The Secrets Of Training A Dog For Agility
Introduction and History Owning a dog is undeniably a good thing; but sometimes the routine of exercising can seem a bit of a chore. Agility training can provide just the tonic for active dog and owner, as it challenges not just the need for rigorous physical exercise, but also the need for mental stimulation as well. Agility is about a dog completing an obstacle course in the fastest time possible and is more of the more popular events at dog shows, but it can just be done as a fun bonding activity for you and your dog.
Type of suitable dog In the serious, competitive sport, the breeds of dog that excel at agility tend to be those that are generally classed as intelligent, such as Border Collies and Labradors. However, as long as your mutt is fit, healthy and has enough brain cells to cope the basic obedience commands, there is no reason why he or she can’t succeed in agility, even if it’s just for fun. It’s even suitable for puppies a young as 8 months. Some of the obstacles can be strenuous on the joints, so training any earlier than 8 months is not recommended.
Equipment Of course the object is to encourage Fido to complete an obstacle course, so to train you need the obstacles, as well as the space to run around in. Requirements are: a tunnel, cones for weaving, jumps, an “A” frame, possibly a see saw and a pause table. It would be best to join a local class or club. However, if money is no object it is possible to buy portable equipment that can be taken to a local park. You might want to have Fido’s collar and lead in the initial stages of training.
Procedure Don’t expect Fido to be brilliant after the first few goes, for a start he or she may not understand what is expected of him. If Fido is by nature timid the course may be a little scary for him. Set -up the obstacles and let Fido become familiar with them before beginning the training. Start slowly with one obstacle and some very low jumps, which you may have to complete with Fido until gets the idea. Encouragement is the key: your dog will respond and learn more quickly he or she thinks they’re doing the right thing: lots of praise and treats when Fido does it right. Never punish: bonding with your dog is supposed to be a fun activity!
If you are interested in training your dog, for whatever reason, then you can find some qualified help here. There are some wonderful articles available specifically written to help you to train your dog to do anything. And this is information is not restricted to agility training. If your dog jumps, bites or just cries in the night, then there is something that you can do about it.
