All About Agility [Paperback]

Jacqueline O'Neil (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 15, 1999

Would you like to build a better bond with your dog? Make new friends? Travel to new places? Accept new challenges? You can do it all through the sport of agility. Agility blends desire, control training and athletic ability into a rip-roaring good time. All healthy dogs can enjoy agility work, releasing their energy constructively and learning how to be under control even when they're in high spirits. All About Agility explains how to get involved in this exciting canine sport, including training tips for every challenge on the course. Learn how the sport has evolved, how the courses differ in different organizations and what the rules and titles are. Find out what to expect at a competition and how to prepare. Get training tips from the top pros, including:

• Stuart Mah
• S. Shane McConnell
• Harry and Pat Guticz
• Mike Bond
• Richard Budny

The Revised Edition includes the new AKC Jumpers With Weaves classes, revised USDAA jump heights and all the latest information on the fastest-growing sport in the canine world.

"Written in an easily readable, upbeat style, this book has much to offer both the agility novice and the experienced competitor…Chances are you will be tempted to start out as soon as you can with your own agility star." —AKC Gazette

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Would you like to build a better bond with your dog? Make new friends? Travel to new places? Accept new challenges? You can do it all through the sport of agility. Agility blends desire, control training and athletic ability into a rip-roaring good time. All healthy dogs can enjoy agility work, releasing their energy constructively and learning how to be under control even when they're in high spirits. All About Agility explains how to get involved in this exciting canine sport, including training tips for every challenge on the course. Learn how the sport has evolved, how the courses differ in different organizations and what the rules and titles are. Find out what to expect at a competition and how to prepare. Get training tips from the top pros, including:

• Stuart Mah
• S. Shane McConnell
• Harry and Pat Guticz
• Mike Bond
• Richard Budny

The Revised Edition includes the new AKC Jumpers With Weaves classes, revised USDAA jump heights and all the latest information on the fastest-growing sport in the canine world.

"Written in an easily readable, upbeat style, this book has much to offer both the agility novice and the experienced competitor…Chances are you will be tempted to start out as soon as you can with your own agility star." —AKC Gazette

About the Author

Jacqueline O'Neil is the Performance columnist for the AKC Gazette.She also wrote The Ultimate American Pit Bull Terrier, Kids + Dogs = Fun and Second Start by Howell.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Howell Book House; Revised Edition edition (November 15, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1582451230
• ISBN-13: 978-1582451237
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 5.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,916,813 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gotta read this book if you are thinking about doing agility, February 28, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: All About Agility (Hardcover)

This book is wonderfull for people just getting started in the sport of agility.It covers everything you need to know like the different organizations, training, and basicaly everything you need to know before realy thinking about doing agility with Beau.This book is great,it answered all of my questions and I'm sure it'll answer all of yours.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Only an Introduction..., March 6, 2004

By 

Amanda Eaton "Jack Russells rule!!!" (Custer Park, IL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: All About Agility (Paperback)

All About Agility is tastefully written book which is exactly as the title says... all about agility! This book covers the basics, like the origin and history of agility, along with the organizations, titles, and rules. It focuses on AKC, UKC, and USDAA mainly, but mentions NADAC in passing.

After a history lesson and the rules of engagement, the author goes on to a section on teaching the individual obstacles. I was a little disappointed in the "bare-bones" guide, but like I said it is a great introduction to the sport. She thoroughly covers each obstacle, how to teach it, and how to solve problems you may encounter. She tends to present only her method and not mention other possibilities (as in the weaves or teeter) but her methods are safe and effective so it isn't too much of a concern.

Good Points for this book:
· "Training Tips from the Pros" section is really helpful, especially for the beginner
· Includes a guide to events and your first trial
· Also introduces a few other ideas for fun with fido, such as flyball and therapy work
· Has a VERY complete listing of organizations, agility equipment suppliers, agility/flyball clubs, and therapy dog associations in the US and Canada

Flaws/negative comments:
· In general, a little surfacy. There is no talk of training for excellence and drilling. It's very "just-for-fun" oriented
· NO sequence work is introduced. That would be fine if there was a sequel, but there isn't!
· No course diagrams, proofing diagrams, or handling/body cue examples.
· Really needs an instructor's guidance to achieve any training

This book is not the best, but by far not the worst! It is a great introduction for those who are thinking about agility as a "fun thing to do" or a new hobby. It clearly outlines the basics for those with absolutely no experience and is an encouragement to join a class and learn more! It is sure to hook some new agility fanatics!

25 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Nice introduction to the sport, but not much more., August 27, 1998

By 

Mary Jo Sminkey "dog trainer and web programmer" (Durham, NC USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: All About Agility (Hardcover)

This is a nice book for someone looking to get into agility. Lots of good photos, and information on the obstacles, the various organizations, etc. Good information on preparing to go to your first show. Not much here for the experienced competitor.