How to Watch the 2022 AKC National Agility Championship

Agility is one of the fastest-growing dog sports in the country. It’s challenging, great fun for dog and handler, and thrilling for spectators. For the dog-human team, agility requires athleticism, concentration, training, and, most of all, teamwork. The handler directs the dog through a predetermined pattern of obstacles, including jumps, tunnels, and weave poles, while racing against the clock. They must complete the course as perfectly as possible within a specific amount of time.

Because it’s such an active sport, Agility is one of the top dog sports that people enjoy watching TV. Luckily, the 2022 AKC National Agility Championship will air multiple times so you can watch the show from home.

How Does Agility Work?

Agility is a timed and a fault sport, meaning teams gain or lose points based on several criteria. Each team starts out with 100 points. Points are deducted for every penalty: for example taking an obstacle out of sequence, displacing a panel on a jump, or leaving the pause table too soon. Teams also lose points if they exceed the time set for running the course. But you don’t have to memorize all of the rules to enjoy watching the speed, athleticism, and sheer joy of agility.

What Breeds Will I See?

What may be most surprising about agility competition is the wide variety of breeds that compete. Sure, you’d expect to see Border Collies, Shetland Sheepdogs, and Australian Shepherds. But one of the best features of agility is that it’s for every breed. All dogs run the same course; the only difference is that the jump height is adjusted to make the competition equal across all sizes and shapes of dogs. But a number of different breeds qualified to compete at this year’s 2022 AKC National Agility Championship, including a Borzoi, Great Dane, Dachshund, Old English Sheepdog, Pug, and Cardigan Welsh Corgi.