The Basics of Dog Agility Training
Agility training dates to the late 1970’s and is considered one of the fastest growing sports for dogs. Agility courses consist of various obstacles that a dog must successfully maneuver through in a timely fashion. Tunneling, jumping, climbing, and weaving are just a few of the tasks that a dog will need to accomplish during an agility competition. You may be wondering how a winner is selected! A winner is determined by evaluating course time and total number of faults. The quickest time with the least number of faults earns one lucky canine competitor first place.
If you are interested in agility training for your dog, it is important to know the basics of the sport. Foremost, you must know when your dog is ready to compete. Much like any human sport, dog agility takes dedication and consistency. If you wish to take part in agility exercises and competition, you must be able to make a daily commitment to training efforts. This will help your dog get better. Another thing is to make it fun! While agility training can lead to involvement in a serious canine sport, it is important to make sure that your four-legged friend is having a fun time. Keeping training fun will engage your dog and ultimately result in a better overall performance.
Another rule is to begin with basic obedience. It is important that your dog understands basic commands before moving on to agility training. Basic obedience training will increase your dog’s vocabulary, build a bong between you and your dog, and make it easier to teach new commands necessary for successful agility competition. As a handler, you will need to be deliberate with direction. Directions and how you give them can make or break any attempt in agility training. You will need to implement firm instruction as you and your dog make your way through the obstacles of the course. Be sure to monitor their performance and rectify any bad habits or deficiencies. By correcting poor performance, you will help to avoid any major faults in the long run.
Agility training is a great way to increase the mental and physical capabilities of your dog. It is also beneficial for increasing that natural bond! Do you think that your dog is ready to enter the next step of training? If so, agility training and competition may be the right decision!
