If you are considering dog agility training for your pet, good for you! These activities not only improve the bond between you, they provide a great amount of exercise and fun for your dog. However, some dogs are not ideal candidates for agility training, and you also have a few considerations to ponder prior to starting this new chapter in your dog's life.
Your dog's general energy level and physical condition also are important initial considerations. A dog that is easily tired by a walk or can only play briskly for 10-15 at a time might not be well suited to agility training. A dog that is partially blind or perhaps deaf or an amputee might still enjoy agility training, but some organizations do not allow these animals to compete. However, a dog in great condition with lots of playful energy can be the perfect candidate for agility training.
While puppies older than eight weeks can begin agility training at any time, they will need special mini equipment. This mini agility equipment is designed for both puppies as well as smaller breeds, and is much safer for puppies, whose bodies are still developing. Puppies love scampering about an agility course and investigating the equipment and this is fine, as long as they are well supervised. One great piece of equipment is the mini pause table, where puppies can learn to sit, stay and pause for several seconds at a time. Not only is this an important part of agility training, it is a great way to introduce general obedience skills. There are also mini dog walks, mini teeters, mini chutes and mini a-frames. You also can adjust most jumps to make them suitable for small dogs and puppies.
Another advantage of using the mini equipment is that it simply takes up less room. While a regular-sized dog walk, teeter, weaves and other items might not fit in your yard easily, the mini equipment can be a better fit. It also will take up less storage space if you need to keep it in your garage. In addition, mini equipment makes rainy day training a snap. Simple move some sofas out of the way and practice skills indoors. This can be an excellent way to continue training and burn off energy during inclement weather.
For any kind of training, the most important thing that you bring to the table is patience. None of these skills are mastered in a day or two, so plan on spending many months learning these skills. Obedience training doesn't happen in a week and neither does agility training. Start out with just one skill, such as jumps or perhaps the pause table. Once these are taught and your dog seems to handle the apparatus well, add a new piece of equipment. Keep in mind that those amazing dogs you see running the courses on TV have been working on these skills for years, and if you want to make it to a competitive level, it requires consistent training and time.
There are many retailers out there selling dog agility equipment, including Carlson Agility which offers several different types of handy starter kits. These include two or three different apparatus to get you going. Of course, Carlson Agility also sells individual items such as agility tunnels and chutes, agility dog jumps, A-frames, dog walks and everything else you will need for agility training.
Your dog's general energy level and physical condition also are important initial considerations. A dog that is easily tired by a walk or can only play briskly for 10-15 at a time might not be well suited to agility training. A dog that is partially blind or perhaps deaf or an amputee might still enjoy agility training, but some organizations do not allow these animals to compete. However, a dog in great condition with lots of playful energy can be the perfect candidate for agility training.
While puppies older than eight weeks can begin agility training at any time, they will need special mini equipment. This mini agility equipment is designed for both puppies as well as smaller breeds, and is much safer for puppies, whose bodies are still developing. Puppies love scampering about an agility course and investigating the equipment and this is fine, as long as they are well supervised. One great piece of equipment is the mini pause table, where puppies can learn to sit, stay and pause for several seconds at a time. Not only is this an important part of agility training, it is a great way to introduce general obedience skills. There are also mini dog walks, mini teeters, mini chutes and mini a-frames. You also can adjust most jumps to make them suitable for small dogs and puppies.
Another advantage of using the mini equipment is that it simply takes up less room. While a regular-sized dog walk, teeter, weaves and other items might not fit in your yard easily, the mini equipment can be a better fit. It also will take up less storage space if you need to keep it in your garage. In addition, mini equipment makes rainy day training a snap. Simple move some sofas out of the way and practice skills indoors. This can be an excellent way to continue training and burn off energy during inclement weather.
For any kind of training, the most important thing that you bring to the table is patience. None of these skills are mastered in a day or two, so plan on spending many months learning these skills. Obedience training doesn't happen in a week and neither does agility training. Start out with just one skill, such as jumps or perhaps the pause table. Once these are taught and your dog seems to handle the apparatus well, add a new piece of equipment. Keep in mind that those amazing dogs you see running the courses on TV have been working on these skills for years, and if you want to make it to a competitive level, it requires consistent training and time.
There are many retailers out there selling dog agility equipment, including Carlson Agility which offers several different types of handy starter kits. These include two or three different apparatus to get you going. Of course, Carlson Agility also sells individual items such as agility tunnels and chutes, agility dog jumps, A-frames, dog walks and everything else you will need for agility training.
About the Author:
Cheng Bernhardt loves dog agility training. For further details about dog training equipment or to learn more about other equipment such as dog agility tunnels, please visit the Carlson-Agility.com site today.
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