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Dog Agility: Fun For The Whole Family

By Cheng Bernhardt


Your family dog needs exercise, and while a walk at the park is great, it can be even more fun to enter the world of dog agility. This type of training improves obedience, provides a fun source of activity for your pet, and it is something the whole family can get involved in and enjoy.

Dog agility training is something that all members of the family can work on, but it is crucial that everyone train in an identical fashion. Your dog will become confused if one person uses their own set of signals or commands while another person uses a completely different method. Training, whether it is for dog agility or obedience, simply needs to be very consistent. When everyone trains the same way, it is much easier for your dog to be successful.

For children younger than 18, there are quite a few programs out there just for them, and you can enroll then in the American Kennel Club junior handler program or perhaps the one sponsored by USDAA, the United States Dog Agility Association. The latter is the country's largest organization for dog agility. Your local 4-H club probably has some dog agility classes or programs for young handlers, so considering giving them a call, too. Not only will your child learn how to train your pet, they also will learn a lot about the importance of proper animal care.

Dog agility clubs are quite common these days, and sometimes it definitely pays to join a local group. You can take classes, use the club's equipment, socialize with other dog agility enthusiasts and even learn how to set up your own dog agility course at home. This can be a great way to gauge whether or not your dog will truly enjoy dog agility.

If all goes well and your dog and the family are enjoying the sport, it's probably time to start buying some equipment for home use. For those with puppies, small dogs or small yards, you can buy mini agility equipment. Even larger dogs can use these, and they are great items to consider when you begin training, as they are less intimidating for dogs to use. You can even bring in a mini pause table or mini A-frame into the house on rainy days to keep your dog busy and happy.

If you are in the market for some agility equipment, Carlson Agility can ship you anything you might need. They sell all types of jumps, A-frames, dog walks, pause tables, weaves, chutes, tunnels, teeter totters and many other obstacles and training aids. They also sell the smaller, mini versions of equipment perfect for your small dog, puppy or for backyard training.




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