Dog agility is a great activity that most healthy, active dogs can enjoy, and if you are ready to get going, you probably have a few questions about this sport. Not only will your pet benefit from the exercise, you will see behavior improvements from practicing these agility skills. Take a look at the following tips, which might be helpful for someone new to agility.
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.
Many dogs are a bit timid about some of the contact equipment, especially the A-frame and teeter. A smaller version of the teeter-totter or dog agility A-frame can be much less intimidating. In addition, a Buja board or wobble board is another great tool to use when training. This simply wobbles a bit but is low to the ground, and it provides a way for dogs to get used to standing or sitting on a moving obstacle.
Some pieces of equipment are easier to learn than others, and weaves can be among the most difficult to master. While dogs have great fun zipping around the poles, they often skip a pole or navigate the poles incorrectly. Snap-on training guides can be a big help. These just snap to the weave poles and help guide your dog through the weaves correctly. After practicing with the guides, take them off and then practice without the guides. It can make this difficult apparatus a bit easier to learn.
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.
All of these training tools as well as any agility equipment you might need is available for purchase online, from shops such as Carlson Agility. They even have mini versions of all the obstacles. In addition to the typical obstacles such as jumps, weave poles, agility dog walks, tunnels, shoots, tire jumps and other pieces, they have specialty equipment that you might need. This includes interesting items like car door jumps, sway bridges and swing planks.
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.
Many dogs are a bit timid about some of the contact equipment, especially the A-frame and teeter. A smaller version of the teeter-totter or dog agility A-frame can be much less intimidating. In addition, a Buja board or wobble board is another great tool to use when training. This simply wobbles a bit but is low to the ground, and it provides a way for dogs to get used to standing or sitting on a moving obstacle.
Some pieces of equipment are easier to learn than others, and weaves can be among the most difficult to master. While dogs have great fun zipping around the poles, they often skip a pole or navigate the poles incorrectly. Snap-on training guides can be a big help. These just snap to the weave poles and help guide your dog through the weaves correctly. After practicing with the guides, take them off and then practice without the guides. It can make this difficult apparatus a bit easier to learn.
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.
All of these training tools as well as any agility equipment you might need is available for purchase online, from shops such as Carlson Agility. They even have mini versions of all the obstacles. In addition to the typical obstacles such as jumps, weave poles, agility dog walks, tunnels, shoots, tire jumps and other pieces, they have specialty equipment that you might need. This includes interesting items like car door jumps, sway bridges and swing planks.
About the Author:
Cheng Bernhardt loves dog agility training. To discover an agility equipment for dogs, or to find further agility dog training equipment such as obedience jumps, please go to the Carlson-Agility.com website now.
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