How To Boost Your Dog's Level Of Confidence
When you watch a dog agility competition, the dogs are having a fantastic time, zooming around the course. They love the challenge of navigating all of those obstacles and also enjoy all of the admiration and praise that comes along with a job well done. Most people probably mistakenly think that only certain breeds, sizes and temperaments of dogs will excel at dog agility, but this is definitely not the case.
The owner of a very shy dog probably would think that their animal companion would never enjoy taking on these obstacles, but agility training can be a fantastic tool to help your dog gain confidence. Even a dog that is very shy around people or other animals or fearful in general can gain a lot from this type of training. You simply need to account for your dog's personality. While a dog that loves to mix it up with other dogs and seems fearless might enjoy the world of an agility dog club, your timid dog probably would be much better off learning the skills at home from you, their trusted person.
One easy way to start training is by using a pause table. If your dog tends to be nervous around anything new, simple leave the pause table out in the yard or even in your living room for a couple of days. Let your dog sniff it and walk around it, and when he or she begins to seem comfortable with the table, place a treat or favorite toy on top and gently coax your dog to climb on the table. You can purchase an adjustable pause table and simply start out low to the ground and when your dog becomes more comfortable, you can add height. For a shy or timid dog, it could take a few days before they are confident enough to climb on the pause table, so just be patient.
After your dog will jump onto the table, teach him to sit and stay and then add some distance between the two of you and have him stay for several seconds at a time. Once this has been accomplished, consider trying out some new agility equipment. A three-piece contact trainer can be a great option and this is simply a pause table with a small A-frame up to the table on one side with a small dog walk to go down on the other side. Carlson Agility sells a mini three-piece contact trainer, and the mini versions of agility equipment are a fantastic option for a shy dog because they are simply less intimidating. Of course, the mini obstacles also are ideal for training puppies or a small breed of dog. Once the contact trainer has been successfully mastered, you can purchase a dog tunnel, agility jumps, weaves and other pieces of equipment from Carlson Agility.
Just by mastering the pause table and contact trainer, you should notice an improvement in your dog's level of confidence. As you add obstacles, their level of confidence will continue to gain momentum. Mini versions of just about all of the equipment are available, so you can continue with the smaller sizes, which can be less scary and also have the added advantage of fitting into your yard more easily. You can even take them into your house on a rainy day or at night for some fun extra training. Once the mini obstacles seem pretty well mastered, you could try introducing your dog to other dogs at a local agility group or club. However, some dogs will always be more comfortable enjoying agility training only at home.
Not only does this type of training boost confidence, it's also a great form of exercise for your furry friend, who needs to get outside and run around every day. Working closely together to learn these new skills also strengthens your bond, and the two of you will become even closer through agility training.
The owner of a very shy dog probably would think that their animal companion would never enjoy taking on these obstacles, but agility training can be a fantastic tool to help your dog gain confidence. Even a dog that is very shy around people or other animals or fearful in general can gain a lot from this type of training. You simply need to account for your dog's personality. While a dog that loves to mix it up with other dogs and seems fearless might enjoy the world of an agility dog club, your timid dog probably would be much better off learning the skills at home from you, their trusted person.
One easy way to start training is by using a pause table. If your dog tends to be nervous around anything new, simple leave the pause table out in the yard or even in your living room for a couple of days. Let your dog sniff it and walk around it, and when he or she begins to seem comfortable with the table, place a treat or favorite toy on top and gently coax your dog to climb on the table. You can purchase an adjustable pause table and simply start out low to the ground and when your dog becomes more comfortable, you can add height. For a shy or timid dog, it could take a few days before they are confident enough to climb on the pause table, so just be patient.
After your dog will jump onto the table, teach him to sit and stay and then add some distance between the two of you and have him stay for several seconds at a time. Once this has been accomplished, consider trying out some new agility equipment. A three-piece contact trainer can be a great option and this is simply a pause table with a small A-frame up to the table on one side with a small dog walk to go down on the other side. Carlson Agility sells a mini three-piece contact trainer, and the mini versions of agility equipment are a fantastic option for a shy dog because they are simply less intimidating. Of course, the mini obstacles also are ideal for training puppies or a small breed of dog. Once the contact trainer has been successfully mastered, you can purchase a dog tunnel, agility jumps, weaves and other pieces of equipment from Carlson Agility.
Just by mastering the pause table and contact trainer, you should notice an improvement in your dog's level of confidence. As you add obstacles, their level of confidence will continue to gain momentum. Mini versions of just about all of the equipment are available, so you can continue with the smaller sizes, which can be less scary and also have the added advantage of fitting into your yard more easily. You can even take them into your house on a rainy day or at night for some fun extra training. Once the mini obstacles seem pretty well mastered, you could try introducing your dog to other dogs at a local agility group or club. However, some dogs will always be more comfortable enjoying agility training only at home.
Not only does this type of training boost confidence, it's also a great form of exercise for your furry friend, who needs to get outside and run around every day. Working closely together to learn these new skills also strengthens your bond, and the two of you will become even closer through agility training.
About the Author:
Cheng Bernhardt loves blogging about dog agility training. To discover a dog agility course, or to find more about training equipment for agility for dogs, please check out the Carlson Agility site now.
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