Yes, your dog will love agility! It's best to start with an agility foundation class - a whole lot of basic training needs to be solid before starting agility. Foundation classes are great for all dogs, and you can start with very young puppies. Just make sure you don't ask young dogs to jump or weave poles or do any of the big obstacles until they are older. Young dogs should not be jumping at full capacity until they are 18 months old. But a LOT of foundation work can be trained at a very early age (start line stays and recalls, for example). But even if your dog is older, it's not too late to teach him agility! Agility dogs peak at around 7 - 9 years old, and continue to jump until they are 11 or 12 (although they usually lower the jump height by that age).

There are lots of ways to get started. We have GREAT trainers in the Salt Lake City area that offer foundation classes. It really depends on where you are located. Have you googled dog agility classes and Utah? You can always post a question on the Facebook page for Salty Dogz Agility Club. If you send us a message, we tend to be slow to respond, but please let us know in what area you live in. The best way is to come to a local agility trial and ask!

There are great online courses too! Fenzi Dog Sports Academy, One Mind Dogs, Susan Garrett Dog Agility, Daisy Peel, and a number of other great online courses can help you get started. Great shopping for videos and books can be found at Clean Run and Dogwise. Last but not least, get on YouTube and start searching for agility training.

The club does not have a training facility, but there are local trainers that have equipment and offer classes.

Yes, for now only AKC trials.

You can register any dog with the AKC. We allow any dog that is registered with the AKC to compete in our trials. Register mixed breeds with AKC's Canine Partner program. Register purebreds with no papers at AKC's Purebred Alternative Listing program PAL.

We do not, but some of the local trainers will know of practice events. Also, keep your eye on the AKC's agility league which is run nation-wide. We have local clubs who hold league events. Versa Dog Sports, Sunset Hills Dog Training and the Hahn Homestead hold agility league events.

Great resources include the Facebook Utah Dog Events page, and also check out the calendar on utahdogevents . Also keep track of the Salty Dogz Agility Facebook page (both the public one and the group page). The Wasatch Working ASCA group holds ASCA events. Badass Agility holds has UKI events.

Our members help support our club and help to ensure that we can hold 4 trials per year. Members get access to our Crew social platform community.

We welcome new members! Do you know anyone who is a member? If not, come to one of our meetings or events and introduce yourself - we can sign you up. Membership is only $5 for an individual or $10 for a family.

We try to post them on this site (the Events page), but sometimes we forget or we are behind. You can always find premiums posted on the AKC event search page - once a trial is approved, there is usually a link to the premium for that event on the search page.

AKC trial regulations - and this is also where you can find information about how to enter a trial.

YES!!!! Contact the Chief Ring Steward (Volunteer coordinator) listed in the trial Premium.

Your dog can be measured at his first agility trial, but it must be done before he runs in his first class. Or, bring your dog to an AKC trial and ask to have a VMO measure your dog. You might want to contact the Trial Chair or Trial Secretary before the event to make sure a VMO will be available (not all judges can/will do measurements on dogs). When you get to the trial, stop at the Trial Secretary's desk and ask for a measurement form. You will need all the dog's AKC registration information. Fill out the form and hand it to the person who measures your dog. You may need to wait for a couple of hours to catch the judge or VMO between classes, so be prepared to wait. Eventually, your dog will need to be measured twice, by two different people, unless he is over 22" tall at the shoulder, in which case, your dog will run at 24".

It's best to train and prepare your dog for the measurement. Get him used to standing on a table with a bar over his shoulder. Start with something soft, like a pool noodle, touching his shoulder. Get him used to strangers handling him. You will want to get him standing at full height while reaching a bit forward with his head so the bar doesn't hit him in the neck.

Dogs that are not entered are not allowed, however, if you need to have your dog measured, you can bring him to a trial. See the above FAQ for more information on measuring your dog.