Sweetbay's Agility Dogs
Sweetbay has long been
known for its extraordinary working dogs, dogs who excel
in obedience, tracking, carting, and water rescue. And
now they are making a name for themselves in agility.
Dog agility was
developed in England in 1978 as a bit of entertainment
for the crowds who attended the famous Crufts dog shows.
Much like commercials break up conventional television
episodes, short agility segments separated each of the
major judging segments at the end of a dog show. Not
surprisingly, dogs flying over high jumps and charging
through tunnels and slaloming left/right/left/right
through a series of weave poles caught the spectators'
fancy. Caught on so quickly that the sport became a
full-fledged event in its own right. And it wasn't long
before agility spread through Europe, and then to the
U.S.
Five primary agencies
sponsor agility trials in the United States. Each has its
own rules, time limits, and equipment specifications. The
American Kennel Club resisted at first, but in the face
of such stupendous popularity, it joined the fun in 1994.
Agility most closely
resembles an equestrian event, where horses leap various
jumps in a set order, and try for a clean run (no faults)
in the shortest amount of time. However, unlike horse
events, the handler works at a distance from his dog. He
cannot cue him physically. The dog is off lead, and the
handler may not touch or guide him in any way. He is
allowed only verbal commands and hand signals.
A skilled dog needs a
good handler to do well at agility. It is an event that
requires extraordinary teamwork. In dog agility, a
handler directs his dog over a pre-determined course of
obstacles, obstacles that are far more varied than horse
jumps. You'll see dogs negotiating a teeter totter. Then
racing up an A-frame (a steeply slanted sandwich board
that the dog must scramble up and then go safely down the
other side). The dog walk is a canine version of a
balance beam, a long narrow plank high off the ground,
and dogs racing across the narrow board draw first gasps
and then applause from spectators. Jumps are broad or
high, and sometimes both at once. Only one element
requires a total lack of speed: a pause table, much like
a square coffee table, where the dog jumps up and then
sits or lies down and stays for five seconds, before
being allowed to resume the racing game.
Not only must a dog
negotiate all these elements in the proper order, but
there is a time limit, and speed is essential. The day of
the trial, the judge determines the order the obstacles
will be run. Unlike most dog sports, where the exercises
are always performed in the same order, each course is
unique. The handler is given only a brief walk-through
beforehand to familiarize himself with the course, and to
work out his handling strategy. The judge watches the dog
and handler work, noting any faults, and determining if
they are minor (points off) or major (a
disqualification).
A dog who earns a
qualifying score gets a "leg" toward his title.
A dog must pass at a particular level at three separate
shows (i.e. three legs) to be awarded a title.
Agility enthusiasts
are obsessed with the sport. They joke that they drive
five hours to get to a trial, wait six more hours for
their turn, and then have 55 seconds in the ring, and
it's all over for the day! This sport would have to be
great fun to have so many devotees, and you better
believe it is. Spectators whoop and holler during each
dog's run, and the dogs are energized by the crowd. At
its best, it is awesome.
There are multiple
levels to agility. For instance, in the American Kennel
Club version, a dog and handler team begins with Novice
agility, hoping to earn an NA title. Open agility (OA) is
next, following by Agility Excellent (AX), and finally
Master Agility Excellent (MX). Each successive level adds
more obstacles and at the same time markedly decreases
the time the dog is allowed to navigate the course.
In most dog sports, each new level consists of brand new
exercises. In agility, the actual obstacles remain the
same, and the physical act of running the course is
identical. But each successive level adds several more
obstacles to the course you must complete - and at the
same time markedly decreases the time the dog has to
complete it.
This is a top speed sport. Most dogs can move faster than
their owners, and truly great agility dogs are blazingly
fast. Good handlers learn to direct from afar, and master
complex handling skills to guide the dogs using precise
body cues. At its best, high level agility is magical,
and the best handlers appear to guide their dogs through
subliminal mental connections.
It was originally thought that this sport would be out of
the question for the giant breeds. But make no mistake,
Newfoundlands can and do compete at the highest levels.
Sweetbay is proud to be in the forefront of this new and
exciting dog sport.
For
an explanation of the title abbreviations, click here.
AKC Novice
Standard Agility:
Sweetbay’s Aurora CD MX MXJ AXP AJP OFP NFP WD
(NF-7502, EL-1660) (NF-7502, EL-1660) – Anna
Lewandowski
Sweetbay's Cutter AmCanCD AmCanTD NA WD AmCanDD (NF-5354)
- Gary & Frosti Lange
WA Sweetbay’s Gusto UDT WRDX TDD OA OAJ (VCD2)
(NF-7523) – Ann Dunnigan
Sweetbay's Michaela NA - Kim Acton
AKC Novice Standard Agility, Preferred:
Sweetbay’s Aurora CD MX MXJ AXP AJP OFP NFP WD
(NF-7502, EL-1660)(NF-7502, EL-1660) – Anna
Lewandowski
SpCH Sweetbay’s Lyric CD TDX RE WRD OAP OJP OFP
(VCD1) OAC EGC OJC TNE TGO WVO UAG1 CSL3-F CSL3-R CSL3-S
CSL3-H (NF-7437, EL-1624) – Lois Apfel
AKC Novice Agility Jumpers With Weaves:
Sweetbay’s Aurora CD MX MXJ AXP AJP OFP NFP WD
(NF-7502, EL-1660) (NF-7502, EL-1660) – Anna
Lewandowski
WA Sweetbays Caspian CDX BN RE NAP NJP WRD DDX (NF-11317,
EL-4881)-Terri Desnica
WA Sweetbay’s Gusto UDT WRDX TDD OA OAJ (VCD2)
(NF-7523) – Ann Dunnigan
AKC Novice Agility Jumpers With Weaves,
Preferred.
Sweetbay’s Aurora CD MX MXJ AXP AJP OFP NFP
WD (NF-7502, EL-1660)(NF-7502, EL-1660) – Anna
Lewandowski
WA Sweetbays Caspian CDX BN RE NAP NJP WRD DDX
(NF-11317, EL-4881)-Terri Desnica
SpCH Sweetbay’s Lyric CD TDX RE WRD OAP OJP
OFP (VCD1) OAC EGC OJC TNE TGO WVO UAG1 CSL3-F CSL3-R
CSL3-S CSL3-H (NF-7437, EL-1624)
– Lois Apfel
WA Sweetbay’s Ruca CDX RE WRD TDD NAP NJP,
(EL-4152)-Sue Raney
AKC Open Agility Standard Dogs:
Sweetbay's Annapolis CDX WRD DD OA NAJ (EL761) - Kathy
Robbins
Sweetbay’s Aurora CD MX MXJ AXP AJP OFP NFP WD
(NF-7502, EL-1660) (NF-7502, EL-1660) – Anna
Lewandowski
Sweetbay's Bosco CDX TDX OA (NF-3881, EL529) - Ann
Dunnigan
Sweetbay's Chesapeake CD OA OAJ WD TDD (NF-5127, EL321) -
George Brown
WA Sweetbay’s Gusto UDT WRDX TDD OA OAJ (VCD2)
(NF-7523) – Ann Dunnigan
AKC Open Standard Preferred Agility:
Sweetbay’s Aurora CD MX MXJ AXP AJP OFP NFP
WD (NF-7502, EL-1660)(NF-7502, EL-1660) – Anna
Lewandowski
SpCH Sweetbay’s Lyric CD TDX RE WRD OAP OJP
OFP (VCD1) OAC EGC OJC TNE TGO WVO UAG1 CSL3-F CSL3-R
CSL3-S CSL3-H (NF-7437, EL-1624) – Lois Apfel
AKC Open Agility Jumpers With Weaves Dogs:
Sweetbay's Annapolis CDX WRD DD OA NAJ (EL761) - Kathy
Robbins
Sweetbay’s Aurora CD MX MXJ AXP AJP OFP NFP WD
(NF-7502, EL-1660)(NF-7502, EL-1660) – Anna
Lewandowski
Sweetbay's Chesapeake CD OA OAJ WRD TDD (NF-5127, EL321)
- George Brown
WA Sweetbay’s Gusto UDT WRDX TDD OA OAJ (VCD2)
(NF-7523) – Ann Dunnigan
AKC Open Jumpers With Weaves Preferred
Agility:
Sweetbay’s Aurora CD MX MXJ AXP AJP OFP NFP WD
(NF-7502, EL-1660)(NF-7502, EL-1660) – Anna
Lewandowski
SpCH Sweetbay’s Lyric CD TDX RE WRD
OAP OJP OFP (VCD1) OAC EGC OJC TNE TGO WVO UAG1 CSL3-F
CSL3-R CSL3-S CSL3-H (NF-7437,
EL-1624) – Lois Apfel
AKC Excellent Agility Standard Dogs:
Sweetbay’s Aurora CD MX MXJ AXP AJP OFP NFP
WD (NF-7502, EL-1660) (NF-7502, EL-1660) – Anna
Lewandowski
AKC Excellent Agility Jumpers With Weaves Dogs:
Sweetbay’s Aurora CD MX MXJ AXP AJP OFP NFP
WD (NF-7502, EL-1660) (NF-7502, EL-1660) – Anna
Lewandowski
AKC Excellent Standard Preferred Agility
Sweetbay’s Aurora CD MX MXJ AXP AJP OFP NFP
WD (NF-7502, EL-1660) (NF-7502, EL-1660) – Anna
Lewandowski
AKC Excellent Jumpers With Weaves Preferred Agility
Sweetbay’s Aurora CD MX MXJ AXP AJP OFP NFP
WD (NF-7502, EL-1660) (NF-7502, EL-1660) – Anna
Lewandowski
AKC Masters Agility Standard Dogs:
Sweetbay’s Aurora CD MX MXJ AXP AJP OFP NFP
WD (NF-7502, EL-1660)(NF-7502, EL-1660) – Anna
Lewandowski
AKC Masters Agility Jumpers With Weaves Dogs:
Sweetbay’s Aurora CD MX MXJ AXP AJP OFP NFP
WD (NF-7502, EL-1660)(NF-7502, EL-1660) – Anna
Lewandowski
AKC FAST (Fifteen and Send Time) Novice Agility Dogs
Sweetbay’s Aurora CD MX MXJ NA-P NAJ-P FN
WD (NF-7502, EL-1660) – Anna Lewandowski
AKC FAST (Fifteen and Send Time) Novice Preferred Agility
Dogs:
Sweetbay’s Aurora CD MX MXJ NA-P NAJ-P FN
WD (NF-7502, EL-1660) – Anna Lewandowski
SpCH Sweetbay’s Lyric CD TDX RE WRD OAP OJP
OFP (VCD1) OAC EGC OJC TNE TGO WVO UAG1 CSL3-F CSL3-R
CSL3-S CSL3-H (NF-7437, EL-1624) – Lois Apfel
AKC FAST (Fifteen and Send Time) Open Agility Dogs
SpCH Sweetbay’s Lyric CD TDX RE WRD OAP OJP
OFP (VCD1) OAC EGC OJC TNE TGO WVO UAG1 CSL3-F CSL3-R
CSL3-S CSL3-H (NF-7437, EL-1624) – Lois Apfel
AKC FAST (Fifteen and Send Time) Open Agility Preferred
Dogs
Sweetbay’s Aurora CD MX MXJ NA-P NAJ-P FN
WD (NF-7502, EL-1660) – Anna Lewandowski
NADAC Novice Agility Standard:
SpCH Sweetbay’s Lyric CD TDX RE WRD OAP OJP
OFP (VCD1) OAC EGC OJC TNE TGO WVO UAG1 CSL3-F CSL3-R
CSL3-S CSL3-H (NF-7437, EL-1624) – Lois Apfel
NADAC Novice Jumpers Certificate:
Sweetbay's Lea CD TD NJC (OFA NF-6506, EL-1005)
– Barbara Adams
NADAC Novice Jumpers Certificate, Veterans:
SpCH Sweetbay’s Lyric CD TDX RE WRD OAP OJP
OFP (VCD1) OAC EGC OJC TNE TGO WVO UAG1 CSL3-F CSL3-R
CSL3-S CSL3-H (NF-7437, EL-1624) – Lois Apfel
NADAC Open Jumpers Certificate, Veterans
SpCH Sweetbay’s Lyric CD TDX RE WRD OAP OJP OFP
(VCD1) OAC EGC OJC TNE TGO WVO UAG1 CSL3-F CSL3-R CSL3-S
CSL3-H (NF-7437, EL-1624) – Lois Apfel
NADAC Open Agility Standard:
SpCH Sweetbay’s Lyric CD TDX RE WRD OAP OJP
OFP (VCD1) OAC EGC OJC TNE TGO WVO UAG1 CSL3-F CSL3-R
CSL3-S CSL3-H (NF-7437, EL-1624) – Lois Apfel
NADAC Novice Gamblers Certificate:
SpCH Sweetbay’s Lyric CD TDX RE WRD OAP OJP
OFP (VCD1) OAC EGC OJC TNE TGO WVO UAG1 CSL3-F CSL3-R
CSL3-S CSL3-H (NF-7437, EL-1624) – Lois Apfel
NADAC Open Gamblers Certificate, Veterans.
SpCH Sweetbay’s Lyric CD TDX RE WRD OAP OJP
OFP (VCD1) OAC EGC OJC TNE TGO WVO UAG1 CSL3-F CSL3-R
CSL3-S CSL3-H (NF-7437, EL-1624) – Lois Apfel
NADAC Elite Gamblers Certificate:
SpCH Sweetbay’s Lyric CD TDX RE WRD OAP OJP
OFP (VCD1) OAC EGC OJC TNE TGO WVO UAG1 CSL3-F CSL3-R
CSL3-S CSL3-H (NF-7437, EL-1624) – Lois Apfel
NADAC Novice Tunnelers Certificate:
SpCH Sweetbay’s Lyric CD TDX RE WRD OAP OJP
OFP (VCD1) OAC EGC OJC TNE TGO WVO UAG1 CSL3-F CSL3-R
CSL3-S CSL3-H (NF-7437, EL-1624) – Lois Apfel
NADAC Open Tunnelers Certificate:
SpCH Sweetbay’s Lyric CD TDX RE WRD OAP OJP
OFP (VCD1) OAC EGC OJC TNE TGO WVO UAG1 CSL3-F CSL3-R
CSL3-S CSL3-H (NF-7437, EL-1624) – Lois Apfel
NADAC Excellent Tunnelers Certificate:
SpCH Sweetbay’s Lyric CD TDX RE WRD OAP OJP
OFP (VCD1) OAC EGC OJC TNE TGO WVO UAG1 CSL3-F CSL3-R
CSL3-S CSL3-H (NF-7437, EL-1624) – Lois Apfel
NADAC Novice Touch-N-Go Certificate:
SpCH Sweetbay’s Lyric CD TDX RE WRD OAP OJP
OFP (VCD1) OAC EGC OJC TNE TGO WVO UAG1 CSL3-F CSL3-R
CSL3-S CSL3-H (NF-7437, EL-1624) – Lois Apfel
NADAC Novice Weavers Certificate:
SpCH Sweetbay’s Lyric CD TDX RE WRD
OAP OJP OFP (VCD1) OAC EGC OJC TNE TGO WVO UAG1 CSL3-F
CSL3-R CSL3-S CSL3-H (NF-7437,
EL-1624) – Lois Apfel
NADAC Open Weavers Certificate:
SpCH Sweetbay’s Lyric CD TDX RE WRD
OAP OJP OFP (VCD1) OAC EGC OJC TNE TGO WVO UAG1 CSL3-F
CSL3-R CSL3-S CSL3-H (NF-7437,
EL-1624) – Lois Apfel
CPE Specialist Level 1, Fun Games
Sweetbay’s Neela CD RN TD CSL1-F
CSL1-R CSL2-S (OFA NF10760, EL4385) – Lois Apfel
CPE Specialist Level 1, Standard
Sweetbay’s Neela CD RN TD CSL1-F
CSL1-R CSL2-S (OFA NF10760, EL4385) – Lois Apfel
CPE Specialist Level 2, Stragegy Games
Sweetbay’s Neela CD RN TD CSL1-F
CSL1-R CSL2-S (OFA NF10760, EL4385) – Lois Apfel
CPE Specialist Champion:
SpCH Sweetbay’s Lyric CD TDX RE WRD OAP OJP
OFP (VCD1) OAC EGC OJC TNE TGO WVO UAG1 CSL3-F CSL3-R
CSL3-S CSL3-H (NF-7437, EL-1624) – Lois Apfel
CPE Level 3 Fun Games
SpCH Sweetbay’s Lyric CD TDX RE WRD OAP OJP
OFP (VCD1) OAC EGC OJC TNE TGO WVO UAG1 CSL3-F CSL3-R
CSL3-S CSL3-H (NF-7437, EL-1624) – Lois Apfel
For more information
about Sweetbay dogs:
Sweetbay
Newfoundlands
Judi & Ellis Adler
12320 SW Malloy
Sherwood OR 97140
(503) 682-0604
e-mail: sweetbay@teleport.com
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 Sweetbay’s
Aurora CD MX MXJ AXP AJP OFP NFP WD, OFA NF-7502, EL-1660
Anna Lewandowski and Rory
competed in the 2007 AKC Agility Invitationals in Long
Beach, California, on December 2. Rory was the only
Newfoundland in the country who had the qualifications to
be invited to compete, and is the first Newfoundland to
ever reach this level.
Sweetbay’s Aurora CD MX MXJ AXP AJP OFP
NFP WD, OFA NF-7502, EL-1660
At the Invitational, Rory
competed against many breeds in the 24-inch category. She
thrilled the crowds with her amazing runs. Rory and Anna
did so well, they came in tenth overall in the division,
a truly phenomenal feat.
Sweetbay's
Chesapeake CD OA OAJ WD TDD (NF-5127, EL321)
People refer to Buckley as the 'Jumpin' Black
Flash.' Living up to his nickname, Buckley flies over the
triple jump at an Oriole Dog Training Club AKC Agility
Trial in Arcadia, Maryland.
Sweetbay's Cutter
AmCanCD NA AmCanTD WD AmCanDD (NF-5354)
Gary Lange began doing agility work with Cutter on a
lark. It became a passion for them both. Cutter is
athletic and fast, and agility was the perfect sport.
They quickly earned the three legs needed for their
Novice Agility title, finishing up with a third place in
an extremely large class. Cutter's run was nearly fifteen
seconds under the course time!
Sweetbay's
Annapolis CDX WRD DD OA OAJ (EL761)
High flying Higgins speeds his way through an Open
Agility course in Maryland. Owner Kathy Robbins has to
move quickly to be in the right place at the right time.
Luckily, thanks to Kathy's excellent training, Higgins is
very responsive to hand signals and commands even when
given from a distance. Kathy can direct him to do a
series of obstacles, in the correct order, using one
command. Open Agility requires great speed and precision,
and Higgins has both.
SpCH
Sweetbay’s Lyric CD TDX RE WRD OAP OJP OFP (VCD1)
OAC EGC OJC TNE TGO WVO UAG1 CSL3-F CSL3-R CSL3-S CSL3-H (NF-7437, EL-1624)
Lyric has
blazing speed on the agility course. The weave poles are
the most difficult physical obstacle for the giant
breeds, and a tough challenge mentally for all dogs. But
they pose no problem for Lyric, and she blasts her way
through.
Sweetbay's Lea CD TD NJC (OFA
NF-6506, EL-1005)
Agility
trainers recommend their sport highly, saying it builds
confidence. It did just that for Lea, who is happily at
home on an agility course. She moves across the
high-off-the-ground, very narrow dog walk boards with
conviction and a very big smile.
Sweetbay's Lea CD TD NJC (OFA
NF-6506, EL-1005)
When it all
comes together, it's a sight to behold. Any dog doing
agility is fun to watch, but a Newfoundland that's
topnotch takes your breath away. Barbara Adams' Lea
explodes through agility courses, sailing over two foot
high jumps like this double bar with perfect form.
SpCH
Sweetbay’s Lyric CD TDX RE WRD OAP OJP OFP (VCD1)
OAC EGC OJC TNE TGO WVO UAG1 CSL3-F CSL3-R CSL3-S CSL3-H (NF-7437, EL-1624)
The agility
teeter is exactly like a child's seesaw, except there's
no one on the other end. The dog runs onto the up-slant,
gets to the balance point, and then the “up”
end swings down and hits the ground with a bang. All this
unexpected shifting (not to mention the noise) can cause
an agility dog to proceed with caution, slowing down and
taking it very carefully and with trepidation. Not Lyric.
She loves the feel of “the earth giving way”
and charges up and then down with zest.
Sweetbay Newfoundlands are
naturally agile. While many people picture a Newfoundland
as sluggish and clumsy, these dogs are more akin to
mountain goats. Create an impromptu mountain in the horse
pasture and they're in heaven, chasing each other up and
then flying off, all at top speed.
One of the agility tasks
requires the dog to leap onto a small elevated table,
swiftly assume a sitting or downed position, then hold it
for five seconds before flying off to continue the run.
These log stumps in Judi and Ellis Adler's dog yard form
natural “pause tables,” and the dog use them
frequently in their games. On rare occasions they'll stop
the breakneck chase long enough to pose for a photo.
It isn't just the adult
dogs who find tricky footwork intriguing. Three month old
Sydney jauntily navigates a slippery felled tree
stretching across the Santiam River.
Higgins showed exeptional
skill and enthusiasm for agility as a puppy. At three
months, he was taking jumps with ease. Not because his
owner, Kathy Robbins, asked him to. But just because they
were there – and it was fun!
Jim Lonergan’s puppy
George loves any obstacle that requires him to go over,
under, across, or through. Here, accompanied by a young
friend, he navigates a log on a trek through the woods.
Everyday experiences like this will serve him well when
he learns the specific tasks that comprise an agility
course.
Of course, Sweetbay dogs
also use their uncanny athleticism and agility for
mischief as well as for good. Three year old Richard
Freimer pushes a metal folding chair over to the counter
to help himself to a snack. Puppy Jazz, instantly taking
advantage of the circumstances, gets closer access to the
treasure.
Owners with an interest in
agility find it's great fun to introduce a new pup to the
sport. Barbara Adams shows twelve week old Cassie that
the tricky dog walk isn't so tricky after all.
Take two full sheets of
plywood. Add horizontal slats for traction. Connect them
at an angle. And you have an A-frame. Barbara Pruijn
sends Maggie up one side and down the other in their
beginner agility class. At agility classes, dogs get the
idea very quickly, and have great fun adding prowess to
enthusiasm.
.
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