Agility Training For Dogs: Something Fun For Both Of You!

Agility is the fastest growing dog sport in North America. It has legions of fans and participants and it’s a sport that both owners and their dogs are crazy about. Like any sport, it does require some training. Agility training for dogs takes some special equipment so you can simulate the kinds of obstacles your dog will encounter on an agility course during an agility trial. For this reason, many people choose to do their agility training with a club which already has the equipment. However, you can also purchase or build your own obstacles so you can train at home.

1. How to get started with agility training for dogs.

If you’ve never seen an agility trial then you should try to watch agility being run. Agility trials are sometimes shown on TV. Watching on TV will give you some idea of the obstacles the dogs face, as well as the enthusiasm of the dogs and handlers, but to really get a proper perspective on what agility is all about you should try to attend an agility trial in person. There are several organizations in North American that offer agility trials. The American Kennel Club, the United States Dog Agility Association, the United Kennel Club, and the North American Dog Agility Council are the main agility organizations. You can look for these organizations online and see when they will be having agility events in your area.

2. Who can compete in agility?

Agility is open to any dog that wants to compete. Even the AKC has classes for mixed breed dogs in agility at some shows, and the other organizations welcome mixed breeds as well as purebreds. Classes are divided so dogs compete against dogs of similar size to make the competition fair.

3. What kind of agility training for dogs is necessary?

There is no required training for dogs competing in agility. The goal is to get your dog around the course and through the obstacles in the fastest time possible, without making any mistakes or collecting any time penalties. It often helps if your dog already knows some basic obedience commands before you start your agility training, but it is not required. As long as you and your dog are good at communicating with each other as you train, that’s all that matters. You won’t be allowed to touch your dog during the actual agility trial but you need to be able to control him.

4. How can you find an agility club for agility training for dogs?

You should check with your local kennel club and any dog training clubs in your area. They may be listed in the phone book or online. You can also check with the AKC and the other agility organizations to see if they list agility clubs in your area. If there are no organized clubs, it’s possible that people with the kennel club may get together informally to train in someone’s backyard. They may already have the equipment and obstacles needed for training so you could train with them.

5. Can you buy your own dog agility equipment?

Yes, you can purchase agility equipment for agility training for dogs. You can check online for agility equipment. You don’t need to start out with every piece of agility equipment. You can buy a package with three obstacles, for example, and work on those with your dog. A beginner set might contain weave poles, jumps and a tunnel/chute, for example. That would be enough for you and your dog to practice with for a few months. Then you could add more obstacles. Agility courses become more difficult as you move up through the ranks, so you can add more difficult obstacles.

Agility training for dogs can be lots of fun for both dogs and their owners. If this is something you might enjoy, visit an agility trial and see what it’s all about. Then look for a club or other people in your area who are doing agility. This is really a sport where team competition can make things even more fun.

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