The Many Benefits Of Dog Agility
Dogs love to play and run about, and some dogs have more energy than others. If you have a dog in good health with plenty of energy, then your pet might enjoy some fun dog agility training. This type of training has many important benefits for dogs.
One of the obvious benefits of this type of training is that your dog will be outside getting some great exercise, and so will you. If you have an animal that just has tons of energy, this is a great outlet for them to enjoy. While you often see collies and shepherds on those dog agility competitions on TV, any breed truly can enjoy and excel at agility. So don't worry about what breeds seem to do best on an agility course. Every dog is different and the main goals are simply fun and exercise.
For some people, the idea of simply walking on a treadmill for exercise isn't appealing, they need more interesting activities. Well, dogs are just the same, and agility training provides a truly engaging and interesting form of exercise, and it's even tapping into their instinctual behavior. A modern dog running through a tunnel is just like an ancient wild dog scampering under a pile of leaves searching for a squirrel. Today's dog jumps over manmade obstacles, while the dogs of yesterday jumped over logs and rocks chasing after prey. You can see that agility activities are beyond the typical exercise of fetching a ball or going on a daily walk, and many dogs really benefit from challenging exercise. Often, a dog with tons of energy will channel this energy into destructive behavior, such as chewing up items around the house. Provide some fun on the agility course and they will have a positive outlet for their energy.
Another huge benefit of agility training is the teaching of obedience skills. The pause table is an important part of the agility course, and it is here that dogs must obey several very important commands. Your dog will learn commands for sitting, laying down and staying. They also will have to stay in that position until the trainer signals them to leave, and often the trainer is at a decent distance from the dog. Obviously, these skills come in quite handy off the agility course. With all this time spent together, you and your dog also will bond more closely, which is yet another positive aspect to consider.
At some dog events, only certain breeds may participate, but with dog agility, it doesn't matter if your dog has a pedigree or is a mix of several breeds. The dogs are placed in categories based upon size, experience or age and not arranged by breed. Even small dogs are welcome to participate, so don't think that your yorkie-poo or that Chihuahua won't be welcome at an event. These competitions are a great way to make new friends, both human and canine, and you will both relish the experience.
To get started, you need to purchase some basic agility equipment. You could start by purchasing just one item, such as a pause table or purchase a starter kit with several items. Carlson Agility sells a variety of starter kits, which can be a fun way to start. One kit contains jumps and waves; another contains jumps and a tunnel. There are about eight different starter kits with items ranging from dog agility jumps, a dog agility a frame, an agility dog walk and much more.
If you have a puppy or a small breed, simply purchase the mini equipment. This is exactly the same equipment, just smaller to accommodate the needs of a smaller animal. The small equipment is great for use in your backyard, and is great for rainy day training as they will more easily fit into your basement, garage or even your family room.
One of the obvious benefits of this type of training is that your dog will be outside getting some great exercise, and so will you. If you have an animal that just has tons of energy, this is a great outlet for them to enjoy. While you often see collies and shepherds on those dog agility competitions on TV, any breed truly can enjoy and excel at agility. So don't worry about what breeds seem to do best on an agility course. Every dog is different and the main goals are simply fun and exercise.
For some people, the idea of simply walking on a treadmill for exercise isn't appealing, they need more interesting activities. Well, dogs are just the same, and agility training provides a truly engaging and interesting form of exercise, and it's even tapping into their instinctual behavior. A modern dog running through a tunnel is just like an ancient wild dog scampering under a pile of leaves searching for a squirrel. Today's dog jumps over manmade obstacles, while the dogs of yesterday jumped over logs and rocks chasing after prey. You can see that agility activities are beyond the typical exercise of fetching a ball or going on a daily walk, and many dogs really benefit from challenging exercise. Often, a dog with tons of energy will channel this energy into destructive behavior, such as chewing up items around the house. Provide some fun on the agility course and they will have a positive outlet for their energy.
Another huge benefit of agility training is the teaching of obedience skills. The pause table is an important part of the agility course, and it is here that dogs must obey several very important commands. Your dog will learn commands for sitting, laying down and staying. They also will have to stay in that position until the trainer signals them to leave, and often the trainer is at a decent distance from the dog. Obviously, these skills come in quite handy off the agility course. With all this time spent together, you and your dog also will bond more closely, which is yet another positive aspect to consider.
At some dog events, only certain breeds may participate, but with dog agility, it doesn't matter if your dog has a pedigree or is a mix of several breeds. The dogs are placed in categories based upon size, experience or age and not arranged by breed. Even small dogs are welcome to participate, so don't think that your yorkie-poo or that Chihuahua won't be welcome at an event. These competitions are a great way to make new friends, both human and canine, and you will both relish the experience.
To get started, you need to purchase some basic agility equipment. You could start by purchasing just one item, such as a pause table or purchase a starter kit with several items. Carlson Agility sells a variety of starter kits, which can be a fun way to start. One kit contains jumps and waves; another contains jumps and a tunnel. There are about eight different starter kits with items ranging from dog agility jumps, a dog agility a frame, an agility dog walk and much more.
If you have a puppy or a small breed, simply purchase the mini equipment. This is exactly the same equipment, just smaller to accommodate the needs of a smaller animal. The small equipment is great for use in your backyard, and is great for rainy day training as they will more easily fit into your basement, garage or even your family room.
About the Author:
Cheng Bernhardt enjoys dog agility training. To find the many advantages of agility training for dogs, or to get useful agility dog training equipment like dog agility kit, please check out the Carlson-Agility website today.
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