There are many undeniable facts about dogs. They are loyal, they are loving and they love to play. If you have a healthy dog with lots of energy, one fun way to expend this energy is through dog agility training. Dogs love these activities, and they also derive a host of benefits from these activities.
Dogs, just like people, need exercise. Agility training provides an abundance of exercise for your dog, and this is especially good for a dog with a ton of energy. While you might think only certain breeds, such as Australian shepherds or border collies are suited to agility, most dog breeds can have a lot of fun running around an agility course. While some breeds do seem to be highly successful in agility competitions, that doesn't mean your dog won't benefit from agility training, and all dogs need a good amount of exercise in order to stay fit and healthy. You'll be getting exercise, too, which is just one of the many benefits.
Not only does agility training provide an outlet for exercise, it is a special type of exercise that dogs really crave. The jumps and tunnels and other obstacles complement a dog's instinctive behavior. Once upon a time, dogs roamed in packs and scampered through the woods and other terrain chasing after food. While today's dog need only head over to the food bowl to eat, the instinct to run and jump and weave through obstacles is still there. Often, a dog craves more than just playing ball or going on walks, and agility training can fill this need. Often dogs that don't get enough stimulation or exercise can be destructive, chewing on your shoes or scratching furniture. Sometimes some training and exercise is all it takes to stop this type of behavior.
Agility training also improves obedience and cements the bond between dog and owner. You spend a great deal of time together learning how to navigate each of the obstacles, and of course, what dog doesn't want to spend more time with their owner? You can teach a variety of obedience skills with agility training, particularly on the pause table, where dogs must sit, stay and go down. Agility training is all about following commands, so a well-trained agility dog is well trained in general.
One of the best things about dog agility competitions is that they welcome most dogs to participate, regardless of breed or size. The course can be adjusted for smaller breeds, and dogs are placed into groupings based on their size, their level of experience and their age. The whole atmosphere is one of fun and camaraderie despite that fact that this is a competitive environment. It's a fantastic hobby and you not only will enjoy competing but also watching other dogs zoom through the course.
You can begin by purchasing one or two pieces of dog agility equipment, such as a pause table and a jump. One company, Carlson Agility, makes it easy for beginners by selling a variety of different starter kits. There are eight starter kits and each is a little different. One has a dog agility jumps as well as a dog agility tunnel, while another includes weave poles and jumps, and others include different mixes of equipment including a-frames, dog walks, tire jumps and other fun items.
If you have a small yard, a small dog or a puppy, Carlson Agility also sells small versions of their equipment, such as smaller mini contact equipment, mini jumps, a mini teeter and a mini pause table to name a few. These are great for the smaller breeds and also small enough to even set up in your family room or basement or garage. Even when the weather is not so great, you can still enjoy some indoor training.
Dogs, just like people, need exercise. Agility training provides an abundance of exercise for your dog, and this is especially good for a dog with a ton of energy. While you might think only certain breeds, such as Australian shepherds or border collies are suited to agility, most dog breeds can have a lot of fun running around an agility course. While some breeds do seem to be highly successful in agility competitions, that doesn't mean your dog won't benefit from agility training, and all dogs need a good amount of exercise in order to stay fit and healthy. You'll be getting exercise, too, which is just one of the many benefits.
Not only does agility training provide an outlet for exercise, it is a special type of exercise that dogs really crave. The jumps and tunnels and other obstacles complement a dog's instinctive behavior. Once upon a time, dogs roamed in packs and scampered through the woods and other terrain chasing after food. While today's dog need only head over to the food bowl to eat, the instinct to run and jump and weave through obstacles is still there. Often, a dog craves more than just playing ball or going on walks, and agility training can fill this need. Often dogs that don't get enough stimulation or exercise can be destructive, chewing on your shoes or scratching furniture. Sometimes some training and exercise is all it takes to stop this type of behavior.
Agility training also improves obedience and cements the bond between dog and owner. You spend a great deal of time together learning how to navigate each of the obstacles, and of course, what dog doesn't want to spend more time with their owner? You can teach a variety of obedience skills with agility training, particularly on the pause table, where dogs must sit, stay and go down. Agility training is all about following commands, so a well-trained agility dog is well trained in general.
One of the best things about dog agility competitions is that they welcome most dogs to participate, regardless of breed or size. The course can be adjusted for smaller breeds, and dogs are placed into groupings based on their size, their level of experience and their age. The whole atmosphere is one of fun and camaraderie despite that fact that this is a competitive environment. It's a fantastic hobby and you not only will enjoy competing but also watching other dogs zoom through the course.
You can begin by purchasing one or two pieces of dog agility equipment, such as a pause table and a jump. One company, Carlson Agility, makes it easy for beginners by selling a variety of different starter kits. There are eight starter kits and each is a little different. One has a dog agility jumps as well as a dog agility tunnel, while another includes weave poles and jumps, and others include different mixes of equipment including a-frames, dog walks, tire jumps and other fun items.
If you have a small yard, a small dog or a puppy, Carlson Agility also sells small versions of their equipment, such as smaller mini contact equipment, mini jumps, a mini teeter and a mini pause table to name a few. These are great for the smaller breeds and also small enough to even set up in your family room or basement or garage. Even when the weather is not so great, you can still enjoy some indoor training.
About the Author:
Cheng Bernhardt enjoys dog agility training. To find the many benefits of agility training for dogs, or to get useful agility dog training equipment such as dog agility kit, please visit the Carlson-Agility website now.
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