Friday, July 11, 2014

Dog Agility: Fun For The Whole Family

By Cheng Bernhardt


Your family dog needs exercise, and while a walk at the park is great, it can be even more fun to enter the world of dog agility. This type of training improves obedience, provides a fun source of activity for your pet, and it is something the whole family can get involved in and enjoy.

Dog agility training is something that all members of the family can work on, but it is crucial that everyone train in an identical fashion. Your dog will become confused if one person uses their own set of signals or commands while another person uses a completely different method. Training, whether it is for dog agility or obedience, simply needs to be very consistent. When everyone trains the same way, it is much easier for your dog to be successful.

If your child or teen is interested in dog agility, consider enrolling them in some type of junior handler program. USDAA, the nation's largest dog agility organization, has its own program as does the American Kennel Club. This is for children younger than 18, and the goals of the program include teaching handling skills for dog agility as well as teaching the importance of responsible pet ownership. Many 4-H clubs or groups will offer agility dog handling for children, as well.

Joining an agility club might be a good first step for your family. You can take a few classes, try out some equipment and learn how to set up a course at home. You also will gain a great deal of knowledge from the staff and the other members. Clubs are located all over the place these days, and they offer you a good way to determine whether or not you and your dog are going to really love dog agility.

If your dog does seem to really enjoy the sport, you definitely will want to purchase some equipment to use at home or at a nearby park. If your yard is small or you plan to tote equipment around in your car, then consider purchasing mini agility equipment. Your dog will learn all the important skills, but these smaller pieces fit more easily in your backyard or even your family room or basement for some fun rainy day training. Mini equipment also is ideal for training dogs new to the sport, smaller breeds of dogs and puppies.

You can find all the agility equipment you need at Carlson Agility. This includes agility jumps, weaves, pause tables, A-frames, see-saws, dog walks and many other items. There are great starter kits to consider, and they offer a full line of mini equipment. Many pieces of equipment can be shipped at no charge, which definitely can reduce your costs.




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