Dog agility is a great activity that most healthy, active dogs can enjoy, and if you are ready to get going, you probably have a few questions about this sport. Not only will your pet benefit from the exercise, you will see behavior improvements from practicing these agility skills. Take a look at the following tips, which might be helpful for someone new to agility.
Every dog agility organization varies a bit regarding the required elements and the sizes of each piece of apparatus. However, when you are just starting out, it can be easier to use miniature agility equipment. These are exactly like the full-size versions, just scaled down, and while they are perfect for puppies and smaller dogs, bigger dogs also can get their feet wet using these mini items. You will be able to teach all of the crucial agility skills, and the smaller equipment fits more easily in your yard and even can be toted easily to the park or perhaps inside your home if the weather does not permit outdoor training.
While your dog might be playful, active and healthy, it doesn't mean that some agility equipment might seem a bit intimidating for your pooch. The teeter-totter's motion can be a bit scary at first, and some dogs balk at the height of a full-size A-frame, so using smaller equipment really can be a big help in the beginning. You also might consider using a wobble board (also called a Buja board) to introduce your pet to the idea of standing on something that moves. This board is very low to the ground, however, which can lower the anxiety level of a newbie agility dog.
Some pieces of equipment are easier to learn than others, and weaves can be among the most difficult to master. While dogs have great fun zipping around the poles, they often skip a pole or navigate the poles incorrectly. Snap-on training guides can be a big help. These just snap to the weave poles and help guide your dog through the weaves correctly. After practicing with the guides, take them off and then practice without the guides. It can make this difficult apparatus a bit easier to learn.
Sometimes dogs are enjoying themselves so much while on the course, they make some costly mistakes. Often you will see a dog bypass the bottom edge of the dog walk or the A-frame and simply leap off. Using a training hoop can focus their movement and prevent them from jumping off before they reach the bottom. It is important to walk or run down the obstacle all the way or else your dog risks getting a penalty or fault during competition.
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.
Every dog agility organization varies a bit regarding the required elements and the sizes of each piece of apparatus. However, when you are just starting out, it can be easier to use miniature agility equipment. These are exactly like the full-size versions, just scaled down, and while they are perfect for puppies and smaller dogs, bigger dogs also can get their feet wet using these mini items. You will be able to teach all of the crucial agility skills, and the smaller equipment fits more easily in your yard and even can be toted easily to the park or perhaps inside your home if the weather does not permit outdoor training.
While your dog might be playful, active and healthy, it doesn't mean that some agility equipment might seem a bit intimidating for your pooch. The teeter-totter's motion can be a bit scary at first, and some dogs balk at the height of a full-size A-frame, so using smaller equipment really can be a big help in the beginning. You also might consider using a wobble board (also called a Buja board) to introduce your pet to the idea of standing on something that moves. This board is very low to the ground, however, which can lower the anxiety level of a newbie agility dog.
Some pieces of equipment are easier to learn than others, and weaves can be among the most difficult to master. While dogs have great fun zipping around the poles, they often skip a pole or navigate the poles incorrectly. Snap-on training guides can be a big help. These just snap to the weave poles and help guide your dog through the weaves correctly. After practicing with the guides, take them off and then practice without the guides. It can make this difficult apparatus a bit easier to learn.
Sometimes dogs are enjoying themselves so much while on the course, they make some costly mistakes. Often you will see a dog bypass the bottom edge of the dog walk or the A-frame and simply leap off. Using a training hoop can focus their movement and prevent them from jumping off before they reach the bottom. It is important to walk or run down the obstacle all the way or else your dog risks getting a penalty or fault during competition.
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 loves dog agility training. To find an agility equipment for dogs, or to find further agility dog training equipment like obedience jumps, please go to the Carlson-Agility.com site now.
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