Dog Agility Size Limit

No there isn’t a size limit in dog agility with the exception of being able to fit into the tunnel or drop the teeter. If a Great Dane can manage, just about any dog can. And while a two pound chihuahua may not drop a regular venue, they can still compete in TDAA competitions. There are still issues that arise when competing with small and large breeds and here are a few of your stories and how you overcame your problems.

Rexene says:

I do agility with my Boston Terrier, Max. We have done several CPE trials and just finished our last “Q” we needed for the entire level 1 and received our first “Q” in level 2 Standard. Max loves agility. He is very fast and it is hard to always keep up with him. Our biggest problem is he periodically wanders a bit before taking the next obstacle. Oh, and another big problem, if he gets the opportunity, sees his leash, he runs right to it and proceeds to run all over the course with it! He is known as the class clown and some people have called him turbo Max at the trials. These two things are frustrating to me because he knows how to do all of the obstacles. We just started doing trials this April.

Ay Chiwawa

I am just starting agility with my Chihuahuas. My first dog, Rosie, just finished basic, and is now in intermediate. She took to it right away, but she loves doing tricks, so I think the light bulb came on early. She seems to really enjoy it and is going into her first trial May 3rd. So many people with tiny dogs don’t ever do anything with them…and they just live inside and sleep on couches and beds. My friend just got a rescue Chihuahua who is 1 1/2, and had never been on a leash, never been outside AT ALL (used piddle pads in an apartment), and is now learning agility! When she got this dog, it never left it’s bed unless you picked it up…such strange behavior for such a young dog. Just didn’t know there was a whole world of fun out there. It is fun watching the transformation of a scared little dog to one confidently jumping over the jump or going through the tunnel.

The only problem I’ve encountered so far with my own Chihuahua is her getting through the chute quickly if the wind has blown the fabric around. She tends to get stuck up in the fabric and really has to push hard to get all the way out. She must think it is like the blanket being tucked in at the end of the bed, so she sometimes turns around in frustration and comes back out the wrong way. I have to send her back in and loosen up the fabric so she can get through. Other than that, we are still learning, so I’m sure as the obstacles become more challenging I will be writing in for help! This is such a fun sport, I’m glad we tried it! Builds such a great bond with your dog, and they love doing it. It doesn’t get any better than that….fun and food! Doggie heaven!

TeamBlue says:

I do agility with my Boston Terrier (we are still in training) and love cheering on the “other black and white agility dog”s out there, despite also running a border collie and one day I hope my new baby GSD will be one of those larger breeds burning up the course.

Flying Bichon says:

I do agility with my Bichon Frise. Our biggest obstacle is having people take us serious when we show up at a trial. People who have not seen my speed demon wild child run a course before they give us side way looks. I have even had people asked us if we were at the trial to watch. Jokes on them! My little guy may be adorable but he is a hard core athelete who loves to run, jump and weave!

Kathleen320 says:

I have two small long-haired female dachshunds and both have tried agility classes. One girl is very althetic and we continue with her classes, which are just for fun and not competition. The other girl doesn’t have the aptitude or interest, and we decided she would be the agility “mascot.” (The one obstacle she loves is the tunnel, though, probably because it was the first thing that I introduced to her.)

joanna b. says:

I have a bloodhound who LOVES to do agility. We have a course set up in the backyard, and when she gets excited, she will grab a toy and do a lap over her jumps just ’cause she wants to! She will never win any speed contests (she plods her way through the weave poles), but that’s okay as long as she is having fun.

NCIsraeliSpeed

My (very stubborn) long-hair mini doxie does agility. Not competition, but for fun. Of course, he doesn’t really do it well, but he can do it. The biggest challenge I have with a small dog is making sure they don’t crawl under the jump. (He kept doing this for the longest time, and still will when he gets bored with it!) All you have to do is take a blanket and toss it over the bar. It worked for Bowser, but I’m not sure if another dog would figure out he could push through it.