You've probably watched those cool dog agility contests on television and thought how much fun that would be to do with your own dog. Even if you never make it to competition level, dog agility is a fantastic option for most dogs, providing a source of exercise as well as increasing their level of obedience.
However, while you might be tempted to grab some jumps and a teeter totter and get going, it is important to dedicate your first lessons to building a strong foundation. After all, a novice skier doesn't begin on black diamond runs and you don't learn to drive by hitting the course at the Indy 500, one starts by learning the basics. This is true for dog agility training, as well. Once you teach some basic beginning skills, you will have a much easier time with cool agility obstacles such as tunnels, jumps, weaves and teeters.
While it might not sound exciting, foundation training is a great deal of fun for dogs. You can start out with toy play. This simply means providing a set of tug toys and teaching your dog to tug, let go on command and bring a toy to you. Provide plenty of positive feedback for your dog when they tug, when they let go and when they bring you the toy. Box games are another fun foundation skill, and you can simply set out a few plastic bins or boxes that are low enough on the ground for your dog to hop in safely. Set them up in a series with some space in between and then have them jump in each box. Basically, with all of these foundation games, you are teaching your dog how to obey your commands.
One great idea is to purchase some mini dog agility equipment. These are simply scaled-down versions of regular agility equipment and they are great for puppies and dogs just starting out, and, of course, they are must-have items for small breeds that would be using this equipment on an agility course anyway. Another great advantage to mini equipment is that it fits more easily in your backyard, yet your dog is still learning all of the essential skills of dog agility.
The pause table is a great piece to use as your first training tool, as it really teaches some important obedience skills. Dogs are required to sit and stay on this obstacle for a set amount of time while the handler is some distance away. Begin by simply teaching your pet to stay and sit in place on the pause table. At first, you will be right next to them, but eventually you will want to increase the distance until you are a dozen or more feet away. This is a great way to build your pet's confidence, and distance training is a great tool for obedience in general.
Aside from the pause table, other contact equipment you will need includes the dog walk, the teeter-totter and the a-frame, all of which are available from Carlson Agility in full-size and mini sizes. The smaller versions of pieces such as the teeter and a-frame are excellent for beginners or puppies who might be intimidate by the height of the obstacles and the movement of the teeter. If your dog seems uncertain about the teeter, consider having them using a rocker or wobble board, which is low to the ground but still allows them to get used to stand on something that moves. Carlson Agility not only sells all types of high-quality agility equipment, the website is filled with helpful information that will help you make agility training a big success for you and your dog.
However, while you might be tempted to grab some jumps and a teeter totter and get going, it is important to dedicate your first lessons to building a strong foundation. After all, a novice skier doesn't begin on black diamond runs and you don't learn to drive by hitting the course at the Indy 500, one starts by learning the basics. This is true for dog agility training, as well. Once you teach some basic beginning skills, you will have a much easier time with cool agility obstacles such as tunnels, jumps, weaves and teeters.
While it might not sound exciting, foundation training is a great deal of fun for dogs. You can start out with toy play. This simply means providing a set of tug toys and teaching your dog to tug, let go on command and bring a toy to you. Provide plenty of positive feedback for your dog when they tug, when they let go and when they bring you the toy. Box games are another fun foundation skill, and you can simply set out a few plastic bins or boxes that are low enough on the ground for your dog to hop in safely. Set them up in a series with some space in between and then have them jump in each box. Basically, with all of these foundation games, you are teaching your dog how to obey your commands.
One great idea is to purchase some mini dog agility equipment. These are simply scaled-down versions of regular agility equipment and they are great for puppies and dogs just starting out, and, of course, they are must-have items for small breeds that would be using this equipment on an agility course anyway. Another great advantage to mini equipment is that it fits more easily in your backyard, yet your dog is still learning all of the essential skills of dog agility.
The pause table is a great piece to use as your first training tool, as it really teaches some important obedience skills. Dogs are required to sit and stay on this obstacle for a set amount of time while the handler is some distance away. Begin by simply teaching your pet to stay and sit in place on the pause table. At first, you will be right next to them, but eventually you will want to increase the distance until you are a dozen or more feet away. This is a great way to build your pet's confidence, and distance training is a great tool for obedience in general.
Aside from the pause table, other contact equipment you will need includes the dog walk, the teeter-totter and the a-frame, all of which are available from Carlson Agility in full-size and mini sizes. The smaller versions of pieces such as the teeter and a-frame are excellent for beginners or puppies who might be intimidate by the height of the obstacles and the movement of the teeter. If your dog seems uncertain about the teeter, consider having them using a rocker or wobble board, which is low to the ground but still allows them to get used to stand on something that moves. Carlson Agility not only sells all types of high-quality agility equipment, the website is filled with helpful information that will help you make agility training a big success for you and your dog.
About the Author:
Cheng Bernhardt enjoys dog agility training. To discover an obstacle course for dogs, or to find more about training equipment for dog agility jumps, please check out the Carlson-Agility site today.
No comments:
Post a Comment