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.

Starter kits will not have the larger objects, like see-saws or A frames, but they will contain a few weave poles which can be transformed into jumps or double jumps. These are considered some of the most difficult obstacles in dog agility competitions, and can help you determine if your dog is ready for larger obstacles. Some dogs lack the coordination or maturity to be able to do well with the larger, and potentially more dangerous objects.

In general, starter kits are a good idea because they will often come with trainer tools as well, and often a short introduction to the sport, as well as guide to getting started on obstacle training. Typical tools would include ribbons, wands, and other training tools which can get you started. These may not always be available outside of a starter kit.

If you were to simply dive right in and attempt to create your own obstacles, you will likely run into trouble without the correct training tools and the knowledge of how to get started, and in addition, you run the risk of injuring your pet. Most professional agility training equipment is built with the animal in mind, and are built to fall apart easily on contact to be reassembled. This ensures that your animal is not injured when running these basic obstacles. These advanced designs are difficult, if not impossible to replicate at home.

You must also consider the cost of the larger objects. While they certainly may look more impressive and be more difficult to train for, these objects are costly, and difficult to store. Sometimes you can take advantage of local parks and playgrounds for some of these obstacles, but remember to check with local ordinances before you do. Some playgrounds may disallow dogs from the playground area and fine you if your dog is seen working on the equipment.

Even if you felt confident in that, you would still have to invest in a training manual and some tools. If you purchase all of these separately, then you’re still spending a majority of the money that you would spend on a starter kit anyways.