The 4th height option
Over the years the agility community has adjusted the nature of the obstacles that dogs have to deal with, mainly for safety. It has also adjusted the height that dogs are required to jump.
Dogs are measured at shoulder and divided into height groupings, small, medium and large. Most Lagotto Bitches fall into medium all be it at the upper end. Many owners cut the coat close before measuring and hold their breath. A dog has to measure 430mm or less to be medium. Therefore most Lagotto Dogs fall into large.
"So what?" I hear you cry. Well the breed standard ideal for our bitches is 43cm and 46cm for dogs. So an ideal Dog at just 3cm (1") taller than the ideal Bitch, but will be asked at Kennel Club shows to jump 8" more and that's huge. Most are perfectly capable of it, but is asks a lot of them and may cause joint or back problems in later life.
My second Lagotto to do agility, Romo, fell into the large height. Now whilst a half brother to Zucca, he had less drive and agility is not his first love, Showing is, but ever eager to please he trains and learns agility and in many ways is technically much stronger than her as he is more compliant and will learn and DO what he is taught.
For two years we competed with the large collies and gain some clear rounds, but never a placing in the honours. During this time across the agility world in the UK a movement grew for the introduction at KC shows of a new height .. a 4th height between medium and large, so that 'small large' dogs could jump a lower height option (LHO) that was 4" above medium as they could at UKA shows.
The LRA were right behind the movement and lent support to the petitions to KC and to the special agility show holding LHO classes in 2015.
In July 2016 the first KC show took place with the newly agreed LHO for large dogs and now the majority of KC shows offer the LHO.
Romo now competes at the LHO and the difference is clear to see. His focus has improved as he is enjoying tackling an 'achievable' obstacle and this is reflected in his runs where he is keen, faster and seems to compete with gusto. He has even become more vocal in his pleasure. He is obtaining more clear runs and more places, although we has still to gain a win to grade 4.
There is still debate about LHO and at present large dogs are not measured to run the Lower height, and so it is open to all large dogs, which on the plus side enables young dogs to learn to compete at a gentler height; older dogs or the larger, heavy set breeds to compete at a more joint friendly height; and for small large dogs to compete at a height more appropriate to their build.
On a personal note I would like to see dogs measured into the Lower height Large option, perhaps with an option to allow owners to opt their dog into the lower height, but once there they would have to stay there for the remainder of the dogs competing life.
It will be interesting to see how the 4th height option develops.
By Claire Morgan-Jones
Over the years the agility community has adjusted the nature of the obstacles that dogs have to deal with, mainly for safety. It has also adjusted the height that dogs are required to jump.
Dogs are measured at shoulder and divided into height groupings, small, medium and large. Most Lagotto Bitches fall into medium all be it at the upper end. Many owners cut the coat close before measuring and hold their breath. A dog has to measure 430mm or less to be medium. Therefore most Lagotto Dogs fall into large.
"So what?" I hear you cry. Well the breed standard ideal for our bitches is 43cm and 46cm for dogs. So an ideal Dog at just 3cm (1") taller than the ideal Bitch, but will be asked at Kennel Club shows to jump 8" more and that's huge. Most are perfectly capable of it, but is asks a lot of them and may cause joint or back problems in later life.
My second Lagotto to do agility, Romo, fell into the large height. Now whilst a half brother to Zucca, he had less drive and agility is not his first love, Showing is, but ever eager to please he trains and learns agility and in many ways is technically much stronger than her as he is more compliant and will learn and DO what he is taught.
For two years we competed with the large collies and gain some clear rounds, but never a placing in the honours. During this time across the agility world in the UK a movement grew for the introduction at KC shows of a new height .. a 4th height between medium and large, so that 'small large' dogs could jump a lower height option (LHO) that was 4" above medium as they could at UKA shows.
The LRA were right behind the movement and lent support to the petitions to KC and to the special agility show holding LHO classes in 2015.
In July 2016 the first KC show took place with the newly agreed LHO for large dogs and now the majority of KC shows offer the LHO.
Romo now competes at the LHO and the difference is clear to see. His focus has improved as he is enjoying tackling an 'achievable' obstacle and this is reflected in his runs where he is keen, faster and seems to compete with gusto. He has even become more vocal in his pleasure. He is obtaining more clear runs and more places, although we has still to gain a win to grade 4.
There is still debate about LHO and at present large dogs are not measured to run the Lower height, and so it is open to all large dogs, which on the plus side enables young dogs to learn to compete at a gentler height; older dogs or the larger, heavy set breeds to compete at a more joint friendly height; and for small large dogs to compete at a height more appropriate to their build.
On a personal note I would like to see dogs measured into the Lower height Large option, perhaps with an option to allow owners to opt their dog into the lower height, but once there they would have to stay there for the remainder of the dogs competing life.
It will be interesting to see how the 4th height option develops.
By Claire Morgan-Jones