There are many reasons why dog agility contests have become a popular animal sport. For one thing, it's fun to watch and the dogs have a great time zipping around the courses. Agility training provides opportunities for pet owners to increase obedience and cement the bond between you and your pet, as well as providing an excellent source of exercise. If you wish for your pet to start training, here are some quick and helpful facts.
While some breeds excel on the agility course more than others, just about any breed will enjoy training. If your animal has plenty of energy and a playful spirit, agility training is definitely an option. Even small dogs can compete; you simply just adjust the equipment to suit their smaller stature. In competitions, they do separate the dogs by height rather than breed and they also separate dogs by age and level of experience.
You can do agility training for fun, exercise and a form of obedience training without ever putting your dog in a competition. It is important to note that most experts say that you should not have dogs less than a year old work on actual agility obstacles because their joints are still in a development stage. Dogs aren't able to compete until their about 14-18 months old anyway.
Still, a puppy can be taught obedience skills and it is highly recommended that all dog owners begin training as soon as the animal comes home with them. Inexpensive dog obedience classes are available almost everywhere, and taking your pet to class is a great way to promote socialization. Your dog needs to feel comfortable interacting with other dogs and people and also obeying your commands when there are plenty of distractions around them.
After your dog has reached full development and mastered the basics of sitting, staying and heeling, agility training can commence. You can research this type of training and purchase some equipment and get going, but it might be a better idea to find a good instructor and take some classes. After all, they already have the knowledge and the equipment. Once you have established that your dog and you both love the sport, you can then purchase your own equipment and continue training at home.
There are many companies that sell agility equipment, such as Carlson-Agility.com. You can purchase dog agility tunnels, dog agility jumps, weaves, tire jumps and much more. They even have dog agility kits that are perfect for those starting out. One kit includes weaves and jumps, another includes jumps and a tunnel and still another includes jumps, weaves and a teeter-totter. You also could get a starter kit with a tunnel, two jumps and a pause table. Once you've mastered the obstacles in your starter kit, you can add some new obstacles to increase your pet's skill level.
While some breeds excel on the agility course more than others, just about any breed will enjoy training. If your animal has plenty of energy and a playful spirit, agility training is definitely an option. Even small dogs can compete; you simply just adjust the equipment to suit their smaller stature. In competitions, they do separate the dogs by height rather than breed and they also separate dogs by age and level of experience.
You can do agility training for fun, exercise and a form of obedience training without ever putting your dog in a competition. It is important to note that most experts say that you should not have dogs less than a year old work on actual agility obstacles because their joints are still in a development stage. Dogs aren't able to compete until their about 14-18 months old anyway.
Still, a puppy can be taught obedience skills and it is highly recommended that all dog owners begin training as soon as the animal comes home with them. Inexpensive dog obedience classes are available almost everywhere, and taking your pet to class is a great way to promote socialization. Your dog needs to feel comfortable interacting with other dogs and people and also obeying your commands when there are plenty of distractions around them.
After your dog has reached full development and mastered the basics of sitting, staying and heeling, agility training can commence. You can research this type of training and purchase some equipment and get going, but it might be a better idea to find a good instructor and take some classes. After all, they already have the knowledge and the equipment. Once you have established that your dog and you both love the sport, you can then purchase your own equipment and continue training at home.
There are many companies that sell agility equipment, such as Carlson-Agility.com. You can purchase dog agility tunnels, dog agility jumps, weaves, tire jumps and much more. They even have dog agility kits that are perfect for those starting out. One kit includes weaves and jumps, another includes jumps and a tunnel and still another includes jumps, weaves and a teeter-totter. You also could get a starter kit with a tunnel, two jumps and a pause table. Once you've mastered the obstacles in your starter kit, you can add some new obstacles to increase your pet's skill level.
About the Author:
Cheng Bernhardt enjoys writing about dog agility training. To find a dog agility course, or to discover more about starter agility dog supplies, please check out the Carlson-Agility site today.
No comments:
Post a Comment