Want To Start Dog Agility Training? Read This First
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.
It is wise to consider your pet's temperament, age and their physical condition. Older dogs might be prone to injuring themselves on equipment, as well. If your dog doesn't have a great deal of stamina then agility might not be a great idea. If a 15-minute walk tires them out, agility training is probably not recommended. If you plan to compete but your animal is an amputee, partially blind or perhaps hearing impaired, many organizations restrict their entry in contests, so this is also something to keep in mind but not necessarily a reason not to enjoy agility training. You will get plenty of exercise, too, so your physical condition also is important.
When it comes to puppies, as long as you have plenty of supervision, these little guys can definitely begin learning some agility skills. The important thing to remember is that because their little bodies are still developing, you need to use mini agility equipment so that they won't get hurt. Retailers such as Carlson Agility sell this mini equipment specifically for small dogs and puppies. While you can begin by using any apparatus, using a pause table or pause mat not only is a great way to start agility training, this apparatus will enhance obedience training, as well. Puppies, however, will enjoy exploring all the different types of mini equipment.
Another reason to consider purchasing miniature-sized equipment is that it is simply easier to set up in your yard and takes up a smaller amount of space. This means you can practice a greater variety of skills because you have extra room. While the equipment is scaled down, the skills taught are still the same and easily transferable to larger equipment once your dog grows to full size or perhaps you start training for competitions. In addition, if you are stuck indoors due to rain, sleet or snow, a piece of mini equipment can fit easily into your family room or living room. Your dog will be quite enthusiastic to train after a day of being stuck inside.
When you begin training, for either agility or general obedience, remember the three P's: Patience, patience and more patience. It takes time to train a dog, and they can become confused easily, so stick with learning one piece of equipment at a time. Spend a few weeks learning basic jumping, and then maybe add a new skill such as the pause table or maybe a cool tunnel. Don't expect them to learn all the agility course skills in a couple of months. The dogs you see running courses on TV have been working on these skills for several years, so it's little wonder why they are so good at it.
Your first step to getting started is to acquire some quality dog agility equipment. For your dog agility course, you might consider beginning with a starter kit from Carlson Agility. These kits contain a few pieces of basic equipment. One kit, for instance, includes dog agility weaves and four agility jumps. Another kit contains two jumps and a dog agility tunnel. In addition to the many starter kits, Carlson Agility also sells individual pieces of equipment such as dog agility walks, A-frames, teeter totters, tire jumps and much more.
It is wise to consider your pet's temperament, age and their physical condition. Older dogs might be prone to injuring themselves on equipment, as well. If your dog doesn't have a great deal of stamina then agility might not be a great idea. If a 15-minute walk tires them out, agility training is probably not recommended. If you plan to compete but your animal is an amputee, partially blind or perhaps hearing impaired, many organizations restrict their entry in contests, so this is also something to keep in mind but not necessarily a reason not to enjoy agility training. You will get plenty of exercise, too, so your physical condition also is important.
When it comes to puppies, as long as you have plenty of supervision, these little guys can definitely begin learning some agility skills. The important thing to remember is that because their little bodies are still developing, you need to use mini agility equipment so that they won't get hurt. Retailers such as Carlson Agility sell this mini equipment specifically for small dogs and puppies. While you can begin by using any apparatus, using a pause table or pause mat not only is a great way to start agility training, this apparatus will enhance obedience training, as well. Puppies, however, will enjoy exploring all the different types of mini equipment.
Another reason to consider purchasing miniature-sized equipment is that it is simply easier to set up in your yard and takes up a smaller amount of space. This means you can practice a greater variety of skills because you have extra room. While the equipment is scaled down, the skills taught are still the same and easily transferable to larger equipment once your dog grows to full size or perhaps you start training for competitions. In addition, if you are stuck indoors due to rain, sleet or snow, a piece of mini equipment can fit easily into your family room or living room. Your dog will be quite enthusiastic to train after a day of being stuck inside.
When you begin training, for either agility or general obedience, remember the three P's: Patience, patience and more patience. It takes time to train a dog, and they can become confused easily, so stick with learning one piece of equipment at a time. Spend a few weeks learning basic jumping, and then maybe add a new skill such as the pause table or maybe a cool tunnel. Don't expect them to learn all the agility course skills in a couple of months. The dogs you see running courses on TV have been working on these skills for several years, so it's little wonder why they are so good at it.
Your first step to getting started is to acquire some quality dog agility equipment. For your dog agility course, you might consider beginning with a starter kit from Carlson Agility. These kits contain a few pieces of basic equipment. One kit, for instance, includes dog agility weaves and four agility jumps. Another kit contains two jumps and a dog agility tunnel. In addition to the many starter kits, Carlson Agility also sells individual pieces of equipment such as dog agility walks, A-frames, teeter totters, tire jumps and much more.
About the Author:
Cheng Bernhardt enjoys dog agility training. For further information about dog training equipment or to learn more about other equipment such as dog agility tunnels, please visit the Carlson-Agility.com website today.