Agility Learning Indiana

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Agility Learning Indiana

Dogs of all shapes and sizes can compete in agility.

In times past, Indiana was playfully referred to as the "black hole" of agility. The Agility Club of Indianapolis rectified the lack of training or competition opportunities in the Crossroads State, and brought a slew of fun with it. Agility is a fast-paced, furiously fun canine sport requiring stellar communication between handler and dog. Indianapolis now abounds with agility training and competition opportunities, not to mention pure, clean, fun.

Training Centers

There are two centers in Indianapolis to help you train and condition your canine athlete for the grueling, fast-paced sport of agility. The first is a canine sports center, which means it trains for sports beyond agility, such as obedience, rally-o, confirmation, freestyle and disc dog. It's called Pawsitive Partners Dog Training Center (PPDTC), and they can be contacted at 317-781-7782. PPDTC uses a team of trainers to ensure that you and your four-legged partner get a well-rounded education. About an hour south, another canine sports center is located in Columbus, Ind. Pawsitive Energy offers training classes in obedience starting at the puppy level and progressing through competition preparation and in all levels of obedience. Pawsitive Energy also uses the team training approach.

Clubs

This Belgian shepherd jumps through a make-shift tire jump.

A club differs from a center in that it doesn't provide its own equipment and a location to train. The club brings like-minded people together so that they can discuss, train and compete together. The premier agility club in Indianapolis is, originally enough, the Agility Club of Indianapolis (ACI). They're the only group in Indy certified by the American Kennel Club to offer AKC-sanctioned trials. They often hold meets at Pawsitive Partners Dog Training Center, also located in Indianapolis. ACI does have membership requirements, such as taking two agility classes and volunteering at a trial sometime throughout the year. Flying Paws Agility Club is located in southern Indiana (Bloomington) and is another local group that travels, trains and competes together. Flying Paws does own a few pieces of equipment and is working on purchasing more all the time.

On Your Own

This border collie is intensely focused on his goal, the next obstacle.

If you decide to train your dog yourself, resources abound in Indy that allow you to do so. There are several dog parks that offer agility equipment for public use. Four Paws Dog Park offers every piece of sanctioned agility equipment, including hoops, tunnels, hurdles and beams. They're located in Greenwood, directly off of Main Street. There is an annual access fee. The Indianapolis Humane Society Dog Park requires a membership fee and offers an agility ring as well. All dogs must have up-to-date vaccinations. At Eagle Creek Park, there is a 10-acre Canine Fun Zone. The Fun Zone is located off of High School Street and must be accessed with a gate card.

Competition

There are ample opportunities to compete in Indianapolis via the canine sports centers and the clubs. Many are registered with a variety of agility organizations, although some specialize in one type of agility. The Agility Club of Indianapolis offers two AKC trials a year, Pawsitive Partners offers four trials, and the other clubs schedule them on an "as-able" basis.

Caring for Your Agility Dog

While there are no special programs to help you fund your agility dog's care, there are vaccination clinics available. Members of the agility clubs often receive discounts on dog food, training equipment, or toys while at competitions.

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