Agility in the UKC is a little different than agility in the other organizations. The rules are markedly different (Click here to see the UKC agility rules), but the most obvious difference is the obstacles which are unique to UKC agility. In my classically casual style, of course, I entered our first UKC trial without actually training the different obstacles!
I don't have any pictures of Elmo & Tully to demonstrate UKC agility, but fortunately, handsome Stafford mix Scrappy, owned by Christine Tholund, can demonstrate a few obstacles for us.
UKC agility is generally designed to be less stressful on the dog physically, including the jump heights. There are 3 jump heights in UKC agility, and the dog never has to jump over it's shoulder height. My dogs, like almost all Staffords, are in Division 2, which means they jump 14". Division 2 is for all dogs from 14-20 inches at the withers. This less demanding approach is seen in the obstacles for Agility I. The obstacles in that level are much the same as those in other organizations- jumps, teeter totter, tunnels, A-frame, dog walk, table. No weave poles in Agility 1, and the dog walk and A-frame are lower than those in other organizations. The one different obstacle is the hoop tunnel, which is essentially like a bunch of hula hoops linked together. It's very easy for an untrained dog to pop out the side of that tunnel, but if the handler just keeps moving forward, the dog will usually go straight through.
Agility II is where the fun begins. There are still jumps and tunnels, weave poles appear, and the different contact obstacles take the place of the familiar teeter, dog walk, and A-frame. At the top of the page, Scrappy demonstrates the sway bridge. The up and down ramps of the bridge are the contacts, which the dog must step on. I wouldn't think it possible for a Stafford-sized dog to launch itself fully over the down ramp from a moving surface, but Elmo has demonstrated that it can be done!
Here we see an interesting obstacle (the photo is a thumbnail, please click for the full-size version) This is the platform jump. Here the dog must jump onto the first platform and sit, then hop across the bar to the second platform, sit again, then continue on. Training would probably definitely help with this obstacle! The Elmo version is to be way ahead of the handler, leap onto the platform at top speed, screech to a halt when the handler yells "SIT!", about an inch away from the bar, then wait to be guided over the obstacle!
Another fun obstacle at this level is the crawl tunnel. This is a particular favorite of my dogs! The crawl tunnel is just what it sounds like. Here is a great photo of Scrappy demonstrating the crawl tunnel.
Other obstacles at this level are the swing plank, and the table is replaced by the pause box, but I don't have pictures of those.
Once a dog achieves it's UACH from Agility I and Agility II, it moves to Agility III which uses obstacles from both the previous levels, but we aren't there yet! Still, both my dogs have done well in UKC agility. New obstacles are no problem for Super Agility Staffords!
