to be able to keep your dog confined in your car for at least some of the day. On a hot day, the safest way to do that is with a crate (or cargo barriers if you have them set up in your car), so that you can open lots of doors and windows for fresh air.
- Dog towels. On a wet day, you can use them to dry your dog off. On a hot day, you can hang them over the crate to keep your dog out of direct sunlight, which brings me to my next point…
- Canine sun protection. It isn’t always possible to park in the shade. My favourite two gadgets to keep my dogs cool are a silver shade cloth (purchased from Shine Pets), and some small USB-chargable fans that I can pop into my dogs’ crates on the hottest days.
Packing for Yourself
- Cash. Agility shows, like Timaru District Council parking meters, run almost exclusively on cash. The host club will likely have catering and raffles for you to spend on, and if it’s a ribbon trial you’ll also need to pay for your entries. And if you’re really lucky Mr Whippy might make an appearance. Bring $20/person/day plus enough to cover your entries – prices are pretty cheap so this will be more than enough.
- Food and snacks. This depends on your dietary needs and preferences. Dog show catering hasn’t changed a lot in the 25 years I’ve been competing. The usual lunch is a pie, a pot of hot chips, a piece of cake or a slice, and a can of fizzy to wash it down. In the last few years some clubs have started booking coffee carts for their shows, but often you’ll be drinking instant. If you want/need to eat something else, or the host club isn’t providing catering, it’s best to BYO.
- A deck chair. It’s not uncommon to spend 6-8 hours at an agility show for 3 minutes of actual competing. Might as well have somewhere comfy to sit while you wait.
- A notebook – or a friend to video you. You don’t have to be too formal about it, but it’s a good idea to take some notes after each run so that you can remember what went right and what you need to improve on. A video is even better!
This post is the first of a 3-part series about what to expect at your first agility show. Stay tuned for part 2 soon.