Dog Agility is becoming increasingly popular. I, for one, love watching the handlers directing their pooches through a predetermined pattern of obstacles at Crufts, but I would have no idea how to get started with my own pups or even if they’d be any good at it.
With that in mind, we thought we would put together a handy guide for dog agility training for beginners in the sport; we’ll be looking at
- The benefits of dog agility
- What equipment you need
- How to find a training club
- Tips on dog agility training for beginners
Dog Agility – The Benefits
Mental Stimulation
We often think of exercise and training as being great for helping your pup release some pent-up energy. However, it is also essential to know that your dog needs more than just physical stimulation.
A dog who is not challenged mentally will quickly become bored and act out in various ways. Dog agility training is an excellent way of getting them to exercise and concentrate.
Exercise for Both Dog and Owner
Agility training can do wonders for your dogs’ physical health and for yours, too! You will have to trot alongside your dog and meet them in certain areas, keeping you moving at an easy pace for however long you like.
For those who do not enjoy dedicated exercise, agility training with a dog is an excellent way of working out without really even noticing. For a list of dog agility exercises see this page.
Improves Behaviour
Keeping your dog physically and mentally stimulated will naturally make them happier, which will, in turn, promote better behaviour. Of course, they will be tired after their training and will likely want to nap more than anything else, but agility training does more than that.
It is genuine training that your dog will benefit from education-wise. They will have to listen to you and learn things like heeling and staying.
What Equipment do you Need for Dog Agility Training?
Dog agility obstacles come in all shapes and sizes depending on your dog’s propensity for vigorous exercise. A great place to start is to look at top dog obstacle equipment
online – but if you’re really stuck on what to throw into that first agility trial or two, start training with the following picks:
A Basic Agility Course
Most basic agility courses have a few classic pieces, including weave poles, a dog walk, jumps, a pause bow, a tunnel, a tire jump, and a teeterboard. These things can be easily made with low-cost materials or bought as a kit on Amazon. Why not consider homemade obstacles if you’re super creative?
Jumps
Jumping can be great fun, and use all of your dog’s joints to traverse. Puppies can start jumping at a young age, but you should undertake them as safely as possible! Do not let your puppy try them before they are at least 12 to 15 months old.
Top Tip
The best thing to do is to start your dog on the lowest jumps. Even if they seem tall enough to go higher, their bodies are still developing! Keeping sessions short, between 5-10 minutes is sufficient for many dogs.
The Tunnel
A dog tunnel is an exciting and essential part of any dog agility training course! Although it may seem like an easy obstacle, it can take some time to teach your dog how to use it. Your dog will not always see the other side when entering. They have to learn to run in at full blast and trust that you guide them to safety. Learning how to build a dog agility tunnel will not take you very long!
Top Tip
A tricky part of an obstacle course, start with 2 people; one can hold the pup at the entrance to the tunnel while you encourage it through with a tasty tidbit.
Pause Box
In competitions, dogs are asked to mount a pause table; however, they can take up too much space for domestic purposes and are a lot more expensive than pause boxes! It’s hard for a dog to sit in the middle of all the excitement of a course, so this timed obstacle is an excellent way to test their obedience.
Top Tip
Start with a mat or cover a low wooden box with non-slip material and set a short time limit.
Weave Poles
Weave poles are probably the easiest items for you to make yourself. Pool noodles or plastic tubes will do perfectly well for this part of the course. You must teach your dog to run in between each pole, not missing any on their way. They are usually set 60 cm apart and normally in dozens.
Top Tip
Training your dog to master the poles isn’t difficult; start with the poles far apart and then bring the poles closer as your pup follows you in between.
More Advanced equipment
If you are considering entering your dog in a dog show, or would simply like to challenge them further, then there are a few extra bits that you could consider making or buying. Listed below, you will find more advanced equipment to challenge your dog further, both physically and mentally.
Seesaw
The dog agility seesaw is quite a challenging piece of equipment, especially fitted into an entire course. Your dog will have to learn how to control its speed and, most importantly, its balance over this strange item. It is an excellent piece of training equipment for both big and small dogs.
Top Tip
Dogs must place at least one paw on the contact zone of the teeter board, so it pays to start with them doing this separately, not in the fast-paced environment of a complete course where they are desperate to tackle the next obstacle.
A-Frame
This frame on a dog agility course consists of two planks of wood that are propped up against one another to create an A-shape. The dog is supposed to run over the planks, requiring speed and control – especially for the descent.
Top Tip
Contact obstacles aren’t too difficult to conquer. Start with the frame flat and increase the height slowly once your pooch is completely confident each time working on the contact points.
Walkways
Walkways are essential parts of any dog agility training course and are more challenging to master than one might think! The idea is for the dog to climb the ramp at one end, walk along the flat plank in the middle, and descend the other ramp at the end.
Top Tip
Start low and increase height with your pup’s confidence; make sure this equipment is extremely secure as you don’t want your best friend falling.
Long Jumps
Long jumps are meant to train your dog to jump far and low instead of regular dog leaps, which test their jumping height. It is essential to have a long jump made up of soft blocks so that if your dog falls or does not complete the jump, they have something soft to land on.
Top Tip
Move the poles close together to make it easier when starting out.
Have You got a Champion Agility Dog?
Although all dogs can learn with agility classes, it takes a few qualities to make a champion agility dog.
First of all, your dog needs to be the right weight for their breed and shape, and they need to be in good physical condition. Training a dog in a competitive sport who has difficulty moving or who is prone to joint pain would be a mistake and cruel to your dog.
Secondly, a good agility dog needs a certain amount of bravery. Although it may not seem like it to us humans, taking on some of the obstacles on those courses does take some nerve. For example, it takes a good amount of courage and trust to take on the tunnel, the seesaw, and the walking planks, as they cannot see the ends of them.
Above all, for a dog to compete well on an agility course, they need a reliable and trustworthy human to guide them!
Conclusion
If your dogs are 15 months or older, then why not start agility training?
Aside from teaching them basic obedience, dog owners find that it is an excellent workout for dogs and a way for them to get some exercise and be mentally occupied, too. Find out which agility training equipment for dogs is best before you start.
Creating agility obstacles does not have to be a considerable expense in your dog’s training! As you have seen, plenty of people do their backyard agility training using homemade obstacles, using an old picnic bench, a PVC pipe or tire jump.
Agility training dogs should be fun and safe for both you and your pet! And so, your best bet is to go to your local department store or check online for anything that you are not sure about making yourself.
Any dog owner wanting to compete in agility trials with his or her dog should start with low objects and hurdles before moving on to walkways and the teeter board.
Most dogs, especially working dogs, enjoy fast-paced fun – and you’ll know what your dog enjoys in particular, so take their needs into full account.
It’ll take time before dogs learn to walk backwards on command, navigate the tight turns and overcome the obstacles in the correct order but if your pup understands basic commands, is eager to please and full of energy, an entry-level agility event may be just the thing. Best of all, agility classes are a whole lot of fun.