Agility Liaison Council 23.06.2011
Item 3.b
Annex A
Agility Liaison Council Proposal
Submitted by Dave Jolly – March 2011
Reasons for putting forward this proposal:
I am putting forward this proposal for the health and safety of our dogs!
Of all the obstacles negotiated in agility, weaving is the least natural of them all. In everyday exercise
dogs can experience running up and down hills and embankments, jumping over fallen trees or ditches,
and running on bridges over streams, all of which come naturally to them. But of all the obstacles, the
only one that bends their spine in three places is the weaves. There is no parallel to weaving in nature.
As this sport continues to get faster I believe we should protect our dogs by standardising weave pole
spacing to 60cm. This has now been done in the majority of nations around the world.
I am disappointed we are one of the last! We have an opportunity to correct this.
The world respected Belgium competitor Guy Blanke has videos on his website comparing the extreme
body flexing needed on dogs weaving at 20” (51cm) and then the kinder but still testing 24” (60cm).
This can be viewed at the following web address:
http://smoothmovesagility.com/weaves/PerformanceAnalysis.html
There are also videos produced as an informal study by American Elizabeth Evans at
www.youtube.com/watch?v=drAcPoKCNyk and www.youtube.com/watch?v=SaJTVpt_L8Y
The American magazine Clean Run ran an editorial in April 2009 expressing concerns over the tight
weave spacing with plenty of back-up photos. This article also included statements from several vets, a
certified canine acupuncturist and chiropractor, a veterinary orthopaedic surgeon, and a canine sports
massage therapist all supporting increasing the minimum spacing of weaves to help reduce the
instances of injuries that they had seen resulting from the rotation on shoulder joints, the unnatural
forces on the spine as well as the stresses being applied to muscles and tendons.
I have since had the opportunity to speak with canine health professionals here in the UK, including 2
osteopaths, a McTimoney practitioner and a massage therapist, who were all in agreement that we
should increase the spacing of weave poles. All had seen injuries such as shoulder, back and hip
problems which could have arisen from the extreme forces placed on our dogs through weaving.
Increasing the spacing will reduce those forces.
Measurements
The current regulation states that the measurement should be between the poles and I see no reason
to change that. (NB: not between centres, nor between pole cups)
Having contacted the major equipment manufacturers and hirers here in the UK and from their
responses and also measuring the three types I own myself I have found that weave pole diameters
range from 34 – 38 mm.
The weave base with alternate half supports prevents dogs catching toes and toenails on unnecessary
metalwork. Dogs weaving at speed on this type of frame do not touch any metalwork.
This type of base is also more stable helping to prevent weave pole 'wobble'.
Premier Showjumps (manufacturers) advised that they have been producing this type of frame for the
past 3 years.
Premier Agility Services (hirers) said they saw no problem renewing their weave bases as people always
wanted second hand equipment. They have a number of this type already.
RVA (manufacturers) stated that they would be happy to produce whatever their customers wanted.
None of the others I contacted passed any comments on this design, for or against.
I contacted Jaycee, RVA, JDA, Adams Agility, First Contact, Premier Showjumps and Premier Agility
Services whom I believe to be the major manufacturers and hirers of dog agility equipment here in the
UK who also sell to the rest of the world.