For those about to begin teaching their dog the tricks of agility, you are probably gathering as much information as possible. Dog agility is a fantastic exercise and sport option for most dogs, and it even improves their overall level of obedience. Here are just a few helpful tips for those new to the sport.
Each agility organization is a bit different regarding the type and size of obstacles used in various dog agility competitions, but you don't really need to worry about these requirements in the early stages of training. Mini agility equipment can be a great option for beginners and while it is especially suitable for puppies, young dogs and small breeds, the mini equipment is much less intimidating and can be great way to build confidence in your dog. They will be mastering the same skills, but it's just a bit easier when using smaller obstacles.
When many dogs first see the teeter, for instance, they are quite nervous about the way it moves. Likewise, some dogs are frightened by the angle and height of a dog walk or A-frame. Using smaller, miniature versions of these can ease the anxiety of a dog that is new to the sport. You also would be wise to purchase a Buja board, which is very low to the ground but moves around so your dog will get use to standing, staying and sitting on a moving object. These sometimes are simple known as wobble boards.
Watching dogs run in and out of the weave poles is fun and dogs enjoy it too, but it is one of the more difficult obstacles to master. You can use snap-on training guide wires early on to force your dog to navigate through the poles correctly. These guides will help make sure that no poles are missed. Once they seem to have the weave skills down with the guides in place, simply remove them and train without the guides.
Often dogs are having such fun on the agility course that they tend to leap onto or off the A-frame or dog walk. However, rules prohibit this as the dogs are meant to come into contact with the bottom edges of the obstacle and walk or run off the obstacle rather than leaping. Using a training hoop, which is secure near the bottom of the obstacle, can help re-focus your dog and direct them off the A-frame or agility dog walk correctly.
When you are searching for all of these training tools and your agility equipment, consider an online source such as Carlson Agility. This agility company offers free shipping on many items and has everything you could need for agility training. They sell both full-size and mini versions of agility equipment and even have items such as sway bridges, chain link hurdles, car door jumps and other more obscure pieces of equipment that you might encounter during some competitions.
Each agility organization is a bit different regarding the type and size of obstacles used in various dog agility competitions, but you don't really need to worry about these requirements in the early stages of training. Mini agility equipment can be a great option for beginners and while it is especially suitable for puppies, young dogs and small breeds, the mini equipment is much less intimidating and can be great way to build confidence in your dog. They will be mastering the same skills, but it's just a bit easier when using smaller obstacles.
When many dogs first see the teeter, for instance, they are quite nervous about the way it moves. Likewise, some dogs are frightened by the angle and height of a dog walk or A-frame. Using smaller, miniature versions of these can ease the anxiety of a dog that is new to the sport. You also would be wise to purchase a Buja board, which is very low to the ground but moves around so your dog will get use to standing, staying and sitting on a moving object. These sometimes are simple known as wobble boards.
Watching dogs run in and out of the weave poles is fun and dogs enjoy it too, but it is one of the more difficult obstacles to master. You can use snap-on training guide wires early on to force your dog to navigate through the poles correctly. These guides will help make sure that no poles are missed. Once they seem to have the weave skills down with the guides in place, simply remove them and train without the guides.
Often dogs are having such fun on the agility course that they tend to leap onto or off the A-frame or dog walk. However, rules prohibit this as the dogs are meant to come into contact with the bottom edges of the obstacle and walk or run off the obstacle rather than leaping. Using a training hoop, which is secure near the bottom of the obstacle, can help re-focus your dog and direct them off the A-frame or agility dog walk correctly.
When you are searching for all of these training tools and your agility equipment, consider an online source such as Carlson Agility. This agility company offers free shipping on many items and has everything you could need for agility training. They sell both full-size and mini versions of agility equipment and even have items such as sway bridges, chain link hurdles, car door jumps and other more obscure pieces of equipment that you might encounter during some competitions.
About the Author:
Cheng Bernhardt enjoys dog agility training. To discover an agility equipment for dogs, or to find further agility dog training equipment like obedience jumps, please check out the Carlson-Agility website today.
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