Dog Agility: How To Get Started
If you've ever watched a dog zipping through obstacles on a dog agility course and thought it would be fun for your dog, you are probably correct. Not only do dogs love the challenge of agility courses, this type of training increases their overall level of obedience and also can strengthen the bond between owner and animal. Consider the following information if you are considering starting up a training regime for your dog.
While some breeds excel on the agility course more than others, just about any breed will enjoy training. If your animal has plenty of energy and a playful spirit, agility training is definitely an option. Even small dogs can compete; you simply just adjust the equipment to suit their smaller stature. In competitions, they do separate the dogs by height rather than breed and they also separate dogs by age and level of experience.
While competing is fun, there are many reasons to consider dog agility other than competition. Dogs crave and need plenty of exercise and agility training provides plenty of activity. It is also an excellent way to improve the dog's obedience level as they have to obey a variety of commands while off a lease. Generally, it is best not to begin intensive agility training until your dog is about a year old or once their bodies are fully developed. If you wish to enter a competition, most organizations do not allow dogs less than 14 months of age to compete.
However, before you dog is fully grown and developed, you can work on many obedience skills and it's wise to teach them basic commands such as sit, stay, heel, come and down. These can be taught at home, but it's a good idea to take a training or obedience class so that the dog is comfortable obeying commands when there are other people and other dogs around. This training can begin as soon as you get your dog and the sooner you start, the easier it will be to train and properly socialize your animal.
After your dog has reached full development and mastered the basics of sitting, staying and heeling, agility training can commence. You can research this type of training and purchase some equipment and get going, but it might be a better idea to find a good instructor and take some classes. After all, they already have the knowledge and the equipment. Once you have established that your dog and you both love the sport, you can then purchase your own equipment and continue training at home.
There are many companies that sell agility equipment, such as Carlson-Agility.com. You can purchase dog agility tunnels, dog agility jumps, weaves, tire jumps and much more. They even have dog agility kits that are perfect for those starting out. One kit includes weaves and jumps, another includes jumps and a tunnel and still another includes jumps, weaves and a teeter-totter. You also could get a starter kit with a tunnel, two jumps and a pause table. Once you've mastered the obstacles in your starter kit, you can add some new obstacles to increase your pet's skill level.
While some breeds excel on the agility course more than others, just about any breed will enjoy training. If your animal has plenty of energy and a playful spirit, agility training is definitely an option. Even small dogs can compete; you simply just adjust the equipment to suit their smaller stature. In competitions, they do separate the dogs by height rather than breed and they also separate dogs by age and level of experience.
While competing is fun, there are many reasons to consider dog agility other than competition. Dogs crave and need plenty of exercise and agility training provides plenty of activity. It is also an excellent way to improve the dog's obedience level as they have to obey a variety of commands while off a lease. Generally, it is best not to begin intensive agility training until your dog is about a year old or once their bodies are fully developed. If you wish to enter a competition, most organizations do not allow dogs less than 14 months of age to compete.
However, before you dog is fully grown and developed, you can work on many obedience skills and it's wise to teach them basic commands such as sit, stay, heel, come and down. These can be taught at home, but it's a good idea to take a training or obedience class so that the dog is comfortable obeying commands when there are other people and other dogs around. This training can begin as soon as you get your dog and the sooner you start, the easier it will be to train and properly socialize your animal.
After your dog has reached full development and mastered the basics of sitting, staying and heeling, agility training can commence. You can research this type of training and purchase some equipment and get going, but it might be a better idea to find a good instructor and take some classes. After all, they already have the knowledge and the equipment. Once you have established that your dog and you both love the sport, you can then purchase your own equipment and continue training at home.
There are many companies that sell agility equipment, such as Carlson-Agility.com. You can purchase dog agility tunnels, dog agility jumps, weaves, tire jumps and much more. They even have dog agility kits that are perfect for those starting out. One kit includes weaves and jumps, another includes jumps and a tunnel and still another includes jumps, weaves and a teeter-totter. You also could get a starter kit with a tunnel, two jumps and a pause table. Once you've mastered the obstacles in your starter kit, you can add some new obstacles to increase your pet's skill level.
About the Author:
Cheng Bernhardt enjoys dog agility training. To find a dog agility course, or to find more regarding starter agility dog supplies, please check out the Carlson-Agility website today.
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