While some dogs love meeting other dogs and meeting new people, other dogs tend to be a bit shy, nervous or perhaps even high strung. You might think that these types of dogs would not be a good fit for dog agility; however, using dog training equipment can have a positive impact on the life of a shy or nervous hound.
In general, if your dog is healthy and fit with plenty of energy, he or she is probably a good match for agility. While some temperaments are not well suited to dog agility competitions, there are plenty of other reasons to consider using dog agility equipment.
1. Dog Agility Can Lessen Anxiety By Increasing The Bond
Often, a shy or nervous dog simply feels very uncertain about their surroundings. Perhaps you are dealing with a rescue dog that hasn’t quite bonded to her forever home, or perhaps your dog is just one of those furry creatures that tend to be a bit nervous naturally.
One of the best ways to lessen anxiety or nervousness is to simply build a strong bond between you and your dog. Dog training can be a fantastic way to build this bond. Through the careful teaching of dog agility skills, your dog will see that you are a patient, loving friend that always provides praise for a job well done. As you continue to train, your dog will become less nervous and anxious simply because they will learn to trust you completely.
2. Dog Agility Can Boost Confidence, But Start Small
In many ways, dogs are like small children. If you have a nervous child, helping them find success in small ways can increase their level of confidence and perhaps lessen their anxiety. It’s often the same scenario with dogs, and it’s best to start small.
Begin with one piece of agility equipment and don’t move on to a second piece of equipment until your dog is confident on that first piece. You might begin with a simple single jump or perhaps the pause table as these can be the least intimidating. A low jump is a great confidence booster because it’s fairly easy to teach and dogs love to jump. Be sure to provide plenty of praise and excitement once your dog successfully goes over the jump, even if they simply gingerly walk over the jump.
Once your dog has success with a jump, you might introduce the dog walk. This can be a bit intimidating because it is off the ground, but it’s usually less intimidating than the A-frame and the teeter, so it’s a good option during the early weeks of training. You will see after a few weeks of using dog training equipment, that your dog will have more confidence and less anxiety.
Often, a dog’s anxiety will drop simply because you are providing them with a challenging source of play. A well-exercised dog with walks, dog agility training and perhaps the odd game of tug tends to be more relaxed in general.
3. Introduce Intimidating Tasks Slowly
Pieces of dog training equipment such as the teeter, the tunnel and the chute can be very intimidating for dogs, particularly the anxious dog. In general, prior to using any piece of dog agility equipment, it is a good idea to simply let your dog sniff and explore the equipment. Give them a few minutes to warm up to the idea of this strange new item sitting in their yard. To prepare for the teeter, you can begin by using a Buja board, which is very low to the ground, but allows the dog to experience a moving platform without the added stress of elevation.
For the tunnel and chute, it can be a good idea to have two people. One person will kneel at either end of the equipment. The person on the starting end will provide the verbal cue, and the person at the other end will repeat the cue while holding a special treat. Provide plenty of encouragement, and once your dog successfully makes it through the tunnel or chute, offer a ton of praise.
4. Preparing For Competition
If dog agility competitions are your ultimate goal, then you will want to make sure that your dog is well socialized. Nervous or anxious dogs tend to nip or hide when they encounter new people. One way to lessen this nervousness is to gradually introduce them to new people and other dogs.
You might start by inviting over a friend that has a very calm but friendly dog. If your dog is nervous around other animals, this calm companion can be a good place to start. If your dog is very nervous, have them sit in a crate, while the new dog sniffs the crate. Your dog will feel protected in their little “cave.” Eventually, open the door and coax out your dog. Sometimes, it’s best to meet a new friend in an unfamiliar setting, such as park where they have not visited before. Dogs tend to get territorial about their homes or even a favorite park, so a calm meeting at a new park can be a good option, as well.
As time goes by, your dog probably will open up to the idea of meeting new people and new dogs, particularly if those first few endeavors go well. However, it is important to note that not all dogs truly possess the temperament for competition, and if your dog is one of those, that’s ok. There are plenty of other good reasons to consider dog agility.
Whether or not you complete, dog agility provides an excellent workout that exercises each muscle group. Dog agility improves overall obedience and behavior. Dog agility strengthens the bond between dog and owner, and it also boosts your dog’s confidence in a way that a walk in the park cannot. A walk is still a great form of exercise, but agility takes exercise to another level. In addition, it can be a fun activity for the whole family.
If you would like to get started with dog agility training, we have all of the dog training equipment that you might need. We even care a full selection of mini dog agility equipment which can be a great option for puppies and smaller dogs as well as a good option for dogs that might be nervous or intimidated by larger pieces of equipment.
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.
