From Mexico with love...

The Agility Desde Cero project born from the real life experiences of Hurtado Toral and his wife Sandy Aguilar Padilla who have run Dogs & Pal Canine Sports in Guadalupe for the past five years. When they started they had their doubts but they learned as a team from their mistakes. It's not a technical manual or a guide to make it to the World Championships and it doesn't pretend to have the final word  It's simply what they have lived since they first dove into our beautiful sport.

Desde Cero means From Scratch or Starting from Zero. Sandy and I chose that name because the guide is meant for people who are just getting started in Agility - those who may not even know what a tunnel or contact zone is yet.

This is meant to be a simple map for those who are just beginning to explore what Agility is all about.

You don't need to know what a weave or contact zone is. You just need the desire to learn and a good relationship with your dog - or the desire to build one.

If you're just starting, or if you've been doing this for a short time and everything still feels overwhelming. This is for you because we believe agility should begin with a smile, not with a scolding. So if it makes you laugh even once, mission accomplished.

Chapter 1: What is agility, anyway?

Picture an obstacle course. Instead of human athletes, the runners are dogs. And instead of doing it alone, they run it with you. That's Agility.

 Basically, Agility is a team sport. The human's job is to memorize the course and guide. The dog's job is to execute it.  Your dog has to jump over bars, go through tunnels, cross ramps and weave through poles at top speed. And you run alongside or behind or wherever you can keep up, giving cues to help them complete the course in order, cleanly, and as fast as possible.

 But Agility is not just about running. It's communication. It's trust. It's laughing when everything goes wrong and shouting with joy when everything finally goes right.

Chapter 2: What you don't need to get started

Before thinking about podiums, here's what you really need to know:-

• You don't need a Border Collie. although if you have one, congrats! You'll still cry just like the rest of us.

•  You don't need to run fast. Your dog won't judge you but yes, they will outrun you.

•  You don't need any prior experience. The only thing required is love for your dog and the desire to do something together.)

 What you do need is patience. Lots of it. because everything in agility is built step by step - with treats, of course.

 Chapter 3: Your first training session

 You arrive with your dog. You see the obstacles. You think, 'This looks easy.'

 Spoiler. It's not. But it is a lot of fun.

 Your first session is about discovering:-

• How much your dog actually listens to you.

• How much they listen when there are distractions.

• How much they listen when there are distractions, treats on the ground, other dogs around, and a worm-shaped tunnel nearby.

 You'll learn to guide without shouting to celebrate the little wins, to get frustrated a little or a lot, and and to realise that your dog is having fun, too.

That's the real first milestone.

Chapter 4: Things that will happen and it's okay

• Your dog will get distracted.

• You'll make mistakes. You'll mess up together.

• You'll wonder if this is for you.

• You'll be scared to enter your first competition. You'll enter anyway.

• You'll cry from frustration, pride, and/or love.

• You'll meet incredible people.

• You'll watch your dog do things you never imagined.

 And somewhere in the middle of all that, one day you'll look at your dog and think 'We did it. We're in this together.'

Chapter 5: Things that matter more than a podium

Yes, there are rosettes, trophies and applause. But there are other things —the ones that don't shine, but carry more weight in your heart:-

• That first tunnel your dog went through without fear. You clapping like crazy. Tail wagging, not knowing they just made history.

• The time you understood each other without speaking. Just looks. Just connection.

• That run where you made three mistakes and still crossed the finish line smiling, because it's not about never failing. It's about continuing together.

• The community you find. the friends who celebrate your wins and hug you after your losses. and those who understand that missing a contact sometimes hurts more than losing a final.

• Your dog, happy, not knowing the rules nor caring about rankings. Just running with you, like the world belongs to them for 30 seconds.

The podium is nice, but it's not the most important thing. The most important thing is the story you build together. And no one —absolutely no one— can take that away.

Chapter 6: From the ring to the heart — the bond you build

Agility is more than just a discipline. It's a way to connect with your dog that goes beyond words, gestures —even time itself.

 When you train together, you create your own language, a language of looks, smiles, and shared emotions. It's like when you glance at your dog, and they glance back, and without saying a thing… you both know exactly what to do. 

And when everything goes right, it's like the world stops spinning for just one second. It's just you and your dog —jumping, running, solving problems together.

That's the magic of Agility. It's the bridge between human and dog where trust is built, connection grows, and your hearts beat in sync. so even when you're focused on shaving off seconds or winning more ribbons —never forget what really matters:

The relationship you build with your dog, because that bond. It's what will last a lifetime.

Closing 

You don't need to know everything to begin. You just need to begin.

 Each course is a new opportunity. Each mistake, a lesson. Each win, a shared celebration.

 And when you look back, you won't count podiums. You'll count the moments. The laughter. The falls. The jumps. The looks.

This is Agility Desde Cero.

With love, from the heart of the MX Team.

About the author
Ernesto Hurtado Toral is an Agility enthusiast from Mexico who began his journey in May 2018 alongside his dog Max, a mixed-breed with the heart of a champion.

Together with his partner Sandy Aguilar Padilla, Ernesto formed MX Team, a small but passionate team that has grown from student to coach, sharing the ups and downs of the sport since 2020.

They currently train at Dogs & Pals – Canine Sports, and recently welcomed Mixie, a young rescue pup who's just beginning her own adventure in Agility.

Their approach to the sport is grounded in joy, connection, and learning from real experience —something they now share through their personal guide - Agility Desde Cero.

First published 11th August 2025

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