If you’ve ever seen a dog engaged in agility trials, you’ll recognize right away how much fun they seem to be having. As they leap over jumps, navigate obstacles, and weave between poles, they’re often totally engrossed in the activity.
These eager-to-please pooches and their proud owners are having the time of their lives competing in this popular sport. The exercise, exhilaration, and the stronger bonds forged between human and canine are what draws so many dog owners to this activity. Let’s delve into some specifics about agility training and why you might want to try it with your pet.
The basics
Agility training is all about moving with speed, accuracy, and efficiency over, through, and around a series of obstacles. A typical course will have a range of structures that includes tunnels, elevated walkways, A-frame structures, tire jumps, seesaws, and groups of upright poles spaced apart. The idea is for the dog handler to direct their animal forward, encouraging them to tackle each part of the course as quickly and gracefully as possible. Canines must pay close attention to the verbal prompts and hand signals given by their human partner.
The course tests the dog’s balance, concentration, coordination, endurance, speed, obedience, and strength. At each event, the particular course is arranged differently. The canine’s athleticism is on full display as they take on each unfamiliar series of obstacles.
The perfect pooch
Truly, there is no perfect breed of dog that will excel at this sport. Any breed of canine, whether purebred or mixed, can be an acceptable candidate. If your dog has a good temperament, is trainable, and has the physical ability to run the course, you may want to get them involved.
When assessing your pooch’s temperament, consider if they’re high energy and love to play and run around outside. Think about how well they listen to your commands and whether they tend to be sociable with other dogs. In terms of physical suitability, pets who are overweight or are recovering from an injury are out of the running, as are puppies and senior animals. You don’t want your canine companion to wind up with an injury from overtraining.
Having said that, there are certain dog breeds that are known to be somewhat more suited to agility training. Small to medium-sized dogs tend to do the best at trials, though larger dogs can and do compete. Over the years, Australian Kelpies, Australian Shepherds, Belgian Sheepdogs, Border Collies, Golden Retrievers, Papillons, and Pembroke Welsh Corgis have developed a reputation for being good at this sport.
Getting started
It takes two to participate in agility training—you and your dog. So, if you think you’d like to get into this pastime, do a little homework first. With this initial time investment, you’ll quickly find out if it’s right for you and your canine friend. While you don’t need to be in top notch physical shape yourself, you do need to have enough physical stamina for these events. You also must be willing to study how to give strong commands and communicate well with your pet under the pressure of a timed event.
Once you’re ready to test the waters with your favorite canine, see if you can find a local dog trainer that offers a group class in agility training. This is a great way to expand your knowledge, practice your owner-to-pet communication skills, try out different types of equipment, and learn how your pooch acts in this kind of environment with other dogs.
In preparation for your first competition, be prepared to do quite a lot of practicing at home. Fancy equipment is not necessary. You can set up a simple course in rooms and hallways inside your house or backyard. Try to replicate some of the same challenges your dog will experience at an event with some store-bought or homemade obstacles, tunnels, and platforms.
Then, design a training schedule. This will ensure that your pet retains the knowledge they’re learning and also solidify seamless and responsive communication between the two of you. A minimum of 15-20 minutes of daily practice should do it. Remember to take it slowly at first and give your pooch the time they need to grasp each of the moves, rewarding them with encouraging words and treats.
Entering a competition
If you and your dog are ready to team up to compete, you’ll need to choose between three different kinds of agility trials. The most common events are those organized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) for all breeds. You can also enroll your dog in an agility trial designed for their breed. Alternatively, you might want to consider group trials that test herding and other skills.
In closing
With a little research and perseverance and enough time invested in running through the moves, you and your dog could be winning agility awards in no time. At the very least, you’ll have some fun, help your dog get some exercise, and forge a closer bond with your pet!