There are many reasons why dog agility is a great idea for your high-energy pet. These activities not only provide a fun source of exercise, they also reinforce obedience skills and improve the bond between owner and dog. When you are just getting started in dog agility, the following tips might help you build a solid foundation.
There are many different dog agility groups or organizations, and each has their own rules and each sets up their agility courses differently. In general, there are several pieces of agility equipment that you are almost certain to find on any course. These include obstacles such as the teeter-totter, the dog walk and the a-frame, which are known as contact obstacles. The pause table is another piece of equipment on every course. Jumps, and there are many kinds, also will be part of the course. Weave poles will be set up, and tunnels also will be placed on the course. It's best to start out by purchasing just a few items rather than buying everything at once.
You might be wondering which pieces of equipment to use first, and this can be a bit overwhelming to decide. A pause table is always a good first choice. While it might not be as exciting and jumps, weaves and teeters, the skills learned on this obstacle are highly important for both agility and obedience. It's also a great tool for distance training as the handler must be a set distance from the dog during competition. Carlson Agility sells several starter kits that include a pause table as well as a couple of other obstacles, such as jumps or perhaps jumps and a tunnel.
Of course, there are other starter kits available for purchase. For instance, there is a fun kit that includes a tire jump, 12 weave poles and a teeter-totter. Another kit includes two jumps and a tunnel. There are several more, but you also can call them up and create your own custom kit as well as getting advice about what obstacles to use for beginning training. If your dog is smaller or perhaps you are training your small puppy, Carlson Agility sells all of the agility equipment in miniature sizes, as well. They also sell specialty equipment that you might need later if you decide to compete on a course that requires a chain link hurdle, a brick wall hurdle and a hoop tunnel and more.
When your equipment arrives, set it up in the back yard and just let your dog go out and take a look. He or she will sniff it and perhaps even hop onto the pause table or stick their head into a tunnel. Begin by selecting one of your obstacles and teach this skill, then teach a new skill. Have your dog master these two skills and then add another skill. For example, start by mastering the pause table, then add a jump and then a tunnel. After that, try out a tire jump or perhaps the a-frame and so on. The hardest obstacle for most dogs is weaves, so it's probably wisest to wait until the other obstacles have been mastered.
Your dog will enjoy training, but only if you have an enthusiastic attitude and plenty of patience. Some dogs really latch on to agility skills very quickly, but most need some time. Not only do they need time to learn a skill, they also might be a bit uncertain as to whether or not they want to use the obstacle at all. This is particularly true of the teeter totter because the movement can be scary for dogs. Dog walks and a-frames also can also be scary because they are off the ground, and some dogs don't wish to enter a tunnel or chute at first. The key with all of this training is to simply remain patient, provide plenty of praise and just enjoy this time of bonding.
There are many different dog agility groups or organizations, and each has their own rules and each sets up their agility courses differently. In general, there are several pieces of agility equipment that you are almost certain to find on any course. These include obstacles such as the teeter-totter, the dog walk and the a-frame, which are known as contact obstacles. The pause table is another piece of equipment on every course. Jumps, and there are many kinds, also will be part of the course. Weave poles will be set up, and tunnels also will be placed on the course. It's best to start out by purchasing just a few items rather than buying everything at once.
You might be wondering which pieces of equipment to use first, and this can be a bit overwhelming to decide. A pause table is always a good first choice. While it might not be as exciting and jumps, weaves and teeters, the skills learned on this obstacle are highly important for both agility and obedience. It's also a great tool for distance training as the handler must be a set distance from the dog during competition. Carlson Agility sells several starter kits that include a pause table as well as a couple of other obstacles, such as jumps or perhaps jumps and a tunnel.
Of course, there are other starter kits available for purchase. For instance, there is a fun kit that includes a tire jump, 12 weave poles and a teeter-totter. Another kit includes two jumps and a tunnel. There are several more, but you also can call them up and create your own custom kit as well as getting advice about what obstacles to use for beginning training. If your dog is smaller or perhaps you are training your small puppy, Carlson Agility sells all of the agility equipment in miniature sizes, as well. They also sell specialty equipment that you might need later if you decide to compete on a course that requires a chain link hurdle, a brick wall hurdle and a hoop tunnel and more.
When your equipment arrives, set it up in the back yard and just let your dog go out and take a look. He or she will sniff it and perhaps even hop onto the pause table or stick their head into a tunnel. Begin by selecting one of your obstacles and teach this skill, then teach a new skill. Have your dog master these two skills and then add another skill. For example, start by mastering the pause table, then add a jump and then a tunnel. After that, try out a tire jump or perhaps the a-frame and so on. The hardest obstacle for most dogs is weaves, so it's probably wisest to wait until the other obstacles have been mastered.
Your dog will enjoy training, but only if you have an enthusiastic attitude and plenty of patience. Some dogs really latch on to agility skills very quickly, but most need some time. Not only do they need time to learn a skill, they also might be a bit uncertain as to whether or not they want to use the obstacle at all. This is particularly true of the teeter totter because the movement can be scary for dogs. Dog walks and a-frames also can also be scary because they are off the ground, and some dogs don't wish to enter a tunnel or chute at first. The key with all of this training is to simply remain patient, provide plenty of praise and just enjoy this time of bonding.
About the Author:
Cheng Bernhardt enjoys dog agility training. To find an agility equipment for dogs, or to find more about training equipment for dog agility jumps, please go to the Carlson-Agility.com website today.
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