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.
Before you purchase a teeter-totter, jumps and weaves, it's important to lay a strong foundation just as with any other skill. For instance, you wouldn't expect a beginning basketball player to be able to dunk like Jordan nor would a young gymnast be able to hop on the balance beam and do a back flip. Your dog also needs to learn a few basic skills and then transition into learning each of the obstacles. Of course, you can certainly purchase some obstacles and allow your dog to sniff and explore these items at their own pace.
While it might not sound exciting, foundation training is a great deal of fun for dogs. You can start out with toy play. This simply means providing a set of tug toys and teaching your dog to tug, let go on command and bring a toy to you. Provide plenty of positive feedback for your dog when they tug, when they let go and when they bring you the toy. Box games are another fun foundation skill, and you can simply set out a few plastic bins or boxes that are low enough on the ground for your dog to hop in safely. Set them up in a series with some space in between and then have them jump in each box. Basically, with all of these foundation games, you are teaching your dog how to obey your 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.
Before you purchase a teeter-totter, jumps and weaves, it's important to lay a strong foundation just as with any other skill. For instance, you wouldn't expect a beginning basketball player to be able to dunk like Jordan nor would a young gymnast be able to hop on the balance beam and do a back flip. Your dog also needs to learn a few basic skills and then transition into learning each of the obstacles. Of course, you can certainly purchase some obstacles and allow your dog to sniff and explore these items at their own pace.
While it might not sound exciting, foundation training is a great deal of fun for dogs. You can start out with toy play. This simply means providing a set of tug toys and teaching your dog to tug, let go on command and bring a toy to you. Provide plenty of positive feedback for your dog when they tug, when they let go and when they bring you the toy. Box games are another fun foundation skill, and you can simply set out a few plastic bins or boxes that are low enough on the ground for your dog to hop in safely. Set them up in a series with some space in between and then have them jump in each box. Basically, with all of these foundation games, you are teaching your dog how to obey your 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 loves dog agility training. To find an obstacle course for dogs, or to find more about training equipment for dog agility jumps, please check out the Carlson-Agility site now.
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