Dog agility training might seem like a difficult endeavor, but the good news is that dogs often are quite easy to teach and train. While there may be a language barrier, the good humor and eagerness to please inherent in most dogs makes them excellent students. All that is required of the trainer is some tenacity, patience and some helpful tips from those who have already experienced the joys and frustrations of agility training.
Over the years, we have found a variety of helpful hints that have made our own training a bit easier. The following list includes hints and tips for using many different types of dog agility equipment. While these tips have worked for us, you might find that some of the following information works with your dog and some does not, and that’s ok. Every dog is an individual with a unique personality and will need individualized training.
Overall Training Tips
1. Visit Your Vet
It’s always a good idea to talk to your veterinarian prior to beginning any type of exercise program or agility training with your dog. This ensures that your dog is in tip-top shape for training, and your veterinarian might even have some helpful advice regarding training and exercise. Generally, most healthy and energetic dogs will enjoy agility training, but it’s wise to begin with a good check-up. Agility is a workout for the handler as well, so be sure that you are up to the challenge physically.
2. Create A Training Plan
A teacher has a lesson plan to help them stay on tract during the school day, and as an agility handler, it helps if you have a plan, too. Decide which pieces of equipment you wish to teach first and come up with a list of commands or signals for each piece of equipment. You also can write down step-by-step training procedures for your dog agility equipment. While each lesson certainly isn’t set in stone, it really helps you focus if you have a goal and a plan for each training session.
3. Start Out Slowly
While most dogs adore using dog agility equipment, it does take time to teach them how to navigate each obstacle. Begin by teaching just one piece of equipment and gradually add to the mix. You might start with the pause table or perhaps a simple jump or even the tunnel. These tend to be easier to teach than obstacles such as the teeter, A-frame and weave poles.
4. Keep Training Times Short
Dogs don’t have very long attention spans, so if you are planning on spending an hour or more each day on dog agility training, you might want to reduce the time a bit. We recommend keeping training sessions very short in the beginning, perhaps only 10 to 15 minutes in length. Eventually, you might work up to 30-minute sessions, but this is probably the longest period of time you will want to spend. Any longer and your dog can become tired or distracted.
5. Don’t Forget Your Warm-Up
Warm-ups are essential prior to using dog agility equipment. They get the blood flowing and loosen up your dog’s muscles, which can prevent injury. Likewise, they also expend a bit of your dog’s energy, which makes it easier for them to concentrate on agility training. Be sure to do a quick cool down after practice as this also helps prevent muscle soreness and injury.
6. Don’t Be Afraid To Change Your Style
Sometimes dogs respond well to our training methods, and sometimes they don’t. If you have planned out a lesson but your dog is having difficulty following the instructions, don’t be afraid to stop the session and rethink your approach. In addition to the tips we provide in this article, there are many other strategies to consider, and eventually you will find the ideal method for training your dog.
7. All Dog Play Can Be Dog Agility Training
Did you know that a game of tug or hide and seek can be a great complement to your dog agility training? Teach your dog to tug and then provide them with a “let go” command. Teach your dog to find a hidden toy on command or fetch a toy that you have thrown. Learning these basic commands improves overall obedience and teaches a dog how to follow instructions. This is a great option to consider before you begin formal agility training.
8. Join A Dog Agility Club Or Group
A local agility club is a fantastic resource for the agility novice. Not only will you be able to gauge your dog’s interest in the sport prior to investing in every piece of dog agility equipment, this is a great place to meet people with more experience. You can pick up training tips and helpful information about competitions. Before you compete, we also recommend going to a couple of competitions as a spectator to get a feel for how everything works.
9. Mix Up Your Agility Course
Agility courses are a like a box of chocolates, as you never really know what you are going to get. So it is more important that your dog understand how to obey signals and commands rather than memorizing one specific course configuration. Once your dog has mastered all of the essential skills, it’s time to practice a variety of different course set-ups. You can find dozens of course maps online and simply print them out and practice a different set up each day.
10. Have Fun
If you aren’t having a blast, then you aren’t really getting all you can out of dog agility. While winning is certainly gratifying, the main emphasis on training and competition should just be enjoying time with your pooch. Anytime you begin to get frustrated, take a break, give your dog some love, regroup and come back to your training tomorrow.
Contact Equipment Tips
There are several pieces of dog agility equipment known as contact equipment. These dog agility obstacles include the pause table, the A-frame, the dog walk and the teeter. Each of these obstacles might need a slightly different approach.
11. The pause table isn’t the flashiest or most exciting piece of dog agility equipment, but every dog agility organization places this obstacle on the course. Here your dog will sit, stay and perhaps lie down for a few seconds before moving on to the next obstacle. This is a good obstacle to begin with as you are teaching very basic obedience skills, which your dog might already understand. Once your dog masters the pause table with the handler next to them, begin widening the distance between handler and dog. This is known as distance training, and it is a very important part of dog agility training. You will need to be several feet away from your dog during competitions, so you may as well get them used to the distance early on during training, and the pause table is an easy place to start.
12. After the pause table, the dog walk might be a good second contact obstacle to teach. Begin by simply leading your dog up the ramp, over the top and down the other ramp. Start slowly, especially if your dog seems wary of the height. Dogs must step on the dog walk at a specific spot on the obstacle, so it is wise to also train them to touch the bottom of the ramp. During competition, dogs have a tendency to leap on or off the dog walk ramps, but this will lower their competition score. A training hoop, which we sell at Carlson Agility, can be placed at the bottom of the dog walk to help your dog remember to enter and exit the obstacle correctly.
13. Once the pause table and dog walk are mastered, you can move onto the A-frame, which is a tad more intimidating than the dog walk, simply because you go up without having a flat platform to walk along before heading down. Again, start out slowly, just leading your dog up and down, up and down. Training hoops also can be used for the A-frame to ensure that your dog heads on and off the obstacle at the correct spot.
14. The teeter is the final piece of contact dog agility equipment, and this one can be intimidating due to height and movement. We recommend training with a wobble board or Buja board. This is a circular board that is just an inch or so off the ground. Your dog balances on this board in order to get used to using equipment that moves while the dog is on it. Once you move on to the actual teeter, slowly walk your pooch on the teeter and very gently help them move to the point where the teeter tips. You also can first train on this obstacle by beginning near the point where the teeter tips to get your dog used to the idea that their body weight will tip the teeter to the down position.
Tips For Dog Agility Jumps
There are many different types of jumps that you will see on a dog agility course, and these obstacles tend to make up the bulk of the course. The type and number of jumps depends on the organization and the class where your dog will be competing.
15. Typically there will be a mix of single, double and triple jumps at a competition. The double and triple jumps increase the distance your dog must jump in order to get from one side to the other. The height of the jump depends upon the class in which you compete. Jumps are lower for smaller dogs as well as for younger dogs and senior dogs.
In addition to pole jumps, many organizations will use panel jumps, and some organizations also have some wild and crazy additional jumps that they will place on a course, such as a window jump or picket fence hurdle. AKC, USDAA, UKC and other groups are all a little bit different. Knowing which type of jumps you will find on a course greatly improves your ability to train, so take a look at the types of obstacles for your organization.
16. Jumps can be a great first obstacle for your dog to learn. Begin with a single jump at the lowest possible height. You can even place the pole on the ground and encourage your dog to simply walk over the pole. Then place the pole on the jump and encourage your dog to walk or leap over the jump. Be sure to use your jump command and provide praise or a treat after that first successful jump.
17. Once your dog has mastered a low single jump, you can either gradually increase the height or add two jumps in a row to form a double jump and work on distance. When you begin double jump or triple jump training, keep the jump at the lowest possible height setting. As your dog progresses, you can move the poles to match competition height.
18. Tire jumps are found on virtually every agility course, so your dog will need to learn how to use this type of jump as well. Again, begin by placing the jump at the lowest possible height and helping your dog through the obstacle slowly. You can even detach the hoop and just hold it up on the ground and encourage your dog to just step through it. Then place it on the stand and help them through and gradually increase the height as your dog becomes more comfortable.19. Jumps are fairly easy to teach, and you easily can combine jumps with another piece of dog agility equipment to slowly introduce the idea of running on a real course. For instance, you might place two single jumps in a row, then the pause table and then an additional jump or perhaps a tunnel.
Chutes & Tunnels
Currently, there is a lot of controversy surrounding the collapsible chute. Several dog agility organizations no longer use this on the course, such as the American Kennel Club. In this section, we will provide you with tunnel and chute tips, as well as a few techniques that can help make the collapsible chute as safe as possible for your furry friend.
20. Tunnels can be intimidating simply because a dog might not relish the idea of entering a small, unfamiliar space. To make this easier, simply have a trainer at each end of the tunnel encouraging the dog to enter and walk through. If a dog can see (and hear) a friendly person at the other end of the tunnel, this can alleviate anxiety. Provide praise and perhaps a special treat after the first few trips through the tunnel. After your dog has gone through the tunnel several times successfully, the anxiety should dissipate. At this point, the tunnel can be added into your practice sessions with other pieces of dog agility equipment.
21. Collapsible chutes are tunnels that have a chute attached to the end. You can begin training by detaching the chute and simply coaxing your dog through the short tunnel, which should be easy if you dog already has mastered the tunnel. Then you can add the chute, but it can be a good idea to reduce the length of the chute at first and hold it open during the first attempts through and then gradually increase the length.
22. Train your dog to run straight through the chute and to keep their head down while running through. Rather than worrying about making a turn while at the end of the chute, keep the dog straight and low and worry about the turn after the dog has exited the chute completely. While this might knock a second or two off your overall time, it ensures that your dog can navigate the chute as safely as possible.
Mastering The Weave Poles
Ah, the dreaded weave poles. So much fun to watch, yet so tricky to teach. Dogs actually love zipping around the weave poles, but first they have to learn to master the proper method of going through this piece of dog agility equipment. It is also very difficult for puppies to learn how to weave well, so consider putting off weave instruction until after your dog is one year or older.
23. We sell a variety of different types of weaves, including training weave chutes with six or 12 weaves. Chute training can be very successful as it makes it easier for dogs to understand that they need to weave in and out of the obstacle. You can gently lead them in and around the weaves using a treat or a toy as an inducement. Eventually, after many repetitions, your dog will be able to weave without your guidance. While a dog might be able to learn how to jump or use a tunnel or contact obstacle quickly, it can take hundreds of weave repetitions before your dog has really mastered that skill, so patience is highly important. Don’t feel shy about asking for help from agility trainers or your fellow agility club members, as they might have some fantastic advice about weave training.
24. It can help to purchase our handy training guide wires. These affix to the weave poles and make it easier for you to guide your dog through the weaves. The poles can help your dog understand the correct path to take at first. Eventually they will need to be removed, but many people do find these helpful at first or as a reminder if your dog has some difficulty with weave poles once they have learned how to complete an entire course filled with dog agility equipment.
Using Mini Equipment
25. While you might think that mini dog agility equipment is just for puppies or small dogs, this smaller equipment can be a great option if you have a smaller yard or perhaps wish to bring some obstacles inside for some fun rainy day agility training. Mini equipment also can be easier to pack up and tote to the park or to another open area for training. We have a full selection of mini agility equipment available on our website.
If all of these tips are making your mind spin, take a deep breath and remember that old saying, “a journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.” Dog agility is a step-by-step process. Simply ease into it and enjoy the time you are spending with your wonderful canine companion. You probably will be amazed how quickly your dog will learn all of the skills he or she needs to know in order to compete.
Brad Carlson enjoys dog agility training. To find agility equipment or to find more about training equipment for dog agility equipment, please check out the Carlson-Agility.com website today.
