For agility dogs, there are few things more fun than dashing around weaves and jumping through tires. However, this is a lot of work and while your pet obviously has to work on learning how to tackle each agility obstacle, it's also important to provide the type of conditioning exercises that build stamina and improve your dog's strength.
When training for agility, treats are a big no-no, but humans find it hard to resist giving their dog friend treats from time to time. Sometimes, we even provide a bit of human food to our pets. While the occasional nibble might be alright, it's important to keep your dog's diet under control. Gaining weight not only makes it harder for them to get moving and exercise, it puts added pressure on their bones, joints and organ systems, which can lead to health problems. Your veterinarian will be able to tell you the best types of food for your dog, as well as amounts and even can recommend a good feeding schedule.
Your dog's size and breed will affect the type of activities that you select. Walking and running are always great ways to stay in shape, but while a greyhound might enjoy a long run, a bulldog or a Shih Tzu might not have the same stamina. Simply select a level of walking that suits your dog and slowly increase the duration and intensity. Don't forget to mix it up and try out new neighborhoods, parks and walking trails. This will keep it more interesting for both you and your pet.
There are many exercises or activities that you can do at any time at home. Hide and seek is a lot of fun for dogs, so hide a toy under a pillow or in a basket or behind a door and have your dog search for the toy. Dogs are great at fetching items, and running after a thrown toy is a great way to get the heart rate up. Playing tug is another great activity for dogs. All of these activities provide an easy way to improve obedience, as the dogs will learn to obey your command to fetch or stop tugging. Learning commands and signals is important for agility training, so playtime can be a great time for learning because dogs are highly motivated.
Of course, practicing your agility skills is another great exercise and you probably will spend quite a bit of time working with the obstacles. To get started, you will need to purchase a few pieces of agility equipment from an online retailer such as Carlson Agility. They sell all types of agility equipment, such as pause tables, weaves, teeters, a-frames, all types of jumps and many more items.
Carlson Agility also sells a full selection of mini agility equipment, and this is an ideal choice for many dogs such as puppies and smaller dogs, as well as a timid dog that is new to the sport. The mini equipment also is a great idea if you want to set up a full course in your backyard but are limited in space.
When training for agility, treats are a big no-no, but humans find it hard to resist giving their dog friend treats from time to time. Sometimes, we even provide a bit of human food to our pets. While the occasional nibble might be alright, it's important to keep your dog's diet under control. Gaining weight not only makes it harder for them to get moving and exercise, it puts added pressure on their bones, joints and organ systems, which can lead to health problems. Your veterinarian will be able to tell you the best types of food for your dog, as well as amounts and even can recommend a good feeding schedule.
Your dog's size and breed will affect the type of activities that you select. Walking and running are always great ways to stay in shape, but while a greyhound might enjoy a long run, a bulldog or a Shih Tzu might not have the same stamina. Simply select a level of walking that suits your dog and slowly increase the duration and intensity. Don't forget to mix it up and try out new neighborhoods, parks and walking trails. This will keep it more interesting for both you and your pet.
There are many exercises or activities that you can do at any time at home. Hide and seek is a lot of fun for dogs, so hide a toy under a pillow or in a basket or behind a door and have your dog search for the toy. Dogs are great at fetching items, and running after a thrown toy is a great way to get the heart rate up. Playing tug is another great activity for dogs. All of these activities provide an easy way to improve obedience, as the dogs will learn to obey your command to fetch or stop tugging. Learning commands and signals is important for agility training, so playtime can be a great time for learning because dogs are highly motivated.
Of course, practicing your agility skills is another great exercise and you probably will spend quite a bit of time working with the obstacles. To get started, you will need to purchase a few pieces of agility equipment from an online retailer such as Carlson Agility. They sell all types of agility equipment, such as pause tables, weaves, teeters, a-frames, all types of jumps and many more items.
Carlson Agility also sells a full selection of mini agility equipment, and this is an ideal choice for many dogs such as puppies and smaller dogs, as well as a timid dog that is new to the sport. The mini equipment also is a great idea if you want to set up a full course in your backyard but are limited in space.
About the Author:
Cheng Bernhardt loves dog agility training. To find an agility equipment for dogs, or to find more about training equipment for dog agility jumps, please visit the Carlson-Agility website today.
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