Want To Start Dog Agility Training? Read This First

While teaching dog agility skills to your furry friend is fun and an excellent way to provide exercise, not every dog is suited to agility training, and there are a few things you need to think about before training starts. If you wish to start agility lessons, here is some information that might help you get the most out of this experience.

A dog needs to be in excellent physical condition for agility training, so if your dog has some health issues, this might not be a great activity choice. Keep in mind if you plan on competing, many organizations have restrictions for dogs who are partially blind or deaf, so for this dog, agility training is mainly for fun and exercise. A dog that doesn’t seem to have a lot of stamina or energy also is probably not a great choice for agility. You also need to consider your own health as agility training also is exercise for you.

A puppy that has reached at least eight weeks of age also can begin enjoying agility training. Puppies are always anxious to play and are highly interesting in anything new, so this can be a great time to start. However, because they are still in development stages, you do need to supervise them carefully and you also need to purchase mini equipment for them to use. Carlson Agility is one retailer that offers this mini equipment for puppies and small breed dogs. You can purchase mini versions of pause tables, a-frames, dog walks and even a cute little mini chute and barrel. The mini pause table can be a great place to begin, as they learn important agility and obedience skills at the same time.

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.

If you have ever watched a dog agility competition, you probably were amazed by the skills and speed of these animals and it certainly is impressive to see. However, these dogs have spent several years honing these skills, and while your dog will learn them, don’t expect to hit the Grand Prix of Dog Agility in a matter of weeks. Time and plenty of patience is needed for training, and always remember this is supposed to be a fun activity for you and your dog. Start out slowly by learning one apparatus at time. You might begin with a jump, a tunnel or a pause table. A-frames and teeters can be a bit intimidating at first. Once you are doing well on one piece of equipment, add a new skill and so on.

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.

Cheng Bernhardt enjoys dog agility training. To get further information about dog training equipment or to learn more about other equipment like dog agility tunnels, please check out the Carlson-Agility.com website now.

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Want To Start Dog Agility Training? Read This First



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The Equipment Used On Canine Agility Courses

While dogs certainly love to go on walks, they also crave varied and unique types of exercise. Their instincts harken back to the ancient times when wild dogs would cavort and run through forests and fields chasing pray. Setting up a dog agility course is the perfect way to provide an exciting form of exercise, and while learning new skills, you and your dog will form a closer bond that will be felt in all areas of your life together. Before you set up a course, read on and discover some important information about agility equipment.

A dog jump is an excellent piece of starter equipment. These are typically made out of PVC and can be adjusted to suit your dog’s level of experience or ability level. Once they have learned how to complete one jump, you can add a second jump and then a third. Eventually they can complete a series of jumps in a row, or you can intersperse the jumps with other pieces of equipment just as would happen at a real agility competition.

The adjustable jumps are just one kind of jump, there are also tire jumps to consider. These jumps include a sturdy stand made from PVC with a tire attached by sturdy ropes which are tethered to each corner of the stand. You could also create a version of this by hanging a tire from a tree in your yard, but if you eventually set up a course, it can be more convenient to have a stand that can be moved anywhere you want. If your dog is quite small, don’t worry, there are mini jumps, both tire and regular, that have been created just for them.

While it’s fun to see dogs running up and down a teeter totter, the first time on this apparatus can be a bit frightening for your dog. It does move, after all, and this definitely isn’t something your dog will expect at first. Start by just having your pet walk across the plank as it rests on the ground. Once that seems comfortable, you can put it on its stand at the very lowest level and lead your dog across with a treat. Eventually your dog will feel comfortable trying the teeter at greater heights.

While weaves are not scary obstacles, they are one of the most difficult to master. It takes time, praise and patience to help your dog do the weave. But once they have it, it sure is exciting to watch a dog zip through these poles. You can start out slow with a six-pole weave and then work up to a 12-pole weave. You also can opt to mount the poles in the ground or opt for a weave that rests on a stand; the latter option is easier to move around as you adjust your obstacle course.

One easy way to get going is to purchase a starter kit from an agility equipment specialist such as Carson-Agility.com. You can find starter kits that include four jumps and a weave or perhaps opt for a kit that includes a weave, a teeter and a tire jump. There is also a starter kit that substitutes four jumps for the tire jump.

Cheng Bernhardt enjoys dog agility training. For additional information about agility equipment for dogs or to learn more about other equipment like dog agility tunnels, please visit the Carlson-Agility.com website today.

The Equipment Used On Canine Agility Courses



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Reasons Why Your Dog Needs Agility Training

You probably have seen dogs on television competing in dog agility contests, jumping over bars, crawling through tunnels and jumping through tires. While it’s a lot of fun to watch, you might not know that you can do these activities with your own dog. Not only will your dog have a blast, it provides a great opportunity for you to bond with your furry friend. Here are just a few reasons why agility training can benefit your dog.

Obviously, agility training is a fantastic form of exercise for your dog. Agility training is especially suitable for dogs that have a high level of energy. It allows them not only to run around and cavort, agility training keeps dogs engaged and interested. A daily walk is always a treat, but imagine how much fun your dog would have with a walk and also some time playing with agility equipment. While some breeds are naturally highly active, all dogs benefit from daily exercise, and agility training is excellent total-body exercise for your animal.

As the owners of many dogs can attest, a bored dog can be quite destructive or noisy. Dogs are totally under our control and rely on us for their exercise opportunities. For some breeds, a lack of exercise leads to extreme unhappiness. They need to run around and fulfill their natural instinct of chasing and hunting. The activities in an obstacle course were created to be similar to what a dog would do while he or she was hunting for food in the woods. Instead of climbing or leaping over fallen logs, they leap over specially created dog agility jumps. Instead of crawling under leaves to locate prey, they wind their way through a manmade dog tunnel.

As you teach your dog various skills or take part in agility classes with a trained instructor, you will soon notice another big benefit of agility training. This activity strengthens the bond between you and your dog. Dogs love praise and love to please their owners, so as they complete each new challenge, you will be giving them tons of positive feedback which just makes them love you even more. It’s a great way to spend some real quality time with an animal and you will be amazed at what your dog can accomplish. In addition, you will be learning hand signals and verbal cues to help your dog through the obstacles. Your dog’s ability to obey these commands will increase the level of trust between you, which will be of great benefit in all areas of your life together.

You personally will enjoy some benefits from dog agility training. After all, you will be following your pet throughout the course, encouraging and helping along the way. This is good cardiovascular exercise for you as well as your pet. It’s a fun way to get moving and if you do some course walk and a morning and evening walk, you and your pet soon will be in top shape.

There are many different types of equipment to consider purchasing in order to create your own agility course. A basic starter kit, from a dog agility training specialist such as Carlson-Agility.com, includes 12 weaves and four jumps. This equipment is sturdy and easy to assemble and disassemble. You could also opt for a starter kit that includes the jumps and weaves, as well as a teeter totter, which can be adjusted. There also is a kit that includes a tire jump instead of the four jumps, as well as weaves and a teeter. There are plenty of other options, and you can add fun obstacles as time goes by.

Cheng Bernhardt enjoys blogging about dog agility training. To find an agility dog course, or to discover more agility dog training equipment like obedience jumps, please visit the Carlson-Agility site today.

Reasons Why Your Dog Needs Agility Training



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