Reinvent Dog Training – Agility Training is the New Sport on the Block

If you are looking for ways and means of making the training sessions with your dog more interesting and stimulating, you should consider dog agility training.

As you can gather from the name, in this form of dog training, “agility” of the dog is put to test as he has to navigate a pre-set course of hurdles and obstacles and clear them all successfully.

It’s fast becoming a popular sport all over the world and it puts the intelligence and athletic talent of any dog to serious test. As a hobby, it promotes greater physical fitness and provides a happy break from the otherwise boring routine you may have.

What are the Benefits of Dog Agility Training?

If you were to take up any sport or physical activity, what benefit would you get out of it? And, think beyond getting a trim waist line – dogs aren’t worried about prosaic things like that! Any activity that exercises your mind and your body is bound to make you happy.

Same is the case with agility training. It forces the dog to use his instincts and it provides a work out for his brain and all the muscles in the body. This will make him happy and keep him content.

With agility training, you will notice your dogs becoming stronger, smarter, faster, more agile, and more confident. He will be able to pick up new tricks faster and all the previous commands that you have taught him will stick in his mind better.

Finally, if you have a dog that has oodles of energy and you have absolutely no idea what to do with him, short of enrolling him in the next inter-state marathon, try agility training. A few days of agility training and you will notice your dog resting easy and sleeping more peacefully, since all his energy has been expended.

Does my Dog Have the Potential for Agility Training?

There is a popular misconception that only border collies have the potential for agility training. Don’t know where that came from, but that is not true at all. If your dog is healthy, has no serious medical problems, and isn’t fat or too old, he can do agility training. In addition, if he has the following characteristics, it would be criminal if you didn’t get him into agility training.

• High Energy – Such dogs are undoubtedly the best candidates for agility training. Since the sport is very fast as well as active, you too need a dog that can keep up the pace. I
• Desire to please you – The amount of training that goes into agility is phenomenal and you need a dog that is ready to work with you, catches on to every signal you make, and has the desire to please you by picking up tricks faster.
• Prey drive – A dog that has the prey drive, or the inclination to chase anything that moves is cut out for agility training.
• The Confident dog – Dogs that are scared will be very hard to train to cross all the hurdles. On the other hand, a confident animal will show no hesitation in becoming pally with all the dog agility training equipment.

What are the Commands my Dog Should Already Know?

When you talk about dog training, agility can only follow once a certain part of the basic training is underway. Some of the commands he must know in order to begin agility training are “Come” or an equivalent command to recall the dog, “Sit,” “Down,” “Stay,” “Heel,” and the release word, such as “Okay” or “Go.”

Dog Agility Is no Child’s Play

Agility training is far more rigorous and strenuous that the regular obedience training you’ve been doing so far. The former is training your dog into becoming a disciplined athlete. You are going to be pushing very hard at the limits of your dog’s mental and physical capability.

Check on the good health and physical condition of your dog regularly. And I am not talking about a cursory check here. I mean, a complete, top to bottom checkup of his heart and lungs, eyesight, joints, weight, diet, muscle mass, stamina…everything!

At the beginning take things real slow and build up gradually. Use lots of treats, encouragement and love to motivate your dog, and never scold him if he can’t do a task. For you it might be a competition, but for him it’s just play.