Watching dog agility competitions is exciting and if you have ever considered training your dog and hitting the agility courses, this is a great idea. Not only does it cement the bond between dog and owner, it provides a great source of exercise and even improves overall obedience.
However, while you might be tempted to grab some jumps and a teeter totter and get going, it is important to dedicate your first lessons to building a strong foundation. After all, a novice skier doesn't begin on black diamond runs and you don't learn to drive by hitting the course at the Indy 500, one starts by learning the basics. This is true for dog agility training, as well. Once you teach some basic beginning skills, you will have a much easier time with cool agility obstacles such as tunnels, jumps, weaves and teeters.
You might think that foundation training is kind of dull, but that's definitely not the case. Dogs love to play, and foundation training is really just fun playtime for your furry friend. For instance, grab some tug toys and head outside. Teach your dog to tug and hold on to the toy and then let go when you command. Then teach your dog to fetch and, more importantly, bring you the toy when you ask for it. Be sure to bring on the praise every time your dog is successful. Another option would be what is known as box games. You just grab some shallow boxes or bins and set them out in a row with enough space for the dog to hop in to one, then hop out and then walk over and hop into the next box. This teaches them how to work in sequence and continues to reinforce their obeying of commands.
One way to introduce the actual dog agility equipment would be to purchase mini agility obstacles. These are just smaller versions of agility equipment, and they are ideal for puppies or dogs that are new to the sport. If you have a small dog, this mini agility equipment is perfect for them, as well. Not only do the smaller obstacles fit more easily into your yard, they are less intimidating to learn. Your dog will learn all of the proper skills; the obstacles will simply be a bit easier to navigate. You can even bring them inside on a rainy day and place them in a family room, basement or garage.
One piece of equipment that is great for beginners is the pause table. This is a great way to build obedience as your dog not only must sit and stay on the table for a number of seconds, they also must learn to do so while you are at a good distance away from them. Begin by teaching these skills with you standing next to the dog on the pause table, and then gradually increase the number of feet between you and your dog. Using hand signals and perhaps a simple vocal command your dog will stay, sit and even lie down on the pause table.
Aside from the pause table, other contact equipment you will need includes the dog walk, the teeter-totter and the a-frame, all of which are available from Carlson Agility in full-size and mini sizes. The smaller versions of pieces such as the teeter and a-frame are excellent for beginners or puppies who might be intimidate by the height of the obstacles and the movement of the teeter. If your dog seems uncertain about the teeter, consider having them using a rocker or wobble board, which is low to the ground but still allows them to get used to stand on something that moves. Carlson Agility not only sells all types of high-quality agility equipment, the website is filled with helpful information that will help you make agility training a big success for you and your dog.
However, while you might be tempted to grab some jumps and a teeter totter and get going, it is important to dedicate your first lessons to building a strong foundation. After all, a novice skier doesn't begin on black diamond runs and you don't learn to drive by hitting the course at the Indy 500, one starts by learning the basics. This is true for dog agility training, as well. Once you teach some basic beginning skills, you will have a much easier time with cool agility obstacles such as tunnels, jumps, weaves and teeters.
You might think that foundation training is kind of dull, but that's definitely not the case. Dogs love to play, and foundation training is really just fun playtime for your furry friend. For instance, grab some tug toys and head outside. Teach your dog to tug and hold on to the toy and then let go when you command. Then teach your dog to fetch and, more importantly, bring you the toy when you ask for it. Be sure to bring on the praise every time your dog is successful. Another option would be what is known as box games. You just grab some shallow boxes or bins and set them out in a row with enough space for the dog to hop in to one, then hop out and then walk over and hop into the next box. This teaches them how to work in sequence and continues to reinforce their obeying of commands.
One way to introduce the actual dog agility equipment would be to purchase mini agility obstacles. These are just smaller versions of agility equipment, and they are ideal for puppies or dogs that are new to the sport. If you have a small dog, this mini agility equipment is perfect for them, as well. Not only do the smaller obstacles fit more easily into your yard, they are less intimidating to learn. Your dog will learn all of the proper skills; the obstacles will simply be a bit easier to navigate. You can even bring them inside on a rainy day and place them in a family room, basement or garage.
One piece of equipment that is great for beginners is the pause table. This is a great way to build obedience as your dog not only must sit and stay on the table for a number of seconds, they also must learn to do so while you are at a good distance away from them. Begin by teaching these skills with you standing next to the dog on the pause table, and then gradually increase the number of feet between you and your dog. Using hand signals and perhaps a simple vocal command your dog will stay, sit and even lie down on the pause table.
Aside from the pause table, other contact equipment you will need includes the dog walk, the teeter-totter and the a-frame, all of which are available from Carlson Agility in full-size and mini sizes. The smaller versions of pieces such as the teeter and a-frame are excellent for beginners or puppies who might be intimidate by the height of the obstacles and the movement of the teeter. If your dog seems uncertain about the teeter, consider having them using a rocker or wobble board, which is low to the ground but still allows them to get used to stand on something that moves. Carlson Agility not only sells all types of high-quality agility equipment, the website is filled with helpful information that will help you make agility training a big success for you and your dog.
About the Author:
Cheng Bernhardt enjoys dog agility training. To find an obstacle course for dogs, or to find further about training equipment for dog agility jumps, please check out the Carlson-Agility website now.
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