If you are searching for a fun way to spend time with your dog and also provide a great source of exercise, dog agility is an ideal option to consider. While you might be hoping to eventually compete with your dog, it's best to start off with some fundamental skills and build up from there. Here are a few suggestions that might make your first days of training a bit easier.
There are many obstacles that are part of a typical dog agility course. All courses will include a variety of jumps, a pause table, weave poles, tunnels, a teeter totter, a dog walk and an a-frame. While your dog will need to learn all of these skills in order to compete, you don't have to rush online and order all of the pieces at one time. You can start with a few basic pieces and then slowly add to your collection as your dog's skill level increases.
You might be wondering which pieces of equipment to use first, and this can be a bit overwhelming to decide. A pause table is always a good first choice. While it might not be as exciting and jumps, weaves and teeters, the skills learned on this obstacle are highly important for both agility and obedience. It's also a great tool for distance training as the handler must be a set distance from the dog during competition. Carlson Agility sells several starter kits that include a pause table as well as a couple of other obstacles, such as jumps or perhaps jumps and a tunnel.
There are actually eight different starter kits to consider from Carlson Agility. Another fun kit option is one which contains two jumps, a pause table and a tunnel. You also might consider the kit with an adjustable teeter, a tire jump and a set of 12 weaves. You also could create your own custom starter kit if you like, and Carlson Agility offers a full line of virtually every piece of agility equipment imaginable. You can find all types of agility equipment, including miniature sized equipment ideal for smaller breeds and, of course, puppy agility training.
While you might purchase two or three items, it's best to start by teaching just one skill at a time. For instance, you might start out with pause table skills and once these are mastered, start something new. Perhaps you will start with a single jump and entice your dog to leap over the jump. Then you can add a second jump. Eventually, you might have them do a few jumps in a row and then stop on the pause table. Once this series of obstacles is mastered, you can add something new, such as a teeter or the dog walk or a tunnel. One of the hardest skills for a dog to master is weaves, so that might be a good skill to save for later in training.
Your dog will enjoy training, but only if you have an enthusiastic attitude and plenty of patience. Some dogs really latch on to agility skills very quickly, but most need some time. Not only do they need time to learn a skill, they also might be a bit uncertain as to whether or not they want to use the obstacle at all. This is particularly true of the teeter totter because the movement can be scary for dogs. Dog walks and a-frames also can also be scary because they are off the ground, and some dogs don't wish to enter a tunnel or chute at first. The key with all of this training is to simply remain patient, provide plenty of praise and just enjoy this time of bonding.
There are many obstacles that are part of a typical dog agility course. All courses will include a variety of jumps, a pause table, weave poles, tunnels, a teeter totter, a dog walk and an a-frame. While your dog will need to learn all of these skills in order to compete, you don't have to rush online and order all of the pieces at one time. You can start with a few basic pieces and then slowly add to your collection as your dog's skill level increases.
You might be wondering which pieces of equipment to use first, and this can be a bit overwhelming to decide. A pause table is always a good first choice. While it might not be as exciting and jumps, weaves and teeters, the skills learned on this obstacle are highly important for both agility and obedience. It's also a great tool for distance training as the handler must be a set distance from the dog during competition. Carlson Agility sells several starter kits that include a pause table as well as a couple of other obstacles, such as jumps or perhaps jumps and a tunnel.
There are actually eight different starter kits to consider from Carlson Agility. Another fun kit option is one which contains two jumps, a pause table and a tunnel. You also might consider the kit with an adjustable teeter, a tire jump and a set of 12 weaves. You also could create your own custom starter kit if you like, and Carlson Agility offers a full line of virtually every piece of agility equipment imaginable. You can find all types of agility equipment, including miniature sized equipment ideal for smaller breeds and, of course, puppy agility training.
While you might purchase two or three items, it's best to start by teaching just one skill at a time. For instance, you might start out with pause table skills and once these are mastered, start something new. Perhaps you will start with a single jump and entice your dog to leap over the jump. Then you can add a second jump. Eventually, you might have them do a few jumps in a row and then stop on the pause table. Once this series of obstacles is mastered, you can add something new, such as a teeter or the dog walk or a tunnel. One of the hardest skills for a dog to master is weaves, so that might be a good skill to save for later in training.
Your dog will enjoy training, but only if you have an enthusiastic attitude and plenty of patience. Some dogs really latch on to agility skills very quickly, but most need some time. Not only do they need time to learn a skill, they also might be a bit uncertain as to whether or not they want to use the obstacle at all. This is particularly true of the teeter totter because the movement can be scary for dogs. Dog walks and a-frames also can also be scary because they are off the ground, and some dogs don't wish to enter a tunnel or chute at first. The key with all of this training is to simply remain patient, provide plenty of praise and just enjoy this time of bonding.
About the Author:
Cheng Bernhardt loves dog agility training. To discover an agility equipment for dogs, or to find further about training equipment for dog agility jumps, please check out the Carlson-Agility.com website today.
This article collected, selected and written by: Author Van Hoc
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