If you have decided to enter the world of dog agility, you probably have some questions about how to get started. This is a fun activity for you and your dog and provide tons of great exercise and even improve obedience. Here are a few tricks and tips that might make learning these skills a bit easier.
While all dog organizations have requirements regarding the size of each piece of equipment, you don't have to start out by using full-size equipment. Mini equipment is a great way to introduce your dog to agility. You might think mini equipment is just for puppies and small breeds, but any dog can learn important skills using smaller versions of agility equipment. These also are handy because they tend to fit more easily in your yard and are easy to pack into the trunk for practice at the park.
When many dogs first see the teeter, for instance, they are quite nervous about the way it moves. Likewise, some dogs are frightened by the angle and height of a dog walk or A-frame. Using smaller, miniature versions of these can ease the anxiety of a dog that is new to the sport. You also would be wise to purchase a Buja board, which is very low to the ground but moves around so your dog will get use to standing, staying and sitting on a moving object. These sometimes are simple known as wobble boards.
While it is fun to watch dogs as they zip through weaves, this can be a tough obstacle to learn. One way to teach and reinforce this skill is through the use of training guide wires. These simply snap on to your PVC weave poles and help the dog understand the correct direction and ensure that he goes around each weave pole correctly. Once the dog has mastered the weaves with the guide wires, you can take them off and train without the wires.
Jumping and leaping over obstacles is a big part of agility, however, there are a few items that your dog needs to not jump off, such as the A-frame and the dog walk. Still, dogs get excited and leap off sometimes rather than going all the way to the bottom portion of the ramp. To prevent these jump offs, consider attaching a training hoop at the bottom of the ramp. This prevents them from leaping off and keeps them focused on completing the course correctly.
When you are searching for all of these training tools and your agility equipment, consider an online source such as Carlson Agility. This agility company offers free shipping on many items and has everything you could need for agility training. They sell both full-size and mini versions of agility equipment and even have items such as sway bridges, chain link hurdles, car door jumps and other more obscure pieces of equipment that you might encounter during some competitions.
While all dog organizations have requirements regarding the size of each piece of equipment, you don't have to start out by using full-size equipment. Mini equipment is a great way to introduce your dog to agility. You might think mini equipment is just for puppies and small breeds, but any dog can learn important skills using smaller versions of agility equipment. These also are handy because they tend to fit more easily in your yard and are easy to pack into the trunk for practice at the park.
When many dogs first see the teeter, for instance, they are quite nervous about the way it moves. Likewise, some dogs are frightened by the angle and height of a dog walk or A-frame. Using smaller, miniature versions of these can ease the anxiety of a dog that is new to the sport. You also would be wise to purchase a Buja board, which is very low to the ground but moves around so your dog will get use to standing, staying and sitting on a moving object. These sometimes are simple known as wobble boards.
While it is fun to watch dogs as they zip through weaves, this can be a tough obstacle to learn. One way to teach and reinforce this skill is through the use of training guide wires. These simply snap on to your PVC weave poles and help the dog understand the correct direction and ensure that he goes around each weave pole correctly. Once the dog has mastered the weaves with the guide wires, you can take them off and train without the wires.
Jumping and leaping over obstacles is a big part of agility, however, there are a few items that your dog needs to not jump off, such as the A-frame and the dog walk. Still, dogs get excited and leap off sometimes rather than going all the way to the bottom portion of the ramp. To prevent these jump offs, consider attaching a training hoop at the bottom of the ramp. This prevents them from leaping off and keeps them focused on completing the course correctly.
When you are searching for all of these training tools and your agility equipment, consider an online source such as Carlson Agility. This agility company offers free shipping on many items and has everything you could need for agility training. They sell both full-size and mini versions of agility equipment and even have items such as sway bridges, chain link hurdles, car door jumps and other more obscure pieces of equipment that you might encounter during some competitions.
About the Author:
Cheng Bernhardt enjoys dog agility training. To find an agility equipment for dogs, or to find more agility dog training equipment such as obedience jumps, please go to the Carlson-Agility website today.
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