Are you and your dog in a bit of a rut? Do you feel like the daily walks and games of fetch just aren’t providing you both with enough fun and excitement? Dog agility might be a perfect way to spice up your life as well as the life of your pooch. This activity not only provide a great source of exercise for you and your furry friend, it is a highly engaging and exciting form of exercise.
While dog agility might not be a great match for a truly elderly dog, there is no reason why you cannot teach a healthy, older dog how to use dog training equipment. If you have a dog that is no longer a puppy or a youngster, dog agility might still be a perfect match for you and your canine companion. Here are a few helpful tips to get you started.
1. Begin With A Health Check
A healthy, energetic dog usually is a good fit for dog agility training. One of the best things about agility is that most dog breeds can be very successful at this sport, but it is important to ensure that your canine is in top shape prior to beginning any new training program. Take your pooch to a trusted veterinarian and discuss whether your dog is physically fit enough for dog agility.
Keep in mind that you don’t have to compete in order for you and your dog to enjoy many benefits of dog agility training. Dog agility provides a fantastic source of exercise and even strengthens the bond between dog and person. Additionally, if you join a local agility club, you and your dog can expand your social circle. If you do plan on competing, keep in mind that older dogs will compete with other dogs that are about the same age. Most dog agility organizations have a senior category, so you never have to worry that your older pooch will be competing against a dog just two or three years old.
2. Gauge Your Dog’s Interest & Energy Level
In general, your dog’s physical condition and temperament say more about their readiness for dog agility than any other factors. If your dog enjoys a brisk walk and has plenty of energy for playtime, dog agility probably is a good fit. However, if your dog’s primary idea of exercise is moving around the house in search of sunny spots in which to lie, perhaps agility probably is not a great match.
If you do plan to compete in agility contests, your dog will be performing entirely off-leash and, in some cases, without a collar. In addition, there obviously will be many dogs around at these competitions. While these dogs will be on-leash when they are not competing, if you have a dog that simply does not like other dogs, it is best to consider dog agility training for home use only. Socialable dogs are good fits for dog agility, but a dog who dislikes other canines or people in general, is not a dog that will do well on the competition circuit.
3. Start Out Slowly
It’s always best to start with a plan, even if you change it up along the way. There are many pieces of dog training equipment to learn including contact equipment such as the pause table, teeter, A-frame and dog walk. In addition, your dog will be learning how to navigate many types of jumps as well as weave poles, a tunnel and possibly a collapsible chute. You don’t want to start out by teaching many skills at once. Simply select on piece of equipment and teach that skill. For instance, you might begin with a simple jump or perhaps the pause table. Typically, it is best to begin with simple equipment rather than starting with something very complicated like weaves or something that moves, such as the teeter.
Keep training sessions short. You really don’t have to use dog training equipment for more than about 10 to 15 minutes per day when you start. In fact, even dogs that are experienced agility dogs don’t take on practice sessions that last more than 20 minutes. Dogs have short attention spans, so a long session can be arduous for them and frustrating for you simply because your dog cannot pay attention for very long. Additionally, older dogs tire out more quickly, so keep sessions short and sweet.
Once your dog has mastered his or her first piece of dog training equipment, you can add another skill and another until you have created a simple backyard agility course. This takes time and patience, so keep in mind that dog agility is supposed to be fun. If you (or your dog) starts feeling frustrated, just call it a day and return to the course at another time.
4. Purchase A Starter Kit
Before you invest in tons of dog training equipment, however, it can be wise to simply purchase one of our handy starter kits. We have several options to consider from Kit A to Kit H. For instance, Agility Starter Kit A includes four snap-on jumps and 12 weaves, while Starter Kit B includes two jumps and a tunnel. Simply select the kit that contains the items you wish to teach first. For instance, if you wish to teach the pause table first, consider kits C, D, E, or H.
In addition to the starter kits, we sell individual pieces of dog training equipment. We have virtually every piece of equipment that you might need. So once your dog has mastered the items in the starter kit, simply add on new pieces from time to time.
5. Thinking About Competitions
As stated before, dog agility has many benefits and you don’t have to compete to enjoy those benefits. However, competitions are a lot of fun, so if you do wish to compete, you probably are wondering when your dog is up to the challenge. In general, once a dog has mastered all of the skills found on a dog agility course, it is just about time to compete.
It is imperative to practice on a full course and to practice many different course variations. After all, every competition course will be different and you never know what to expect. If your dog can handle many different course combinations, he or she probably will enjoy competing. There are many dog agility organizations and each has its own rules and regulations, so be sure to research the rules and types of equipment used by the organization in which you choose to participate. It also can be fun (and educational) to simply go to a competition and check out what goes on at these events prior to joining in on the competitions.
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.
