the titles we are trying to compile and present for agility are:
Novice, Open, Excellent and Masters
all jumper classes, preferred and standard
Fast, TD2, Mach/Pach and Pax
only dogs who have ONLY agility titles are listed here. Dogs with titles in other disciplines are to be found under 2 disciplines, 3 disciplines etc.
we are listing the first for each level below Debbe's article
Novice, Open, Excellent and Masters
all jumper classes, preferred and standard
Fast, TD2, Mach/Pach and Pax
only dogs who have ONLY agility titles are listed here. Dogs with titles in other disciplines are to be found under 2 disciplines, 3 disciplines etc.
we are listing the first for each level below Debbe's article
It is my belief that the bullmastiff is a dog for all purposes. When you think of a dog going after a poacher through the woods, it is a agility course. They have to be able to jump, crawl under, weave and track. Agility and tracking should be natural for them. IMHO when you go out of standard in height and weight you create handicaps to what the original dog was designed to be and do. Tracy and I have asked different people in the performance areas to write a few words on the sport. A introduction to knowledge for any one interested in doing performance with their dog. Debbie Quadri has graciously written for agility. by Lynn Spohr
Agility: An Unusual but Rewarding Sport for Bullmastiffs
By Debbe Quadri
Even though the sport of canine agility is not one normally associated with the Bullmastiff breed, those who are able to do it find that they love it. Agility is an athletic event that requires conditioning, concentration, FUN, training, teamwork and trust—for both the dog and the handler. This popular sport involves a handler who directs the dog through a variety of obstacles such as tunnels, teeter-totters, tire jumps, weave poles, pause tables, and standard jumps. During competitive agility events, handlers navigate dogs through the course as quickly and as accurately as they can. Although this sounds pretty simple but, after 40 years of training dogs, this sport has humbled me. You can easily be fooled by watching a really good dog/handler team.
My two girls, Shiloh and Charlie, are perfect examples of two dogs of the same breed that must be worked completely differently on the course. When running my girls in agility, my strategy is to compensate for the differences in the dog's speeds, strengths and weaknesses. When preparing to run my dogs, I will walk the course differently for each one. Shiloh is older, bigger and less flexible. She also loves to please me. When she makes a mistake, all I have to say is, “Hey.” The next time she does the same move, I watch her try very hard not to make the same mistake. However, she has limitations due to her size and inability to bend. Shiloh can’t turn on a dime or slice a jump, so I need to ensure she can safely execute all of the obstacles, and I run past jumps so she can jump each one as straight as possible. We do still hit bars now and then, due to her age and weight. On the other hand, she has never missed her weaves since she learned them, and she doesn’t go off course. At the end of a run, if she is happy and having fun, we celebrate like we just won the Lotto.
Charlie is smaller, faster, flexible, more agile and enthusiastic. She can cut on a dime has no problems slicing her jumps, and I can send her out to any jumps, tunnels, or teeter-totters. The hardest issue for me to conquer was that Charlie moves so fast, I wasn’t physically prepared to be at Masters (which is the highest level); these runs were hard for me. Really good agility handlers make those runs look so easy, but your own physical abilities are tested during these events. When I first ran the difficult runs with Charlie, she was so fast I couldn’t keep up with her. I had to learn how to change up my own routine in the middle of a run if Charlie ended up in a different place than I had imagined when I walked the course. When Charlie is running an agility event, she is having a ball, and her energy and enthusiasm is contagious—even though she sometimes manages to get ahead of me. I have been very lucky to have two healthy girls that love to work and will keep working with me, no matter how many mistakes I make.
Agility is a true team sport that combines skill, training, and human-canine communication in a display that’s as fun for spectators as it is for participants. Before starting agility training, schedule a check-up with your vet to make sure your dog is physically able to participate. Breeds prone to hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia or vision problems should be carefully evaluated. For Bullmastiffs especially, you must make sure the dog is sound in structure and not “overly big.” During agility, there are many jumps, and the dogs come down with a lot of force on their front ends. Shiloh and Charlie are checked out by my orthopedic vet twice a year. Before we started training, both had x-rays done of their growth plates, hips and elbows.
At this point you may be asking yourself if this something you should consider doing with your own dog. My simple answer is, “Absolutely, yes!” There are a myriad of benefits for both you and your dog. Remember that Bullmastiffs are working dogs, so giving them a job fulfills an innate need. They are also loving companions, so the agility "work" is rewarding for them because they are with you. By working together as a pack (albeit a small one), you will strengthen the bond between you and your dog, build their dexterity and endurance, and enhance your own physical fitness, all while having a lot of fun.
By Debbe Quadri
Even though the sport of canine agility is not one normally associated with the Bullmastiff breed, those who are able to do it find that they love it. Agility is an athletic event that requires conditioning, concentration, FUN, training, teamwork and trust—for both the dog and the handler. This popular sport involves a handler who directs the dog through a variety of obstacles such as tunnels, teeter-totters, tire jumps, weave poles, pause tables, and standard jumps. During competitive agility events, handlers navigate dogs through the course as quickly and as accurately as they can. Although this sounds pretty simple but, after 40 years of training dogs, this sport has humbled me. You can easily be fooled by watching a really good dog/handler team.
My two girls, Shiloh and Charlie, are perfect examples of two dogs of the same breed that must be worked completely differently on the course. When running my girls in agility, my strategy is to compensate for the differences in the dog's speeds, strengths and weaknesses. When preparing to run my dogs, I will walk the course differently for each one. Shiloh is older, bigger and less flexible. She also loves to please me. When she makes a mistake, all I have to say is, “Hey.” The next time she does the same move, I watch her try very hard not to make the same mistake. However, she has limitations due to her size and inability to bend. Shiloh can’t turn on a dime or slice a jump, so I need to ensure she can safely execute all of the obstacles, and I run past jumps so she can jump each one as straight as possible. We do still hit bars now and then, due to her age and weight. On the other hand, she has never missed her weaves since she learned them, and she doesn’t go off course. At the end of a run, if she is happy and having fun, we celebrate like we just won the Lotto.
Charlie is smaller, faster, flexible, more agile and enthusiastic. She can cut on a dime has no problems slicing her jumps, and I can send her out to any jumps, tunnels, or teeter-totters. The hardest issue for me to conquer was that Charlie moves so fast, I wasn’t physically prepared to be at Masters (which is the highest level); these runs were hard for me. Really good agility handlers make those runs look so easy, but your own physical abilities are tested during these events. When I first ran the difficult runs with Charlie, she was so fast I couldn’t keep up with her. I had to learn how to change up my own routine in the middle of a run if Charlie ended up in a different place than I had imagined when I walked the course. When Charlie is running an agility event, she is having a ball, and her energy and enthusiasm is contagious—even though she sometimes manages to get ahead of me. I have been very lucky to have two healthy girls that love to work and will keep working with me, no matter how many mistakes I make.
Agility is a true team sport that combines skill, training, and human-canine communication in a display that’s as fun for spectators as it is for participants. Before starting agility training, schedule a check-up with your vet to make sure your dog is physically able to participate. Breeds prone to hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia or vision problems should be carefully evaluated. For Bullmastiffs especially, you must make sure the dog is sound in structure and not “overly big.” During agility, there are many jumps, and the dogs come down with a lot of force on their front ends. Shiloh and Charlie are checked out by my orthopedic vet twice a year. Before we started training, both had x-rays done of their growth plates, hips and elbows.
At this point you may be asking yourself if this something you should consider doing with your own dog. My simple answer is, “Absolutely, yes!” There are a myriad of benefits for both you and your dog. Remember that Bullmastiffs are working dogs, so giving them a job fulfills an innate need. They are also loving companions, so the agility "work" is rewarding for them because they are with you. By working together as a pack (albeit a small one), you will strengthen the bond between you and your dog, build their dexterity and endurance, and enhance your own physical fitness, all while having a lot of fun.
Agility , to go to agility titles click here. Titles 2018
The first agility title was earned by Tauralan Tequila Sunrise NA WP455192041 Female Red Fawn
she titled on 1/1/1995 and was owned by Mona L Webb, bred by Kevin Ryan and Carol Beans
CH Tauralan Thomas Magnum WG208753 X CH Tauralan Velvet Touch WG156997
she titled on 1/1/1995 and was owned by Mona L Webb, bred by Kevin Ryan and Carol Beans
CH Tauralan Thomas Magnum WG208753 X CH Tauralan Velvet Touch WG156997
first open title
first excellent title
Chairman & webmistress: Lynn Spohr. data management: Lori Baker. awards: Tracy Jones
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