I don’t know about you, but I’m not all that athletic. That said, though, I know that there are a lot of people who just love doing agility training with their dogs.
I’m given to understand that it’s a pretty intense sport, in which the talents of both dogs and handlers are very much put to the test.
Dogs race against the clock, owners ask their dogs to perform all manner of exercises, and spectators just love it.
What Dogs Are Good at Agility?
Pretty much any dog that has working breeds in his background can excel at agility. Of course, some breeds are better suited, but it’s often surprising how many breeds and breed mixes end up doing really well.
Most of the time, any physically active dog can do well in agility training. Really good agility dogs simply have a desire to compete and to win.
Still, there are some breeds that are better than others. Just as an example, English Mastiffs are typically lazy. So are Great Danes. So are other dogs that have to breathe heavily when exercising. Short-legged dogs, too, might have trouble with agility training. Some dogs get bored easily, and are not suited to agility training.
Whether your dog is well-suited to agility training can also, of course, depend on his age. Older dogs typically prefer to snuggle, not to compete. So, with that in mind, let’s take a look at the dogs that are best suited to agility training.
1. Border Collie
Of all the dogs that might participate in agility training, the Border Collie is one of the best. They’re natural herders, can work from a distance, and just generally rock it when it comes to agility.
2. Jack Russell Terrier
These dogs are well-known for agility. They’re strong and able to stand up to a lot of punishment, clever and tenacious and very focused.
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3. Papillon
Yeah, I know, the “butterfly” dogs. You might be surprised, though, at how well these dogs respond to agility. They are utterly fearless, and they want to win.
4. Rat Terrier
These are tough little dogs, and they just want to win all the time. If you can tame their instincts, you’ll be surprised at how quickly they’ll catch onto agility training.
5. German Shepherd
These are big, brave, bold dogs. They also bond very quickly to their owners and they’re very trainable.
6. Australian Shepherd
This is another dog that is wonderful when it comes to agility. They’re beyond energetic, and if properly trained, have an incredible bond with their handler.
7. Poodle
I know; you’re saying “Yeah, sure.” But the fact is that Standard Poodles are amazingly intelligent, very trainable, and easily shown how to navigate agility training. They’re actually very athletic, and often come out on top in agility trials.
8. Australian Kelpie
These dogs are beyond tough – lightly built, but very strong. They’re also very smart and learn fast, so whatever you want them to do, they’ll get it done.
9. Shetland Sheepdog
These are little herding dogs. They look a fair bit like border collies but are bit bigger. They’re smart and pick up on cues easily.
10. Pembroke Welsh Corgi
These are small dogs, but they’re great runners. Very good for agility.
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The Final Word
There are many dogs that are good for agility trials. We’ve just talked about some of them. The main thing, though, is that agility trials should be fun for you and your dog.