For agility dogs, there are few things more fun than dashing around weaves and jumping through tires. However, this is a lot of work and while your pet obviously has to work on learning how to tackle each agility obstacle, it's also important to provide the type of conditioning exercises that build stamina and improve your dog's strength.
When training for agility, treats are a big no-no, but humans find it hard to resist giving their dog friend treats from time to time. Sometimes, we even provide a bit of human food to our pets. While the occasional nibble might be alright, it's important to keep your dog's diet under control. Gaining weight not only makes it harder for them to get moving and exercise, it puts added pressure on their bones, joints and organ systems, which can lead to health problems. Your veterinarian will be able to tell you the best types of food for your dog, as well as amounts and even can recommend a good feeding schedule.
The types of exercises you do with your pet depend on their breed. For example, a breed such as a Labrador retriever might love going for a long run while a Lhasa Apso might run out of steam more quickly. Walking is a good exercise for all dogs, just adjust the pace to suit your dog's size and needs. You also can start out slowly and build up the intensity of the workouts, and this can be a good way for you as the handler to get into great shape. Consider finding a variety of locations for walks to provide diversity in scenery for both of you.
Other fun exercises include tugging on toys, chasing after a ball and playing fetch. Dogs love these activities and they actually can be quite helpful for teaching your dog how to behave and follow commands. For instance you can throw a toy and signal your pet to bring it back to you. You can play tug, but also teach a command where your pet must release the tug toy immediately.
Of course, practicing your agility skills is another great exercise and you probably will spend quite a bit of time working with the obstacles. To get started, you will need to purchase a few pieces of agility equipment from an online retailer such as Carlson Agility. They sell all types of agility equipment, such as pause tables, weaves, teeters, a-frames, all types of jumps and many more items.
Setting up an agility course in your yard can be tricky if space is limited, so you also might consider purchasing some of Carlson Agility's mini agility obstacles. They sell everything from mini jumps to mini teeters and much more. These miniature obstacles are idea for puppy training and agility training for smaller dogs.
When training for agility, treats are a big no-no, but humans find it hard to resist giving their dog friend treats from time to time. Sometimes, we even provide a bit of human food to our pets. While the occasional nibble might be alright, it's important to keep your dog's diet under control. Gaining weight not only makes it harder for them to get moving and exercise, it puts added pressure on their bones, joints and organ systems, which can lead to health problems. Your veterinarian will be able to tell you the best types of food for your dog, as well as amounts and even can recommend a good feeding schedule.
The types of exercises you do with your pet depend on their breed. For example, a breed such as a Labrador retriever might love going for a long run while a Lhasa Apso might run out of steam more quickly. Walking is a good exercise for all dogs, just adjust the pace to suit your dog's size and needs. You also can start out slowly and build up the intensity of the workouts, and this can be a good way for you as the handler to get into great shape. Consider finding a variety of locations for walks to provide diversity in scenery for both of you.
Other fun exercises include tugging on toys, chasing after a ball and playing fetch. Dogs love these activities and they actually can be quite helpful for teaching your dog how to behave and follow commands. For instance you can throw a toy and signal your pet to bring it back to you. You can play tug, but also teach a command where your pet must release the tug toy immediately.
Of course, practicing your agility skills is another great exercise and you probably will spend quite a bit of time working with the obstacles. To get started, you will need to purchase a few pieces of agility equipment from an online retailer such as Carlson Agility. They sell all types of agility equipment, such as pause tables, weaves, teeters, a-frames, all types of jumps and many more items.
Setting up an agility course in your yard can be tricky if space is limited, so you also might consider purchasing some of Carlson Agility's mini agility obstacles. They sell everything from mini jumps to mini teeters and much more. These miniature obstacles are idea for puppy training and agility training for smaller dogs.
About the Author:
Cheng Bernhardt enjoys dog agility training. To find an agility equipment for dogs, or to discover further about training equipment for dog agility jumps, please check out the Carlson-Agility.com website now.
No comments:
Post a Comment