By Penny Leigh
(This article first appeared in the May/June 2024 issue of AKC Family Dog magazine).
The purchase of a new puppy and the promise of a new sport had Sarah Kolath excited about the future. She trained dogs for 4H obedience competitions as a teen-ager and was ready to re-launch her dog training adventures.
She felt her new English Cocker Spaniel had potential to excel in agility – a sport she had not tried but watched at her local AKC club. And Tansy proved to have the right stuff to tackle the dog obstacle courses – just with a different handler.
Sarah’s daughter, 12-year-old Elizabeth Kolath, became very excited about agility and, even though family friends let her run their dogs, wanted a dog of her own.
“So, I ended up giving her my dog pretty early in her training,” Sarah said.
Elizabeth and Tansy have earned many titles in AKC Agility, and Sarah is still enjoying a new sport by helping youth become successful in agility. She has taken on the role of captain of the AKC Agility League teams at the Amarillo Obedience Training Club in Texas.
The AKC Agility League, which started in May 2022, features agility teams located around the country, including Hawaii, Alaska and Puerto Rico. The teams, composed of 3 to 8 dogs, run on their home fields on courses designed for their skill levels. Captains report the scores, and AKC produces the rankings for teams and dogs, but also junior handlers – a class for youth younger than 18 years.
Sarah’s current teams, Bomb City Ringleaders and Bomb City Ringleaders Too, have several junior handlers, ranging in age from 9 to 16, on the rosters, and Sarah said the program develops the future of the sport.
“The League is perfect for training young handlers. Running League courses helps them to consistently get practice with their dogs and keeps them motivated and having fun. League is also a more relaxed setting than trials and is a good way to introduce both the handlers and dogs to a low-pressure, trial-like setting,” Sarah said.
“I’ve seen the juniors on our teams grow in confidence and their enthusiasm for the sport. Additionally, they learn to work as a team and encourage one another. Likewise, they receive valuable encouragement, mentorship, and camaraderie from their older, more experienced teammates.”
Her daughter, Elizabeth, now 16, has not only excelled at running Tansy in agility, but had the opportunity to compete with other dogs. When her friend had surgery, Elizabeth took over the running of her dog, a Golden Retriever, for a League season.
“I enjoy everything about Agility League, but my favorite part is the community that it creates. I love getting to see all my friends out at the agility field and not just at a class or a trial,” Elizabeth said. “Everyone helps each other if you are having trouble with the course and cheers you on when you finish.”
Even though League is low-pressure, it is not “no pressure” as handlers are being timed, judged and scored.
“Agility League is a terrific way to introduce your dog to a trial-like setting, because people are standing around the field, there are dogs barking, and you as the handler are a little nervous,” Elizabeth said.
In Florida, dog trainer and mother Ashley Escobar also is taking advantage of the League to get youth interested in agility and prepared to enter trials. Her team, Wiggle Butts Crew, is composed entirely of junior handlers, ages 8 to 15, and every member runs an Australian Shepherd.
“This has been a fabulous way to transition my juniors into competition. We treat the runs as a trial; they get accustomed to walking with adults, finding lines and discussing handling options before we ever run the dogs,” Ashley said. “I have seen so much growth and progress among my juniors through these League seasons. I am thrilled AKC has something like this in place where we can encourage their participation while being in the comfort of their home field. “
Twelve-year-old Selah Pickett runs her Aussie, Shula, on the Wiggle Butts Crew at Ashley’s training center – Ashley’s Dog Sports in Jacksonville, FL.
“Almost two years ago, I started agility. It was hard at the beginning. Then my mom found me a trainer, Mrs. Ashley, and we learned a lot,” Selah said. “I like running in the League because I get to push my handling, and Mrs. Ashley tells me to run faster. It allows me to practice my skills and grow as a team with my dog.”
Ashley’s son, 11-year-old Mason Escobar, also is part of the Wiggle Butts Crew with his Aussie, Jet.
“I love doing anything with my dog. We are better now with running hard courses than we were when we first started, so I would say we have won,” Mason said.
Not only does League hone handling skills, it provides training in many other aspects of the sport. Teams work together to provide all manpower for the League meets, including course building, timing and keeping score. Sarah said her daughter Elizabeth has taken on new roles as a result.
“Elizabeth has been chief course builder, with an adult, for our club for the last three or four trials. For our upcoming trial, she is co-chairperson, with an adult, and her and my husband are likely going to be chief course builders again,” Sarah said. “The agility community being willing to mentor our kids has been crucial in helping us learn and be involved in the sport.”
At the end of each League 12-week season, the top teams, dogs and junior handlers are announced and rewarded with special awards. Every junior handler receives a prize and a ribbon, regardless of their placement for the season.
“We love how AKC posts results. We get to see how our team is doing and how each individual dog/handler is doing, round-by-round,” said Stacey Chase, whose daughters Ava, 12, and Claire, 9, play on the Bomb City teams in Texas. “It is exciting to be able to see that we are competing against another team halfway across the United States or even against teams in other areas of our own state – what a brilliant way to do that from the comfort of our home!”
Coaching youth in the sport is the best way to ensure agility has a strong future, both captains Sarah and Ashley agree.
“I would strongly encourage others with juniors to look into participating in this league program,” Ashley said. “It’s a fun, friendly competition, and the juniors look forward to it!”
- For more information on the League: https://www.akc.org/akc-agility-league/
- Questions: AgilityLeague@akc.org