If you have ever watched dogs zipping around a dog agility course, you can tell that not only are these animals highly trained, but they are enjoying themselves. Dogs love all the jumps and weaves and tunnels that are part of these competitions because they mimic their natural instinctive behavior. However, you might think that dog agility training is something limited to only certain types and personalities of dogs, but you might be surprised to note that most dogs can learn these skills.
For someone who owns a particularly shy dog, who dislikes being around other dogs or even other people, you might never have given dog agility training a second thought. But this type of training truly can provide a huge boost in confidence for your shy dog. While they might be terrified of training at a local dog agility club or in the local park, they might love training in the privacy of their own yard with you as their trainer.
Perhaps the easiest way to begin is to introduce your shy dog to the pause table. Be sure to opt for an adjustable table and begin at the lowest height. If your dog is always suspicious or nervous around anything new in the yard or in your home, give them time to check out the equipment before you try to get them to jump onto the table. Let them sniff and inspect it and then after a few days have passed, try to encourage them to get on the table. You can carefully place them on the table while holding them and gently petting or you can lure them up with a special treat or a favored toy. This can take some time, but eventually your dog will have the confidence to climb up on the pause table all by themselves.
After your dog will jump onto the table, teach him to sit and stay and then add some distance between the two of you and have him stay for several seconds at a time. Once this has been accomplished, consider trying out some new agility equipment. A three-piece contact trainer can be a great option and this is simply a pause table with a small A-frame up to the table on one side with a small dog walk to go down on the other side. Carlson Agility sells a mini three-piece contact trainer, and the mini versions of agility equipment are a fantastic option for a shy dog because they are simply less intimidating. Of course, the mini obstacles also are ideal for training puppies or a small breed of dog. Once the contact trainer has been successfully mastered, you can purchase a dog tunnel, agility jumps, weaves and other pieces of equipment from Carlson Agility.
Once your dog has mastered the contact trainer and pause table, you probably will notice that they definitely have gained some confidence and have a spring their step. You can continue to add pieces of equipment until they have mastered a wide variety of tasks. You can continue with the miniature sized equipment, which can be less intimidating and also fits more easily into your yard, basement or family room. If they are ready for a bigger challenge, you can join a local agility club and see how they handle the mix of dogs and the larger equipment. If your dog still prefers working out at home, keep up with the training and try again when they seem more confident.
In addition to building up the confidence, agility training is a fantastic way to keep your dog in great shape. This training also increased the bond between the two of you, and this increased level of trust also helps a shyer dog feel more comfortable about the world in general.
For someone who owns a particularly shy dog, who dislikes being around other dogs or even other people, you might never have given dog agility training a second thought. But this type of training truly can provide a huge boost in confidence for your shy dog. While they might be terrified of training at a local dog agility club or in the local park, they might love training in the privacy of their own yard with you as their trainer.
Perhaps the easiest way to begin is to introduce your shy dog to the pause table. Be sure to opt for an adjustable table and begin at the lowest height. If your dog is always suspicious or nervous around anything new in the yard or in your home, give them time to check out the equipment before you try to get them to jump onto the table. Let them sniff and inspect it and then after a few days have passed, try to encourage them to get on the table. You can carefully place them on the table while holding them and gently petting or you can lure them up with a special treat or a favored toy. This can take some time, but eventually your dog will have the confidence to climb up on the pause table all by themselves.
After your dog will jump onto the table, teach him to sit and stay and then add some distance between the two of you and have him stay for several seconds at a time. Once this has been accomplished, consider trying out some new agility equipment. A three-piece contact trainer can be a great option and this is simply a pause table with a small A-frame up to the table on one side with a small dog walk to go down on the other side. Carlson Agility sells a mini three-piece contact trainer, and the mini versions of agility equipment are a fantastic option for a shy dog because they are simply less intimidating. Of course, the mini obstacles also are ideal for training puppies or a small breed of dog. Once the contact trainer has been successfully mastered, you can purchase a dog tunnel, agility jumps, weaves and other pieces of equipment from Carlson Agility.
Once your dog has mastered the contact trainer and pause table, you probably will notice that they definitely have gained some confidence and have a spring their step. You can continue to add pieces of equipment until they have mastered a wide variety of tasks. You can continue with the miniature sized equipment, which can be less intimidating and also fits more easily into your yard, basement or family room. If they are ready for a bigger challenge, you can join a local agility club and see how they handle the mix of dogs and the larger equipment. If your dog still prefers working out at home, keep up with the training and try again when they seem more confident.
In addition to building up the confidence, agility training is a fantastic way to keep your dog in great shape. This training also increased the bond between the two of you, and this increased level of trust also helps a shyer dog feel more comfortable about the world in general.
About the Author:
Cheng Bernhardt loves blogging about dog agility training. To find a dog agility course, or to find further about training equipment for agility for dogs, please check out the Carlson-Agility.com website now.
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