Dog agility training is one great way to help you tap into your pet’s strengths. Your dog will be able to use his flexibility, strength, speed, and energy, plus tapping into those hunting instincts. Dogs can use the instinctual abilities they would have used in the wild to track down prey, as well as protecting themselves and traveling across difficult terrain.
What Is Dog Agility Training?
Dog agility training encourages your dog to use skills like running, climbing and jumping on a special course. This team effort involves both of you, with the dog doing the majority of the heavy work. This special form of training is perfect for hunting and working breeds, with animals required to make their way through the course in a particular time period. The fastest dog is the winner.
Agility contests are judged professionally, with winners receiving cups, ribbons and many other prizes. This fun, popular sport is more than just a training program.
How To Get Started
Puppies participating in dog agility training need to be at least nine months old. Most dogs retire from competitions at around eight years old, but retirement really depends on the overall fitness and health of the dog.
Any breed of dog can participate, but some have personalities better suited to competition than others. There are quite a few dogs who’d rather relax. Others have more energy than their owners can keep up with. These are the dogs most suited to agility training since this sport requires a lot of energy.
You’ll also find that dogs with consistent obedience to heel, sit, stay, and down commands are best. Your dog must trust you. Otherwise, you may find that your pet is reluctant to perform some actions, including balancing or running through tunnels.
Why Agility Train Your Dog?
Agility training helps your dog make use of his or her innate abilities and skills. You’ll see your dog becoming more confident and alert, as well as developing greater problem solving skills. You and your dog will also bond more deeply and learn to communicate better through agility training.
This process puts significant physical demands on your dog, increasing fitness levels, endurance and coordination, as well as improving your dog’s overall behavior.
How Much Training Is Needed?
The majority of dogs need between six and nine months of daily training if they’re going to be prepared for every part of an agility competition. Encouraging games like fetch, catch and tug of war can help your dog with his or her preparations and strengthen the muscles needed for agility work. You’ll also help show your dog that agility training is fun. Once this is established, graduate to exercises like obstacle and distance jumping, as well as running through longer and longer tunnels. Over time, your dog will trust almost any request you make and will look forward to his or her training.
Of course, that’s not all there is to dog agility training. However, these steps will help you get started and decided whether or not you and your pet want to do this kind of activity.
Remember to visit agility competitions for dogs nearby. Watch the challenges and the process. See how the dogs do and think about your dog in the same situations. That’ll help you with your decision.
Talk to everyone, including judges, competitors and organizers. Most will be happy to answer any questions you have.
