Females in agility

[Michael Romanos]

In the thread titled Obedience, Debbie kind of issued a challenge to prove that female dogs are better than male dogs at agility.

Well, thanks to Debbie, it has opened up the basis for a 'major' article I am going to be doing for a magazine on how and why female dogs are superior at agility at least at the top levels.

There's a long way to go yet but here is the basis for my article: of the 27 grand agility champions produced in New Zealand, 25 of them are female. The 'grand' bit means that these dogs have gone on to win xxx amount of championships over and above the number required to being accorded the title of 'champion.'

So far I have briefly spoken to two leading animal behaviourists - one an American - and here is a summary of what they say that puts females on a pedistal above males at the sport of agility: " females are lighter in stature and therefore quicker on their feet and less likely to break down. Females are not so arrogant in nature and their minds are less likely to wander. Females are more responsive to their handlers. In the case of Border Collies in particular (Borders tend to dominate agility competition in a country where all the dog sizes are drawn into single competitions), females are more sensitive to their handlers. Females being lighter are more athletic. Males are driven by power and females by attachment and the latter is the more important quality in agility competition.

So here is a start and something to work on. And thanks to Debbie for getting me out of my slumber.

[Corgis'R4me]

Originally Posted by Michael Romanos

In the thread titled Obedience, Debbie kind of issued a challenge to prove that female dogs are better than male dogs at agility.

Well, thanks to Debbie, it has opened up the basis for a 'major' article I am going to be doing for a magazine on how and why female dogs are superior at agility at least at the top levels.

There's a long way to go yet but here is the basis for my article: of the 27 grand agility champions produced in New Zealand, 25 of them are female. The 'grand' bit means that these dogs have gone on to win xxx amount of championships over and above the number required to being accorded the title of 'champion.'

So far I have briefly spoken to two leading animal behaviourists - one an American - and here is a summary of what they say that puts females on a pedistal above males at the sport of agility: " females are lighter in stature and therefore quicker on their feet and less likely to break down. Females are not so arrogant in nature and their minds are less likely to wander. Females are more responsive to their handlers. In the case of Border Collies in particular (Borders tend to dominate agility competition in a country where all the dog sizes are drawn into single competitions), females are more sensitive to their handlers. Females being lighter are more athletic. Males are driven by power and females by attachment and the latter is the more important quality in agility competition.

So here is a start and something to work on. And thanks to Debbie for getting me out of my slumber.

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*~* What an interesting thread !!!

I would LOVE to enroll both Midnight & Sunshine in an agility class. My budget is small...and I cannot afford it at this time. But, I would love to just watch other dogs...it is so interesting to me !!!

*~* Nikki

[Michael Romanos]

Nikki - Corgis learn agility in next to no time. One moment you think , no not my girl/boy. the next - whoosh. But I guess, not all Corgis are as good as some or actually want to do it, just as with Border Collies who can be brilliant and hopeless. The training is fun and as long as your expectations are low, the fun remains and any inkling of achievement will be received with great pleasure. Some of the aspects or off-shoots of agility will hold you and your Corgis in good stead for the rest of their lives.