By Penny Leigh
This article originally appeared in AKC Family Dog magazine.
Friday nights about 20 miles outside of Chicago, people and dogs file into For Your K9 dog training school. They gather to train in the sport of agility, but they may be met with a red carpet; heart stickers to wear; or given a sticky note and asked to write down why they love their dogs.
It’s not just any class. It is the regular meeting of the school’s AKC Agility League teams, and creating community is as important as running the courses. But as team member Erin Rezmer recalls, it did not start that way.
“We run league on Fridays and, at the end of a work week and at night, we are all tired. We realized that there wasn’t much fun happening. While we all train at For Your K9, many of us didn’t know each other since we aren’t in class together,” Rezmer said. “I brought it up to other participants and our league coordinator, and all agreed that we needed to start having fun. I was asked to be the Spirit Captain.”
That role has changed the game for their league. Members still get great agility practice, but the added spirit has transformed them into a true team and turned acquaintances into friends.
“For us, having fun is important but so is building our local agility community. We couldn’t do that if we didn’t know each other,” Rezmer said. “I created different activities and themes to get to know each other. These included giving every handler a sheet of printed name labels. Before the night was over, they had to put the correct name label on the correct handler.
“Another time, I gave handlers a heart sticker to wear. The participants had to write the name of five handlers wearing a heart sticker, and each handler’s dog’s name on a sticky note that was then put on display.”
The AKC Agility League launched in spring of 2022 to introduce a team aspect to what is usually an individual sport. In agility, handlers navigate their dog through an obstacle course of jumps, tunnels, weave poles and more.
The League works much like a bowling league for agility enthusiasts. There are teams around the country who run the same courses during the same time periods, but at their local clubs or schools – or even a friend’s backyard. Captains report the scores to AKC, which calculates the rankings for teams and individual dogs.
In California’s Antelope Valley, Nancy Smith has been captain of League teams since the program started with its initial pilot program. The camaraderie that develops from being part of a team is as valuable as the benefit of the training, she said.
“A key to our team’s spirit is the ability to meet together at the same day and time weekly. Being together regularly allows us to know each other better and share handling ideas with an open mind and without criticism,” Smith said.
Adding fun events to the mix has bound them together. Her group makes team shirts and banners and takes group photos. Craft projects have produced trading cards, holiday ornaments and Halloween trinkets – all featuring their dogs.
“We recently celebrated the end of the fall season with a holiday party that included running a course shaped like a Christmas tree while carrying a full Solo cup to see who could be clean and fast with the least spillage,” Smith said.
League creates an excellent training ground for all levels of handlers and dogs to prep for competition, plus learn the jobs involved in running a trial. Even though the environment is lower pressure than a regular competition, dogs are still being timed and scored so it is not a “no pressure” situation.
“We encourage all our members to stay and help with the other teams. Our League runs all day, with Seniors and Sophomores in the morning and Freshman and Elementary in the afternoon,” said Pam Robbins, captain of teams at the Durham Kennel Club in North Carolina. “Members help with scoring, time keeping and bar setting. The more experienced folks offer advice and coaching, and everyone cheers for each other.”
Robbins said her teams appoint a hospitality chairman who plans special lunches and get-togethers, and they make sure new members – especially those new to the sport – get a warm welcome.
“We have a meet and greet day for new members and current ones. We set up typical league courses, have refreshments and show the new members how league is run. We also have a Welcome to League information letter, and each captain reaches out individually to answer any questions. “
At Stoney Run Canine Camp in Indiana, League has become an established part of the curriculum, and participants have watched handlers and dogs improve with each season.
“Being on a league team is a great feeling of fellowship. We might have different individual goals but at the end of the day we all really want to have fun with our canine companions and do our best,” said Stoney Run team member Jenny Savickas.
Adding themes with photo opportunities to the Stoney Run league meets has contributed to the fun, plus helped handlers think about why they do this sport.
“We did a radio/podcast theme, and we were interviewing our dogs. One question was, ‘How would you rate your human’s handling skills?’ It is a funny question, but it is also a little deep. What do I actually think of my handling skills? Are there areas I can improve?,” Savickas said.
“My favorite theme was right before Thanksgiving. It was a simple photo op with one main question ‘What characteristic does your dog have in the agility ring that you are thankful for?’ I think agility folks are always looking for perfection, which is wonderful – it keeps you going and getting better. But I think sometimes we need to take a step back and just look at the little things we are grateful for,” Savickas said. “Maybe your dog has a rockin’ start line stay…maybe your dog is a little slower, but is super dependable and consistent. It could just be that your dog is having the best time in the agility ring and that makes you smile!”
Back in Illinois, Spirit Captain Rezmer is always thinking about new ideas for her League’s meets. Some of her group’s favorites include:
- Opening Ceremony: The first night of league, they have an Olympics-style ceremony. Rezmer prints a sign with each handler/dog name and plays the Olympic theme while they march through the agility area.
- Music: Rezmer plays music while the teams walk the courses that are related to the night’s theme. For example, during the “Get to Know You” night, she played songs such as Getting to Know You from the musical The King and I and Who are the People in Your Neighborhood from Sesame Street.
- Love Theme: Before each competitor ran, the handler had to tell their dog they loved them.
- Be Kind: Handlers wore something that represented kindness or made them smile or happy.
- Winter: Handlers wore winter accessories, such as gloves, scarves, and hats, and had to run the indoor course wearing the garb.
- Academy Awards: AKC names the top team and individual dog placements each season. Rezmer rolls out a red carpet and hosts Oscars night. “We give out the League awards, and the handlers have to give an acceptance speech as if it were an Oscar they won.”
A major benefit of having fun – with your teammates and dogs – is that your performance in the agility ring improves. Less stress and more enjoyment equal dogs running faster and handlers trying harder. Smith, captain of the California teams, said the support continues outside of league into competitive trials that they attend together.
“This builds an environment where every team member wants the others to thrive and grow,” Smith said. “But, of course, we still try to run clean and faster than our teammates!”
For information on getting involved in AKC Agility League: https://www.akc.org/akc-agility-league/
Questions: AgilityLeague@akc.org