While many dogs learn new skills quickly and they have a high level of enthusiasm for agility obstacles, you as the owner might be concerned about how to get started with training. You can begin by simply planning out on paper what skills you wish to teach first and what commands and signals you will learn for each skill. Keep in mind that while it might seem that there is much to learn, it doesn't all need to be accomplished at once. You can take it obstacle by obstacle and master one piece before adding a new one.
It's often easier to simply begin with the pause table. It might not be the most glamorous obstacle, but it certainly teaches vitally important skills. You will teach your dog commands such as jump up, jump down, stay, sit and lay down. The three latter skills are huge parts of general obedience training, anyway, which is why it can be good to start here. Create a word and signal for each skill and be sure to consistently use these same commands.
Of course, patience is highly important because learning new skills takes some time. Just keep in mind that the pause table skills will be highly important in other situations as well. Once they have mastered your pause table teachings, begin what is known as distance training. On the course, handlers are several feet away from the dogs so they must be able to follow your signals when you are not next to them.
With each piece of equipment, there will be a few new commands to teach, so it is truly best to only add one new piece at a time. One great way to go is to start with your pause table and then add a jump or two. Dogs do love the agility jumps and you will be on your way to setting up a mini course with a pause table and one or two jumps. Be sure to consistently reinforce all of the skills, so keep working on your pause table while you are learning jumps. Once your dog understands the jumps, add a new skill, such as a dog chute or tunnel. Then your dog can go from table to jump to jump to tunnel or some other combination once all these skills are mastered.
When you compete, you are not allowed to use any type of incentive to get a dog to move through the course. This means no toys and no treats; however, we all know that dogs love treats. So what is a handler to do? Begin by using a small treat as an incentive and then as the dog starts to understand, forgo giving treats and reward with praise. Praise is a huge motivator for dogs, and they would rather have you get excited about their progress and show them some love and approval than just about anything else in the whole world.
Of course, you will need to purchase some quality agility equipment, and Carlson Agility sells all the pieces you could possibly need. They offer contact equipment such as the pause table, dog agility a-frame, teeter totter and dog walk as well as weaves, teeters and an assortment of jumps, from regular single jumps to tire jumps and more. You can begin by purchasing a starter kit or perhaps a few pieces of mini agility equipment, which is ideal for puppies, small dogs and animals new to the sport.
It's often easier to simply begin with the pause table. It might not be the most glamorous obstacle, but it certainly teaches vitally important skills. You will teach your dog commands such as jump up, jump down, stay, sit and lay down. The three latter skills are huge parts of general obedience training, anyway, which is why it can be good to start here. Create a word and signal for each skill and be sure to consistently use these same commands.
Of course, patience is highly important because learning new skills takes some time. Just keep in mind that the pause table skills will be highly important in other situations as well. Once they have mastered your pause table teachings, begin what is known as distance training. On the course, handlers are several feet away from the dogs so they must be able to follow your signals when you are not next to them.
With each piece of equipment, there will be a few new commands to teach, so it is truly best to only add one new piece at a time. One great way to go is to start with your pause table and then add a jump or two. Dogs do love the agility jumps and you will be on your way to setting up a mini course with a pause table and one or two jumps. Be sure to consistently reinforce all of the skills, so keep working on your pause table while you are learning jumps. Once your dog understands the jumps, add a new skill, such as a dog chute or tunnel. Then your dog can go from table to jump to jump to tunnel or some other combination once all these skills are mastered.
When you compete, you are not allowed to use any type of incentive to get a dog to move through the course. This means no toys and no treats; however, we all know that dogs love treats. So what is a handler to do? Begin by using a small treat as an incentive and then as the dog starts to understand, forgo giving treats and reward with praise. Praise is a huge motivator for dogs, and they would rather have you get excited about their progress and show them some love and approval than just about anything else in the whole world.
Of course, you will need to purchase some quality agility equipment, and Carlson Agility sells all the pieces you could possibly need. They offer contact equipment such as the pause table, dog agility a-frame, teeter totter and dog walk as well as weaves, teeters and an assortment of jumps, from regular single jumps to tire jumps and more. You can begin by purchasing a starter kit or perhaps a few pieces of mini agility equipment, which is ideal for puppies, small dogs and animals new to the sport.
About the Author:
Cheng Bernhardt enjoys dog agility training. To discover an agility equipment, or to find helpful agility dog training equipment such as dog agility kit, please go to the Carlson-Agility site today.
This article collected, selected and written by: Author Van Hoc
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