Dog Agility Training

Dog Agility Training Benefits Large Dogs and Their Human Companions

Large Dog Agility Events

Dog agility is a powerful way for pet and human companion to form a special bond. This sport has gained worldwide popularity and truly enhances the lives of dogs and their human companions in myriad ways. For large intelligent and sensitive dogs such as Great Danes, agility training is an excellent way to get much needed physical exercise, special time with human companions, and mental stimulation.

Certainly, large dog agility training presents a range of challenges, not the least of which is finding agility equipment big enough to accommodate large dogs. Large dogs aren’t usually natural burrowers like many of their smaller counterparts and training a large dog to go into tunnels requires patience and technique.If you become interested in agility competitions, you’ll need to find dog agility events for big dogs.

Dog agility training differs from standard dog trick training. It involves teaching your dog the best way to be a competitive stunt performer, learning how to hop over hurdles, navigate tunnels, maneavering around obstacle course rods, and balancing on see-saws. With large dogs, agility events much resemble equestrian events which first inspired the development of the sport of agility. You’ll find even dog agility events to be a new and healthy way to display the agility accomplishmens of your dog and yourself as a team. OK, to show off, why not. occasions for shows of dog agility, much like equine shows, simply with dogs. Just in case your pet is very active and loves to play, he just could love this type of activity.

When Should a Dog Learn Dog Agility?

A dog should be at least 9 months of age before dog agility training commences. A dog should be grown up and sufficiently developed physically to handle the agility training process without getting injured a lot. Intially a dog should be placed in a starter class or the equivalent if training your dog at home, to develop skills and capabilities. Dog and companion first learn the basics of dog agility before moving onto more advanced training.

Once he is within the advanced group, they can begin competing in dog agility contests, and may not be capable of compete in master level competitions until winning a good number of advanced level matches. . There’s a real 6-part qualification process for a dog to earn a specialist title, and a dog must truly be great to do so.

Dog Agility Obstacles

You’ll find a variety of dog obstacles and courses recreational sport for dogs to master in agility events. For beginners, there are usually available dog agility starter kits on the market. It becomes an affordable, fundamental dog agility course. It’s lightweight and just transportable for people that are interested in practicing in many different places. For people who’re usually stationary and like the greatest quality in agility equipment, you’ll find more professional obstacles that could be considered. Agility pole guides are often bought by entrepreneurs to help in leading the canine using a new or different obstacle. They’re very useful for beginners and tend to be employed by professionals and trainers.

Specific portions of obstacles, or individual equipment items may be bought individually and so are loved by entrepreneurs with dogs well acquainted with agility. Dog tunnels are normal obstacles found in agility. You’ll find two fundamental types of tunnels, for example outdoors tunnel, as well as the other might be the closed tunnel. An empty dog tunnel is regarded as the common form, enabling dogs to give a conveyable tube that’s open at lack of. Closed dog tunnels are more uncommon and so are more advance, enabling a failing a part of fabric for your dog to endure alone. Both forms are lightweight and straightforward to help keep.

Dog Agility Can Add Special Joy to a Dog’s Life

A dog’s most joyful moments usually involve running, jumping, catching, and stretching. Large dogs needs more space for such physical activity than smaller dogs. Dog agility training can help turn idle dogs into active dogs that age superbly and happily. You might be surprised to know the most difficult part of dog agility is starting. However, the thrills and feelings of accomplishment that you and your dog enjoy and you progress is reward enough to inspire you to happiliy continue doing it. Dog agility training is quite exciting and beneficial for you and your large dog with all of its high energy and need to think and adjust quickly

Dog Agility Training for Tunnels and Chutes

by Adam Fulford

In the world of dog agility training, there are a lot of different obstacles that you must train your dogs on. These range from climbing objects to jumps, as well as obedience objects. There are a wide variety of obstacles used in major competitions, and you must familiarize your dog with all of them if you want to win the event. One of the more difficult obstacles for large dogs to train with are the tunnels and chutes.

Some dogs, especially the naturally burrowing breeds like the terrier, are particularly good with these obstacles, but other dogs, particularly large dogs, do not like the enclosed space. Depending on the size of the chute, some dogs may not even be able to stand fully upright in the tube.

In order to get your dog used to the close quarters of this obstacle, many trainers will work first with a familiar object like a blanket. This also mimics the darkness present in longer tunnels. Have your dog stand or lie underneath a table, and drape the blanket over the sides. By repeating the process, they will eventually learn to be more calm when in close quarters, especially when it is dark.

The second thing you must do is to find a way to train your dog to go forward through the tunnel. Some dogs, especially those who have been trained to heel their owners, have difficulty with this change in procedure. By encouraging your dog to enter the chute and stay, then running down to the other end and encouraging them to come, they will eventually learn how to navigate this obstacle successfully without breaking their good habits of trailing their owner.

Another idea to try is to work with distances and viewpoints. One of the reasons that dogs are uncomfortable in the chute is that they cannot see their owner. If you tell your dog to sit and stay, and then move behind a tree or an object in a public park, then their behavior may tell you a lot about why they are unwilling to work on this particular object.

If your dog still shows a preference for going around, rather than through the tunnel, then consider putting a treat in the center of the tunnel to entice them to enter. Food will certainly get their attention! You may also want to work more with the blanket and table trick, and try some variations.

There are also tunnels with collapsed ends, and these are particularly difficult to get fearful dogs involved in. In general, it is best to work with open ended tunnels first to get them used to the idea, and then work with blankets and other short closings.

If they have difficulty with the closed chutes, then look at how they approach them. Train your dog to approach the obstacle with their nose out, and their feet back, as they may be getting caught up because they are stepping on the materials.

Basic Safety for Dog Agility Training

by Adam Fulford

As in any sport, safety is paramount in dog agility training. Because these events are very high energy and have some very difficult obstacles, it is necessary that there be a basic safety guide, both for participants and spectators.

Because these events are almost always off-leash events, you need to train your dog to be very well behaved when he or she is given some freedom. Some dogs simply cannot handle themselves, and if this is the case with your dog, you should almost certainly work on this first and foremost before beginning training on obstacles. There are going to be other dogs in the vicinity as well, both among the spectators and with the other competitors in the event. If your dog cannot handle other animals, you should try to expose them to other dogs more often in order to get them used to their presence.

Your dog should be at a point where he or she is able to instantly recognize commands and the sound of your voice. They must know how to stop, stay and sit, at a bare minimum, and it would be preferable if they had learned how to walk at your heels while off-leash. While not only helpful for safety concerns, in general, the more well-behaved they are, the better off they will do in competitions.

Safety must also factor in with the physical and mental maturity of your animal. Younger dogs may lack the coordination necessary to handle certain obstacles like the dog walk, and may lack the understanding necessary to take these obstacles seriously. In addition, some dogs may not have enough weight to manipulate objects like the see-saw. Just like many people, some dogs are afraid of heights, and may balk at the idea of going over obstacles, such as the A frame, which require them to go up higher than normal.

While most of these situations can be handled with good training, it is a bad idea to begin agility training without first knowing what your dog is capable of from a mental standpoint. If they do not like crowds or loud noises, a traditional competition is probably not going to bring out their best, and could leave them in a state of shock. If this is the case with your dog, then it is generally best to only enter smaller, local competitions, where the pressure will not be as intense, and work up to a larger group eventually.

Safety should also be considered for the spectators at these events. Many times, spectator seating is cramped, and many people will bring their dogs into the seating area with them. If you have a large dog that you are bringing, consider leaving him with a trusted friend while you watch the agility competition, or taking a seat towards the back where you are more likely to have some spare leg room. Larger animals tend not to do very well when they lack the room to stretch out, and can cause trouble if they get bored.

Spectators should also remember to keep an eye on their own dogs behavior while watching the competition. One small disturbance caused by your dog could lead to a major outburst from the other dogs in the crowd, which could distract the dogs performing in the event. Not only is this unfair to the dogs running the course, it is also dangerous for them if an outburst occurs on one of the more dangerous obstacles.

AgilityDogEquipment.com

Dog Agility Competitions, Dog Agility Equipment, & Related Topics

Dog Agility Training Benefits Large Dogs and Their Human Companions

When Should a Dog Learn Dog Agility?

Dog Agility Obstacles

Dog Agility Can Add Special Joy to a Dog’s Life

Related Reading:

Dog Agility Training for Tunnels and Chutes

Related Reading:

Basic Safety for Dog Agility Training

Related Reading: