Running around an agility course is great fun, but it's hard work and your furry friend definitely needs to be in top shape in order to compete in dog agility. Here are a few tips that will help you keep Fido in great condition and ready to hit the agility obstacles at a moment's notice.
One way to keep a pet fit and healthy is to control their diet carefully. One look into those soulful eyes and it can be difficult to resist give your dog a nibble of this or that, but animals can gain weight quickly making it harder to exercise. Even an extra pound or two can make a big difference. Spend some time discussing food with your veterinarian and come up with good options for your dog to keep their weight on track and provide plenty of good nutrition.
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.
Other fun exercises include tugging on toys, chasing after a ball and playing fetch. Dogs love these activities and they actually can be quite helpful for teaching your dog how to behave and follow commands. For instance you can throw a toy and signal your pet to bring it back to you. You can play tug, but also teach a command where your pet must release the tug toy immediately.
Obviously, you will be spending a great deal of time learning how to tackle each of the agility obstacles and this provides plenty of good, stimulating exercise. All you need is some quality agility equipment to get started, and you can purchase just about everything you need online from sites such as Carlson Agility. They have a huge variety of agility equipment, including agility jumps, agility dog walks, pause tables, agility a-frames, tunnels, chutes, teeters, weaves and much more.
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.
One way to keep a pet fit and healthy is to control their diet carefully. One look into those soulful eyes and it can be difficult to resist give your dog a nibble of this or that, but animals can gain weight quickly making it harder to exercise. Even an extra pound or two can make a big difference. Spend some time discussing food with your veterinarian and come up with good options for your dog to keep their weight on track and provide plenty of good nutrition.
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.
Other fun exercises include tugging on toys, chasing after a ball and playing fetch. Dogs love these activities and they actually can be quite helpful for teaching your dog how to behave and follow commands. For instance you can throw a toy and signal your pet to bring it back to you. You can play tug, but also teach a command where your pet must release the tug toy immediately.
Obviously, you will be spending a great deal of time learning how to tackle each of the agility obstacles and this provides plenty of good, stimulating exercise. All you need is some quality agility equipment to get started, and you can purchase just about everything you need online from sites such as Carlson Agility. They have a huge variety of agility equipment, including agility jumps, agility dog walks, pause tables, agility a-frames, tunnels, chutes, teeters, weaves and much more.
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 discover an agility equipment for dogs, or to discover more about training equipment for dog agility jumps, please check out the Carlson-Agility website today.
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