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jeudi 24 avril 2014

The Many Benefits Of Dog Agility

By Cheng Bernhardt


There are many undeniable facts about dogs. They are loyal, they are loving and they love to play. If you have a healthy dog with lots of energy, one fun way to expend this energy is through dog agility training. Dogs love these activities, and they also derive a host of benefits from these activities.

Just like us, dogs also need to exercise. Dog agility is definitely an excellent source of exercise for any dog but especially for the pooch that never seems to tire out. Sometimes people mistakenly believe that only a few dog breeds really do well with dog agility training, such as the Australian shepherd. However, any dog truly can be a candidate for dog agility, and your schnauzer could be just as successful as any shepherd or collie on the agility circuit. The exercise will keep them fit and probably will have a positive effect on your own health, since the owner also enjoys his or her own fair share of exercise.

Most owners provide a few walks during the day and perhaps some fun chase time with a ball or squeaky toy, but agility training provides a different type of exercise. While there aren't PVC obstacles and plastic tunnels and chutes in the wild, dogs have an instinct to run, jump, scamper and crawl that goes all the way back to the time before they were simply furry couch companions. Sometimes, a dog truly needs more than a walk or having someone toss a toy, they crave the challenge of the obstacle course. A high-energy dog can become bored easily and often this leads to destructive behavior. With agility training, you might find that your furry pal stops chewing up your furniture or shoes.

Obedience is a big part of agility training. After all, dogs must obey an assortment of commands and this definitely helps to make a dog highly obedient. A myriad of important skills can be taught through dog agility, especially when you are using the pause table. Here your dog will have to sit, lie down and stay for many seconds and they will know what to do because of your commands. These commands can be used in a variety of situations, beyond agility training. When a dog and owner spend a great deal of time together, this also improves their bond and the level of trust between them.

One of the best things about dog agility competitions is that they welcome most dogs to participate, regardless of breed or size. The course can be adjusted for smaller breeds, and dogs are placed into groupings based on their size, their level of experience and their age. The whole atmosphere is one of fun and camaraderie despite that fact that this is a competitive environment. It's a fantastic hobby and you not only will enjoy competing but also watching other dogs zoom through the course.

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 small yard, a small dog or a puppy, Carlson Agility also sells small versions of their equipment, such as smaller mini contact equipment, mini jumps, a mini teeter and a mini pause table to name a few. These are great for the smaller breeds and also small enough to even set up in your family room or basement or garage. Even when the weather is not so great, you can still enjoy some indoor training.




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