Spend five minutes at the dog park and you will see how much dogs enjoy running and playing. If your dog is one of those who really has an abundance of energy and loves to play, than dog agility training might be an excellent option for your pet, and there are many benefits from this type of exercise.
Dogs, just like people, need exercise. Agility training provides an abundance of exercise for your dog, and this is especially good for a dog with a ton of energy. While you might think only certain breeds, such as Australian shepherds or border collies are suited to agility, most dog breeds can have a lot of fun running around an agility course. While some breeds do seem to be highly successful in agility competitions, that doesn't mean your dog won't benefit from agility training, and all dogs need a good amount of exercise in order to stay fit and healthy. You'll be getting exercise, too, which is just one of the many benefits.
Not only does agility training provide an outlet for exercise, it is a special type of exercise that dogs really crave. The jumps and tunnels and other obstacles complement a dog's instinctive behavior. Once upon a time, dogs roamed in packs and scampered through the woods and other terrain chasing after food. While today's dog need only head over to the food bowl to eat, the instinct to run and jump and weave through obstacles is still there. Often, a dog craves more than just playing ball or going on walks, and agility training can fill this need. Often dogs that don't get enough stimulation or exercise can be destructive, chewing on your shoes or scratching furniture. Sometimes some training and exercise is all it takes to stop this type of behavior.
Obedience is a big part of agility training. After all, dogs must obey an assortment of commands and this definitely helps to make a dog highly obedient. A myriad of important skills can be taught through dog agility, especially when you are using the pause table. Here your dog will have to sit, lie down and stay for many seconds and they will know what to do because of your commands. These commands can be used in a variety of situations, beyond agility training. When a dog and owner spend a great deal of time together, this also improves their bond and the level of trust between them.
At some dog events, only certain breeds may participate, but with dog agility, it doesn't matter if your dog has a pedigree or is a mix of several breeds. The dogs are placed in categories based upon size, experience or age and not arranged by breed. Even small dogs are welcome to participate, so don't think that your yorkie-poo or that Chihuahua won't be welcome at an event. These competitions are a great way to make new friends, both human and canine, and you will both relish the experience.
You can begin by purchasing one or two pieces of dog agility equipment, such as a pause table and a jump. One company, Carlson Agility, makes it easy for beginners by selling a variety of different starter kits. There are eight starter kits and each is a little different. One has a dog agility jumps as well as a dog agility tunnel, while another includes weave poles and jumps, and others include different mixes of equipment including a-frames, dog walks, tire jumps and other fun items.
For a small dog or a puppy, Carlson Agility also offers miniature equipment just for them. They are simply scaled down versions of the regular equipment and even larger dogs can use them. They make great starter equipment and they often fit better in your backyard or even in the house for some fun training on a rainy or snowy day.
Dogs, just like people, need exercise. Agility training provides an abundance of exercise for your dog, and this is especially good for a dog with a ton of energy. While you might think only certain breeds, such as Australian shepherds or border collies are suited to agility, most dog breeds can have a lot of fun running around an agility course. While some breeds do seem to be highly successful in agility competitions, that doesn't mean your dog won't benefit from agility training, and all dogs need a good amount of exercise in order to stay fit and healthy. You'll be getting exercise, too, which is just one of the many benefits.
Not only does agility training provide an outlet for exercise, it is a special type of exercise that dogs really crave. The jumps and tunnels and other obstacles complement a dog's instinctive behavior. Once upon a time, dogs roamed in packs and scampered through the woods and other terrain chasing after food. While today's dog need only head over to the food bowl to eat, the instinct to run and jump and weave through obstacles is still there. Often, a dog craves more than just playing ball or going on walks, and agility training can fill this need. Often dogs that don't get enough stimulation or exercise can be destructive, chewing on your shoes or scratching furniture. Sometimes some training and exercise is all it takes to stop this type of behavior.
Obedience is a big part of agility training. After all, dogs must obey an assortment of commands and this definitely helps to make a dog highly obedient. A myriad of important skills can be taught through dog agility, especially when you are using the pause table. Here your dog will have to sit, lie down and stay for many seconds and they will know what to do because of your commands. These commands can be used in a variety of situations, beyond agility training. When a dog and owner spend a great deal of time together, this also improves their bond and the level of trust between them.
At some dog events, only certain breeds may participate, but with dog agility, it doesn't matter if your dog has a pedigree or is a mix of several breeds. The dogs are placed in categories based upon size, experience or age and not arranged by breed. Even small dogs are welcome to participate, so don't think that your yorkie-poo or that Chihuahua won't be welcome at an event. These competitions are a great way to make new friends, both human and canine, and you will both relish the experience.
You can begin by purchasing one or two pieces of dog agility equipment, such as a pause table and a jump. One company, Carlson Agility, makes it easy for beginners by selling a variety of different starter kits. There are eight starter kits and each is a little different. One has a dog agility jumps as well as a dog agility tunnel, while another includes weave poles and jumps, and others include different mixes of equipment including a-frames, dog walks, tire jumps and other fun items.
For a small dog or a puppy, Carlson Agility also offers miniature equipment just for them. They are simply scaled down versions of the regular equipment and even larger dogs can use them. They make great starter equipment and they often fit better in your backyard or even in the house for some fun training on a rainy or snowy day.
About the Author:
Cheng Bernhardt enjoys dog agility training. To find the many benefits of agility training for dogs, or to get useful agility dog training equipment such as dog agility kit, please visit the Carlson-Agility.com website now.
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