If you are preparing to enter the world of dog agility, there's much for you as the dog owner to learn and understand. Dog agility is not just an activity; it is an exciting world of fun and adventure. Once you enter this world, you will hear a lot of common agility jargon. If you aren't sure what it all means, here is some basic information for those new to the sport.
Dogs compete on an agility field or agility course, and these terms mean the same thing. A variety of apparatus are set up on the course and these are known as obstacles. Some obstacles are contact obstacles, and that means just what you think, the dog has direct contact with these obstacles. These include dog agility a-frames, the teeter totter and the dog walk.
While it's probably not as much fun for the dogs, another obstacle is the pause table. Dogs must stop zooming about and jump on the table and pause, by sitting or lying down, for a set number of seconds. Sometimes it's not a table, but a pause box. This "box" might simply be a square of grass marked off clearly or it could be a square board. No matter what it looks like, the dog does the same thing when it reaches this obstacle.
There are many other obstacles included on the course. You usually will see a pipe tunnel and a collapsible tunnel which also might be called a chute. One of the most amazing sites is watching the dogs navigate the weave poles, and there might be as many as one dozen poles to weave through. This is considered to be one of the most difficult elements for dogs to master. Of course, there also will be a variety of jumps including a tire jump as well as other hurdles. A spread hurdle, which is either a double jump or a triple jump, will be set up, too. These are jumps that require a dog to leap a great distance. Sometimes there are other obstacles such as a swing plank or log jumps, but these are not nearly as typical.
The handler is the important person who helps the dog through the course using signals and commands. Sometimes this is a professional handler but often it is simply the dog's owner who is the handler. Together, the two of you are a team. Once you complete the course, your will receive a score. This score is determined by several factors. You must complete the course in due time and you also have to complete the course correctly. No treats or any other type of incentive may be used. Time faults are given if the dog does not complete the course in the time allotted, and course faults are given for any obstacles that are not completed correctly.
It might sound cutthroat, but really these events are fun and spirited. Obviously both dog and handler are happy after a successful run, but there are more important benefits to be gained, such as building a bond between a dog and his human companion. To get going, order some high quality dog agility equipment from Carlson Agility today. They have everything from pause tables, to dog agility jumps, a-frames, tunnels, chutes, see-saws and everything else you will find on a course. They also have mini equipment perfect for puppies and the smaller dog breeds.
Dogs compete on an agility field or agility course, and these terms mean the same thing. A variety of apparatus are set up on the course and these are known as obstacles. Some obstacles are contact obstacles, and that means just what you think, the dog has direct contact with these obstacles. These include dog agility a-frames, the teeter totter and the dog walk.
While it's probably not as much fun for the dogs, another obstacle is the pause table. Dogs must stop zooming about and jump on the table and pause, by sitting or lying down, for a set number of seconds. Sometimes it's not a table, but a pause box. This "box" might simply be a square of grass marked off clearly or it could be a square board. No matter what it looks like, the dog does the same thing when it reaches this obstacle.
There are many other obstacles included on the course. You usually will see a pipe tunnel and a collapsible tunnel which also might be called a chute. One of the most amazing sites is watching the dogs navigate the weave poles, and there might be as many as one dozen poles to weave through. This is considered to be one of the most difficult elements for dogs to master. Of course, there also will be a variety of jumps including a tire jump as well as other hurdles. A spread hurdle, which is either a double jump or a triple jump, will be set up, too. These are jumps that require a dog to leap a great distance. Sometimes there are other obstacles such as a swing plank or log jumps, but these are not nearly as typical.
The handler is the important person who helps the dog through the course using signals and commands. Sometimes this is a professional handler but often it is simply the dog's owner who is the handler. Together, the two of you are a team. Once you complete the course, your will receive a score. This score is determined by several factors. You must complete the course in due time and you also have to complete the course correctly. No treats or any other type of incentive may be used. Time faults are given if the dog does not complete the course in the time allotted, and course faults are given for any obstacles that are not completed correctly.
It might sound cutthroat, but really these events are fun and spirited. Obviously both dog and handler are happy after a successful run, but there are more important benefits to be gained, such as building a bond between a dog and his human companion. To get going, order some high quality dog agility equipment from Carlson Agility today. They have everything from pause tables, to dog agility jumps, a-frames, tunnels, chutes, see-saws and everything else you will find on a course. They also have mini equipment perfect for puppies and the smaller dog breeds.
About the Author:
Cheng Bernhardt enjoys dog agility training. To find a dog obstacle course, or to find more agility dog training equipment like agility jumps, please go to the Carlson-Agility.com site now.
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