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Writer's pictureTracy Peach

Getting started in dog agility

Dog agility is a fast, fun and exciting sport that you can do with your dog.

Agility is so much more than getting your dog around a course of obstacles and the people and dogs you meet along the way make agility a very special journey.


Agility is beneficial for everyone, from young puppies where you need to create that bond so your puppy is responsive and wants to play and spend time with you instead of other dogs and people, to older dogs that require mental and physical stimulation. For first time dog owners to experienced dog owners and trainers, the skills needed for agility are very unique but also cross over into every day life. You will both learn skills and how to read and understand each other in a way no other sport can match.




WHY SHOULD I TRY DOG AGILITY?


Everyone has their own reasons for starting agility. I saw agility on Olympia when I was a child and dreamt of doing agility with my dogs, it looked so much fun. It was nearly 20 years later when I finally got a dog of my own and the rest is history. Agility offers training and activity to your dogs routine. Even if you don't have any equipment at home, you can still practice agility and the skills you need on a daily basis. Agility contains the 3 key requirements for any dog training, connection, stimulation and learning together.


AGILITY BUILDS A BOND BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR DOG.


Every dog owner wants to understand their dog better and to make sure their dog has a happy and fulfilling life. Agility training helps you see how we break down exercises into achievable pieces for your dog to get the results we want and how dogs can problem solve.


Dogs are communicating with us all the time, we often just don't understand what they are saying. Agility means you have to learn to listen and understand your dog, which means your dog becomes more engaged in you as you both start having a conversation.



AGILITY IS FUN AND GREAT EXERCISE FOR YOU BOTH


Agility is both mentally and physically tiring for your dog. Not only do they use different muscles than in every day life but they also have to think, problem solve and listen to communication from us more.


You also have to teach your dog to love a reward, which again spills over into everyday life. Food and toys are needed to reward our dogs in agility, depending on what we are training, but we also need great rewards when training recall and loose lead walking. Whenever we ask the dog to ignore everything else around them and focus on us, we have to make sure that reward is amazing.



HOW TO GET STARTED WITH AGILITY


Firstly you need to find a local club. Take a look at agilitynet.com as they have a list of many dog training clubs or ask for recommendations. Make sure you go along and look to make sure they use modern, force free training styles and their equipment is kennel club specification. Remember dogs under 12 months should not be doing contact equipment or full height jumps, but plenty of foundation work can be put in place which transfers over to the skills needed in agility.


IS AGILITY SUITABLE FOR ALL DOGS?


Competition agility is probably not suitable for all dogs. Some dogs may not have the physical ability to jump the required heights needed in competition and some dogs may struggle in the show environment. But that doesn't mean you can't adapt and train agility in classes for your dog. You can lower jumps, make courses easier, maybe not train some equipment if your dog struggles with it and so many more adaptions can be made. Remember agility must be fun for you and your dog so always keep your dogs welfare at the foremost of any training you do.


START NOW


If you fancy getting started then get in touch now. With classes at Babbington Kennels near Awsworth NG16 2SS and at Pawz let Loose near Pinxton NG16 6HY we have lots of times and days available. Here at Tip Top Dog Traning we are more than happy for you to come and watch one of our training classes or come and have a taster session.


Come and start this amazing journey with your dog today, call 07914 775166 or email at tracypeach99@hotmail.com




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