How to get started with dog agility training

How to Get Started with Dog Agility Training

If you’re looking for a really fun activity that you can do with your dog, you should check out dog agility training. It’s fun for both you and your dog and it keeps you fit. Plus it feels good picking up trophies at the end of each competition. Dog agility training will take some time and dedication, but it’s totally worth it.

If you haven’t heard of dog agility, it is a sport for dogs and owners that has become very popular in the last few years. It comprises of a main event, of which there are lots of different courses for your dog to run. In the courses there is a set number of obstacles. The average number of obstacles in an agility course is 26. Your dog has to complete the course without getting any faults in the quickest time to win.

Dog Agility Training Courses

There are certain obstacles included in the course which need much training to master. There are two different types of courses, there are jumping and there are agility courses.

Jumping courses are exactly what it says on the box, they are courses full of obstacles which your dog is to jump over, things like jumps (two stands which face each other that hold a pole, the pole stand is around 4ft high) which your dog has to clear without knocking the pole down.

The second obstacle is the weave. The weave is a straight line of poles. They can be 6, 8, or 12 poles in length. Your dog must weave through the poles, without missing any before the end of the weave.

In agility courses there are also contact points on obstacles which your dog must touch with their paws. This requires a lot of dog agility training.

Requirements to Compete in Dog Agility Competitions

To run your dog in a show you must be registered with the AKC (American Kennel Club) and be part of an agility club. The members of these clubs meet up once or twice a week and train together, they set up practice courses, or just do certain obstacles their dog needs practicing on.

Your dog must be at least one year old before it can compete, however, since a lot of dog agility training must be done before you enter your first show, most agility enthusiasts have some equipment at home so they can start their dog from as young as six weeks.

Dog Agility Training Equipment

Here is the dog agility starter kit that I recommend to all of my clients who are interested in getting into the sport. It’s got everything you need, is good quality and it continues to receive good reviews from other customers.

Dog agility is a lot of work, but also a lot of fun. It is spectacular. The people, the atmosphere, the fun! Plus it is a great way to stimulate your dog’s mind, provide it with a lot of exercise, while strengthening the bond between you and your dog.