Agility training is a sporting activity where an owner guides his dog through an obstacle route. Dogs navigate through the leash with neither snack nor water as a stimulus. In any case, the owner can neither touch the dog nor the course.
In a typical agility event, dogs jump over a few tunnels, poles, or even walkways. Some dog owners engage in agility training for their dogs for pleasure. However, some people make a competition out of it. Dogs compete to see who can complete the obstacle route with greater accuracy and speed during the competition.
You should be thinking about engaging your dog in an agility course. The good thing is any dog breed can participate in this dynamic activity. Read and see how you can get started.
What are the Advantages of Agility Training for Dogs and their Owners?
Starting agility training sessions is beneficial for both the dog and its owner.
#1. Excellent Source of Exercise
Visualize having an obese and low-spirited dog. It sounds terrible, but there’s no problem without a solution. The solution is that your dog needs to burn excess calories to stay in shape. Jumping over an obstacle course is one sure-fire way to achieve that.
In any case, the acrobatic challenge fights against obesity and strengthens your pup’s bones. Plus, the agility event stretches your dog’s mind, offering a rare chance to proffer solutions to immediate difficulties. Ordinarily, the thrill that comes with the competition will rev up a low-spirited dog.
As a handler, the training will also help you to stay fit. You do not have to jump over poles or tunnels. All you need to do is keep pacing alongside your dog to track its performance.
Pacing with your pup, you are bound to make on-the-spot decisions to help it match up to the demands of the competition. While doing this, you must also be present-minded and active. Overall, agility training offers excellent muscular and intellectual exercise for you and your dog.
#2. Bonding
Dogs are intelligent beings. However, they are not perfect. Dogs need your guidance to ensure the successful completion of the agility event.
You, as the coach, manage your puppy via verbal cues and hand gestures. So there must be clear communication between you and your puppy. The frequency of communication creates a special bond and lifelong friendship between you and your dog.
A greater sense of reliance on the owner helps the dog become more compliant and well-behaved during and after the agility training.
#3. Development of Self-Control
Left to them, some dogs will opt for tasks that interest them at a specific time. Some dogs are suckers for weave poles or tunnels. Others prefer to jump at an uncontrolled speed. Agility training will help your dog develop self-control and get on with assigned tasks.
As a handler, you will learn to channel your self-control as well. You will train yourself to commit to the assigned activity without getting distracted.
#4. Builds Confidence
An optimistic dog is a fun-loving dog. One way to boost your dog’s confidence is to work with them. Enrolling in an agility class will help your dog overcome a series of fears they may have. Two of such fears are facing challenges alone and jumping over irregular surfaces.
Your pup will be able to complete the activity without holding onto you. Plus, your pup will receive incentives after training. These incentives will enhance confidence and faith in your puppy. It is always great to see your canine jubilate after completing a course.
The way it wags its tail will warm your heart. It comes with absorbing that ‘yes, I nailed it’ moment. The confidence developed during the agility event will also influence other areas of the puppy’s life. It will be more confident when meeting new dogs and people.
In addition, it would be more confident in making significant decisions in ugly situations. Equally, you develop a profound faith and trust in your dog when engaging in agility dog training.
#5. Distraction Exercise
For instance, in an agility training facility, you might meet numerous noisy dogs and horrible odors. Amidst all this, your dog needs to concentrate on the assigned task.
As time goes on, your dog will learn to turn a blind eye to everyday distractions.
#6. Building Natural Instincts
The Agility event comprises running across numerous obstacles of all forms.
You also tend to switch directions and focus on your present course. It’s similar to sprinting through a jungle to pursue prey. Engaging in agility training strengthens the animalistic instincts and self-driven instincts in dogs. Hence, it improves their intuition.
Things to Consider Before you Begin Agility Training For Your Dog
Agility training is a challenging exercise. So it’s essential to consider a few things before setting it in motion.
#1. Your Dog’s Temperament or Personality
If you and your dog will be using external training equipment, you need to consider your dog’s temperament. You do this because there will be numerous dogs and people at the training venue.
Your dog should be at ease with new dogs, new people, and new experiences. This is essential because your dog will be competing without a lead and will need to react to your voice commands from a distance.
Ask yourself this question. Will my dog enjoy this exercise? If you are not sure about that, it’d be best to explore a few activities at home.
Use this opportunity to find out whether your dog enjoys the thrill of the challenge. Or perhaps, your dog finds it exhausting.
#2. Your Dog’s Motivations
We all get tired sometimes. Your dog is not an exception. Agility training is a tedious exercise that can frustrate both you and your dog at some point. While you are a sucker for finishing what you’ve started, your internal positive attitude won’t necessarily impress your dog.
It would help if you discovered what inspires your dog to push through the challenging spots. Is it a friendly stroke beneath their neck, toys, snacks, or a hug? But keep in mind that you won’t be allowed to do all these in the agility trials except for hugs.
So we suggest that you shower your pup with incentives before or after each trial.
#3. Breed
Sometimes, it’s not all about your puppy’s motivations. It would help if you thought outside the box for yourself and your dog. So another question to ask yourself is whether your dog’s breed will enjoy agility training.
You can’t rule out that every breed, including mixed-breed dogs, can participate in an acrobatic event. However, some species may have difficulty based on size and design. Ordinarily, breeds that work only with their owners may not cut it. In any case, naturally curious species will enjoy the training more.
Popular Athletic Dog Breeds for Agility
Here are some popular athletic dog breeds ;
- Border Collies: They are vibrant, intelligent, and designed to respond to a coach’s instructions. It has a proven track record in agility competitions.
- Shelties: Like the collies, they are meticulous and fast.
- German Shepherds: German shepherds are well-built and easy to train. This makes it easier for them to nail agility classes and competitions
- Papillons
- Labrador Retrievers: Labrador retrievers are responsive and active. They retrieve game birds for their owners in the course of a shooting event. It’s no wonder that they are also very successful in agility competitions.
- Jack Russell: Jack Russell breeds are fun-loving and quick-witted. They also perform well in agility classes. But one disadvantage is that they get easily frustrated. So they need to engage in more activities to keep going.
- Welsh Corgi: Welsh corgi is an industrious breed used to herd geese, cattle, and sheep. They are exceptionally skilled at changing directions and jumping over weave poles.
#4. Health
Another thing to consider is your puppy’s medical history. The training will get your pet’s breathing and joints. So if your pet has any medical challenges, it would be best to reach out to your vet before you embark on the training.
As an owner, you might also want to consider your medical history. You already know that agility requires much running on the handler’s part to keep up with the puppy. So your health status is equally important.
At What Age Should Your Dog Start Agility Training?
It depends on the specific type of agility training you want your pet to receive. As stated earlier, agility training does not revolve around navigating tough spots such as weave poles alone.
A substantial measure of communication must exist between the handler and the puppy. So your dog needs to be taught how to follow the coach’s cues while running through the course.
It will help if your dog is older before engaging in any agility obstacles training. However, dogs as young as eight weeks can participate in flatwork training.’
Flatwork training is just a walking exercise that exposes puppies to their coach’s cues and motion. You make your pup walk next to you─ easy-peasy! Plus, it’s a low-impact exercise─ no risk of getting injured.
As a general principle, you can study the table below to know the appropriate age for your doggy to start specific agility training.
| Agility Training (Type) | Age (Dog) |
| Tunnels | 8 weeks |
| Pause table | 4-6 months |
| Teeter totter | 10-16 months |
| Dog walk | 10-16 months |
| A-frame | 12-18 months |
| Weave Poles | 12-18 months |
| Full-sized Jumps | 12-18 months |
Note that these are merely the rule of the thumb as far as agility training for puppies is concerned. There are different strokes for different breeds. It’d be best to confirm with your veterinarian to determine what’s best for your pet breed, depending on its health status, shape, and size.
How Do I Get My Dog Started With Agility Training?
So if you have figured out that you and your pet would find agility fun, the next step is to give it a shot!
Even if you have liked agility training, you still need to look further. It’s an excellent idea to attend an acrobatic event or demonstration first. This will help you see what the training expects of you and your puppy for yourself.
Are you wondering how to track agility events? It’d be best to search Google to figure out details of relevant upcoming events.
Also, your place might have a pup’s agility organization that you could join. Most canines’ agility groups offer stimulating sessions where you and your pet can test the waters.
Tips on How to Start Dog Agility Training at home?
Before you opt for any agility courses or classes, you might want to create simulated agility obstacles at home. Let’s look at a few tips on working around do-it-yourself obstacles. This way, you can walk your canine through basic agility training.
Tip #1: Dog Walk
The dog walk is an elevated flyover with a sloping surface at both ends. In this case, you could utilize a picnic bench and position pieces of wood at each end for a sloppy surface.
Some pets might be reluctant to mount the obstacle at first. So for a start, you can concentrate on the border. Carry your doggy and position them away from the obstacle’s edge. Then you and your canine are good to go for the dog walk.
Tip #2: Hurdles
Every agility session requires one or more jumps. Hurdles can be straight panels, and it’s best to assemble a single fence or three.
Make sure you opt for lightweight and compact hurdles. This way, your puppy won’t get injured if it butts against one.
Tip #3: Weave Poles
Weave poles are one of the most tasking agility activities for the pup. At the same time, it’s also one of the most exciting obstacles for sightseeing. It tests your dog’s ability to switch directions at a breakneck speed.
First, pace through the poles with your puppy on a leash. The next step is to allow your pet to walk through the bars by themselves. You can draw the poles together as your pet begins to master the movements.
Flexibility is essential at this point. So you have to cut your puppy some slack to prevent accidental injury.
Tip #4: Tunnel
A tunnel is one of the most straightforward agility sessions to master for a rookie. You can assemble it from any angle.
All your puppy needs to do is run through the tunnel and out to the other side at a top speed.
However, if your pup feels a little unconfident about running through the tunnel, it’d be best to entice them with baby carrots, popcorn, or pork incentives.
It is good as an entry level agility event.
Tip #5: Teeterboard
Like weave poles, the teeterboard is also a challenging agility exercise. It could exhaust your pup’s confidence with locomotive objects.
It’s best to start small. Make sure your pet gets used to objects moving underneath, such as a wobble board.
You might want to set up a teeterboard at home with a long piece of wood lying on a thick pipe.
Agility Classes for Dogs
If you find out that your pet enjoys agility lessons more than usual, it will be best to enroll in classes to hone some skills.
You can look out for some classes at agility groups in your area. After that, you could write an Agility test before opting for classes.
The United States Dog Agility Association provides an index of agility clubs in each state. You might also want to do your homework by searching the agility association for your state. Also, your vet can recommend agility classes close to residents if you don’t know how to find one.
Is Agility Training Good for dogs?
Agility training is one of the best sporting activities a puppy can engage in. The training can be helpful, especially in helping puppies to modify their behaviors. Such training has been used successfully in puppies with a phobia of people and other dogs. People also use this exercise in cases of dominance aggression.
Is Dog Agility cruel?
Agility training is not bad for your puppy. The reason is simple. Owners follow a gradual and steady pattern and never pressurize their pups during training.
However, agility can be cruel to puppies if they are not in their best form. This is why it’s crucial to get a vet’s approval before opting for such an exercise.
FAQ
Conclusion
If you are rethinking agility training for your puppy, you are probably picturing what a captivating experience it would be. The training will not only modify your dog’s behavior. It will also showcase your pet’s ability to compete showing the world that your puppy has got something more!
*photo by Wirestock – depositphotos