The Many Benefits Of Dog Agility

By Cheng Bernhardt


Dogs love to play and run about, and some dogs have more energy than others. If you have a dog in good health with plenty of energy, then your pet might enjoy some fun dog agility training. This type of training has many important benefits for dogs.

Just like us, dogs also need to exercise. Dog agility is definitely an excellent source of exercise for any dog but especially for the pooch that never seems to tire out. Sometimes people mistakenly believe that only a few dog breeds really do well with dog agility training, such as the Australian shepherd. However, any dog truly can be a candidate for dog agility, and your schnauzer could be just as successful as any shepherd or collie on the agility circuit. The exercise will keep them fit and probably will have a positive effect on your own health, since the owner also enjoys his or her own fair share of exercise.

Most owners provide a few walks during the day and perhaps some fun chase time with a ball or squeaky toy, but agility training provides a different type of exercise. While there aren't PVC obstacles and plastic tunnels and chutes in the wild, dogs have an instinct to run, jump, scamper and crawl that goes all the way back to the time before they were simply furry couch companions. Sometimes, a dog truly needs more than a walk or having someone toss a toy, they crave the challenge of the obstacle course. A high-energy dog can become bored easily and often this leads to destructive behavior. With agility training, you might find that your furry pal stops chewing up your furniture or shoes.

Agility training also improves obedience and cements the bond between dog and owner. You spend a great deal of time together learning how to navigate each of the obstacles, and of course, what dog doesn't want to spend more time with their owner? You can teach a variety of obedience skills with agility training, particularly on the pause table, where dogs must sit, stay and go down. Agility training is all about following commands, so a well-trained agility dog is well trained in general.

One of the best things about dog agility competitions is that they welcome most dogs to participate, regardless of breed or size. The course can be adjusted for smaller breeds, and dogs are placed into groupings based on their size, their level of experience and their age. The whole atmosphere is one of fun and camaraderie despite that fact that this is a competitive environment. It's a fantastic hobby and you not only will enjoy competing but also watching other dogs zoom through the course.

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.

If you have a puppy or a small breed, simply purchase the mini equipment. This is exactly the same equipment, just smaller to accommodate the needs of a smaller animal. The small equipment is great for use in your backyard, and is great for rainy day training as they will more easily fit into your basement, garage or even your family room.




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