Benefits of Dog Agility Training
Dog agility is where dogs zoom around an obstacle course, flying over jumps and through tunnels, side by side with their handler. This is one of the most popular dog sports, and it’s fun to watch! While agility is a competitive sport, you do not need your four-legged friend to compete to experience the benefits we have listed below.
- Caters to Physical and Mental Energy – Agility is excellent for helping your dog release their energy in a safe and fun way! Dog agility is perfect for letting high-energy dogs run at full speed and stay focused on a task.
- Develops Self-Control – In agility practice, whether with or without equipment, your dog will learn to harness their self-control and commit to the task that you are asking them to do.
- Builds Self-Confidence – Agility training allows dogs to work with their handlers, building confidence. Furthermore, agility training can help your dog overcome fears of unusual surfaces, small spaces, and scary situations. The good news is that the confidence will also transfer into other parts of your dog’s life.
- Strengthens Natural Instincts – Agility courses involve running over and under objects of all shapes and sizes while changing direction and focusing on new goals. This is like a dog running through the forest, chasing prey. Running an agility course strengthens that goal-oriented instinct and builds natural drive.
- Greater Trust & Confidence – When you work with your dog in agility training, you build trust and confidence that you wouldn’t likely get otherwise. One of the most incredible things about agility training is that it builds a bond with your dog.
Now that you understand the benefits of dog agility training, it’s time to get to work! Daycare facilities such as ours offer courses. However, you can start with the basics at home. Think outside the box and use items such as hula hoops, cones, and tunnels. You will be amazed at what your dog can learn through agility training!
