Top Tips for Dog Agility Training

When you bring your dog home, one of the most important things on your agenda should be training. It will make the experience of owning your dog more pleasant for you both. A well-trained and well-mannered dog will make him a part of your family and not just a pet. There are many different types of training for your dog available. Agility training will keep your dog in excellent shape and responsive to your commands.

There is free training available if you research the Internet. You will find training videos to watch and to purchase, there are tips and tricks you can learn and in turn teach your dog. There are manuals available and extensive information available if you are willing to do the research to find it.

If you plan to enter your dog into the competitions that you see on the television, you will need more than just the dog training you can get at your local parks and recreation. This is a good start for the beginner, whether the beginner is you or the dog or both. You cannot expect your dog to be a super dog from the start. It takes training for both of you. Your dog must understand your commands no matter if they are verbal or through body language. First, take your dog to the veterinarian and make sure he is in good enough health to undergo the extensive training agility training requires. You may want to consult your doctor too, to make sure you are in good health since agility training is a physical exercise for you too.

The training involves running an obstacle course, taking specific routes and jumping along with going through tunnels that may weave about. Courses are breed and age specific. The training involved will not produce fantastic results overnight. Remember, you and your dog are both in training. Imagine the training as if you are training for the Olympics. The results we see in the competitions take years to achieve, extensive training over long periods have taken place.

Initial training of your dog to establish you as the alpha or pack leader is where to start. Then once you have established your role you can begin training that is more extensive. Agility training is very specific with the equipment for the course and the methods used to get your dog through the course. It is not something you or your dog will learn overnight. Make sure your dog is up to the task. For instance, you would not use a Saint Bernard for agility training. The course is not set up for that type of dog. Agility training is better suited for a working breed, herding breed or toy breed. Be aware of your dogs' limitations when training for agility.

Do not forget that dogs, like humans, have bad days too. Training may be everyday and you need to pay attention to your dog and his limitations when putting him through agility training. Just as any athlete needs time off, so will your dog. Just as an athlete needs encouragement, so will your dog. When participating in agility training with your dog, think of him as an athlete training for the Olympics. You expect him to perform as an Olympian so treat him as one.