There are many undeniable facts about dogs. They are loyal, they are loving and they love to play. If you have a healthy dog with lots of energy, one fun way to expend this energy is through dog agility training. Dogs love these activities, and they also derive a host of benefits from these activities.
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.
For some people, the idea of simply walking on a treadmill for exercise isn't appealing, they need more interesting activities. Well, dogs are just the same, and agility training provides a truly engaging and interesting form of exercise, and it's even tapping into their instinctual behavior. A modern dog running through a tunnel is just like an ancient wild dog scampering under a pile of leaves searching for a squirrel. Today's dog jumps over manmade obstacles, while the dogs of yesterday jumped over logs and rocks chasing after prey. You can see that agility activities are beyond the typical exercise of fetching a ball or going on a daily walk, and many dogs really benefit from challenging exercise. Often, a dog with tons of energy will channel this energy into destructive behavior, such as chewing up items around the house. Provide some fun on the agility course and they will have a positive outlet for their energy.
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.
At some dog events, only certain breeds may participate, but with dog agility, it doesn't matter if your dog has a pedigree or is a mix of several breeds. The dogs are placed in categories based upon size, experience or age and not arranged by breed. Even small dogs are welcome to participate, so don't think that your yorkie-poo or that Chihuahua won't be welcome at an event. These competitions are a great way to make new friends, both human and canine, and you will both relish the experience.
If it all sounds great to you, then you just need to start buying some basic equipment. One website that is helpful is Carlson Agility. They offer a wide assortment of equipment, and you might simply want to begin by purchasing one of their starter kits. You could grab a kit with a pause table and jumps or maybe opt for one with jumps, weaves and a teeter totter. You also can purchase a dog agility a-frame, a dog walk, a tire jump and anything else that you would find on an agility course.
If you have a small yard, a small dog or a puppy, Carlson Agility also sells small versions of their equipment, such as smaller mini contact equipment, mini jumps, a mini teeter and a mini pause table to name a few. These are great for the smaller breeds and also small enough to even set up in your family room or basement or garage. Even when the weather is not so great, you can still enjoy some indoor training.
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.
For some people, the idea of simply walking on a treadmill for exercise isn't appealing, they need more interesting activities. Well, dogs are just the same, and agility training provides a truly engaging and interesting form of exercise, and it's even tapping into their instinctual behavior. A modern dog running through a tunnel is just like an ancient wild dog scampering under a pile of leaves searching for a squirrel. Today's dog jumps over manmade obstacles, while the dogs of yesterday jumped over logs and rocks chasing after prey. You can see that agility activities are beyond the typical exercise of fetching a ball or going on a daily walk, and many dogs really benefit from challenging exercise. Often, a dog with tons of energy will channel this energy into destructive behavior, such as chewing up items around the house. Provide some fun on the agility course and they will have a positive outlet for their energy.
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.
At some dog events, only certain breeds may participate, but with dog agility, it doesn't matter if your dog has a pedigree or is a mix of several breeds. The dogs are placed in categories based upon size, experience or age and not arranged by breed. Even small dogs are welcome to participate, so don't think that your yorkie-poo or that Chihuahua won't be welcome at an event. These competitions are a great way to make new friends, both human and canine, and you will both relish the experience.
If it all sounds great to you, then you just need to start buying some basic equipment. One website that is helpful is Carlson Agility. They offer a wide assortment of equipment, and you might simply want to begin by purchasing one of their starter kits. You could grab a kit with a pause table and jumps or maybe opt for one with jumps, weaves and a teeter totter. You also can purchase a dog agility a-frame, a dog walk, a tire jump and anything else that you would find on an agility course.
If you have a small yard, a small dog or a puppy, Carlson Agility also sells small versions of their equipment, such as smaller mini contact equipment, mini jumps, a mini teeter and a mini pause table to name a few. These are great for the smaller breeds and also small enough to even set up in your family room or basement or garage. Even when the weather is not so great, you can still enjoy some indoor training.
About the Author:
Cheng Bernhardt enjoys dog agility training. To find the many advantages of agility training for dogs, or to find useful agility dog training equipment like dog agility kit, please check out the Carlson-Agility.com website today.
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