Patricia López

Although significant progress has been made in recent years regarding jumping biomechanics of agility dogs, there is still a lack of data on the specific biomechanical pattern of the jump. The main objective of the present study was to describe the biomechanic variables involved in the jumping pattern of agility dogs, analyzing both intra- and inter-individual variability. Eleven agility dogs were analyzed while jumping over a 60-cm hurdle. Results of low or acceptable and similar intra and inter-individual coefficients of variation obtained in variables such as percentage of take-off and landing distances, percentages of take-off and landing durations, maximum jump height, jump height at the hurdle and percentage duration to maximum jump height, may indicate these variables as components of a general biomechanical pattern of jumping in agility dogs. Low or acceptable and consistent intra- and inter-individual variation observed in variables such as percentage of take-off and landing distances, percentages of take-off and landing durations, maximum jump height, jump height at the hurdle, and percentage duration to maximum jump height suggests that these variables could represent key elements of a general biomechanical jumping pattern in agility dogs. This stability, maintained across multiple jumps by the same dog and across different dogs, highlights their potential as reliable indicators of a shared biomechanical framework for jumping. Lower intra-individual than interindividual coefficients of variation obtained in most of the angular variables, jump distance, jump duration and speed, take-off, and landing distances, and jump heights at take-off and at landing indicate these variables as related with the individual technique of each animal. All of this data can be used in the design of training plans as well as when monitoring the progress of canine athletes.

Although the jumping characteristics of agility dogs have been examined in recent years, there is currently a lack of data related to the suspension phase. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the biomechanics of the suspension phase of the agility jump and to analyze the kinematic differences in dogs with different jumping abilities. Two groups of dogs of the same height category (large dogs) competing at different skill levels and assessed as excellent jumpers (n = 4) and less-skilled jumpers (n = 3), respectively, were analyzed and statistically compared. Excellent jumpers showed longer and faster jumps with flatter jump trajectories than less-skilled jumpers. In less-skilled jumpers, the distance in front of the hurdle was notably greater than the distance behind it, while the difference between these two distances was less in excellent jumpers. Length and duration of the jump, maximal height of the jumping trajectory, take-off and landing distances to the hurdle, time of occurrence of maximal jump height, and time of change in back orientation essentially defines the suspension phase of the agility jump. This study presents preliminary evidence that the kinematic characteristics of hurdle clearance are different in excellent jumper dogs and in less-skilled jumper dogs.