STAFFIES & AGILITY
by Susan Kleijnhans, RSA

“... a choking affinity and respect for your dog ...”

For us, it started roughly two and a half years ago when our old Staffie died of cancer and, although heart broken, we decided to replace him with a male called Tuffy, and shortly thereafter a bitch puppy called Bella. Tuffy (Enchantrix Torpedo Terror), was bred by Mrs Lorian Page and Bella (Intaglio Analyze This), was bred by Messrs John Antunes and Huntly Pringle.

We were always perturbed with the inborn aggression of the Staffie towards other animals and decided to join a puppy socialization class, in the hope that we could reduce this to a degree.

Much to our surprise, the Staffies were actually not the most aggressive in the class and they quickly became the focus of attention with their rapid learning rate and eagerness to participate and do their best.

In time, the socialization, led to obedience classes and within the first year both puppies were able to perform all the basic obedience actions as well as advanced exercises, matched only by a few peers in the other breed classes. These included down stays, where we could walk up to 100 metres away and they would remain in the down position, as well as send aways where they (especially Bella) could be sent a similar distance and then downed in a particular spot. The socialization laid such a sound foundation for the development of our Staffies’ natural, good temperament that we can now, at any given time, have our dogs off lead between 60 other socialized dogs and there would be no aggression.

While all this was happening, we were jealously observing the Border Collies, Retrievers and German Shepherds going through their paces on the Agility circuit. One day, both our Staffies simply, on their own accord, took on some of the obstacles and with great enthusiasm started making up their own courses. This obviously led us to joining the Agility classes and thus began one of the most fulfilling and stimulating adventures we have encountered with our pets.

It was clear from the start that the Staffies did not have all the natural ability of the Borders but what they marginally lacked in ability, they more than made up in enthusiasm and a willingness to give their all.

Bella was ready for competition before Tuffy (she started Agility 5 months before Tuffy) and within 4 months was selected for the Gauteng Agility Team and performed like a star at the South African Champs, only knocking one jump in the final. Tuffy already has a huge following as a result of his infectious enthusiasm and sometimes improvising the course (obviously getting disqualified in the process) but entertaining the spectators no end nevertheless. They are still improving in leaps and bounds and it is our postulate and firm belief that one of them, maybe both, could actually achieve a podium position at the World Agility Championships. All this, by a breed which is considered by the general public to be untrainable and aggressive.

In the interim, we have learned that Staffies do Agility (to a degree) in other countries, but it seems to be quite unusual here in South Africa. Having participated in the breed shows, we enjoyed the action-packed agility competitions and particularly the lack of subjectivity (of the judge), as it is a timed event, over obstacles, the winner being the dog that clears all the obstacles in correct sequence in the fastest time. Furthermore, the agility dogs need not be registered and can be crossbreeds provided that they are socialized, not aggressive and always under the owner’s control.

In our School, we have two more Staffies, Connor and Tyson that are excelling in the sport.

Agility and Dog Jumping

In short, an agility course is an obstacle course consisting of:
• Jumps (heights per the size of dog);
• Weave poles (12 in total where the dog must enter from the right only and weave its way through as fast as possible);
• Tunnels;
• A-frame (a steep up and down bridge with compulsory contact points at the start and finish);
• Dog walk (a narrow incline to roughly 1.8 metres, followed by a horizontal section and a decline, again with compulsory contact points);
• See-saw (similar narrow plank/board, supported in the middle, weighted to the one side and the skilled displacement of the dog’s weight makes it pendulum to the other side, again with compulsory contact points);
• Box (where they should pause for a given time in a “down”);
• Long jump (low obstacles spread over a horizontal distance);
• The jumps could also be improvised by adding two or three in a row to force the dog into a long jump as opposed to a high jump.

Prior to the event starting, the handler has a short given time to walk the course and imagine how he would guide his dog through this course, doing the obstacles correctly in sequence and as fast as possible – using only your voice and body as guiding mechanisms. One registers and draws lots to determine the sequence in which the dogs participate (first being the least desirable, as one does not have an opportunity to see where the others make mistakes).

Non-Contact Agility and Dog Jumping are much like the above but without the obstacles which the dog actually comes into contact with - ie, the see-saw, dog walk and A-frame. The dog jumping courses also tend be less flowing and more demanding requiring change of direction and guiding your dog not to take the obvious obstacle in front of it but rather one which is slightly off-set.

The judge designs the course and sets it up on the day and in addition to the sequence, a time limit is also imposed - eg, 3 metres/sec. This is to penalize the slower dogs that, due to their leisurely pace, always seem to do a clear round.

The Agility (Contact and Non-Contact) consists of different degrees of difficulty ranging from beginners to advanced, as well as different sizes, Small, Medium and Standard (large) classes. Agility Grade 1 is for beginners, Grade 2 for intermediate dogs and Grade 3 for advanced dogs.

Dog Jumping consists of Grade 1 to 4, where grade 2 and 4 are beginners and Grade 1 and 3 are advanced with only Small and Standard Classes.

We are aware of the following Staffies in South Africa doing Agility and Dog Jumping competitively:
• Leigh-Anne Marks and Connor from Gauteng;
• Denise Schoombee and Sally from EP;
• Sarah Donlin and Shandara from Boland; and,
• Michel Turner and Zita also from Boland.

We would like to extend an invitation to those Stafford breeders, the breed participants and other Stafford owners who enjoy strong bonds with their dogs, to supplement the breed shows with this adrenaline-filled sport - which can be frustrating, infuriating and demanding but is rewarded with huge satisfaction, exhilaration, excitement and a choking affinity and respect for your dog, when you see how they do their best for you every time.