Agility training is focused upon helping your dog develop the necessary skills to compete with other canines on an agility course. The course includes several contact obstacles (we’ll describe them below) over, through, and across which your dog must race. Each pet has an assigned handler – typically the owner – who is tasked with directing his or her teammate through the course.

The sport debuted in England at the Crufts Dog Show in the late 1970s. At the time, the organizers used a course that modeled the one used for horse jumping competitions. The sport has since become popular on an international scale with competitions held in the U.S., Canada, and throughout Europe.

Below, we’ll provide an overview of agility training, beginning with the type of preparation canines should undergo prior to participating. As mentioned above, we’ll also cover, in detail, the course and the contact obstacles your pet will confront.

Training Requirements For Improving Performance

Any canine in good health can compete, though some breeds will likely be better suited to the competition. Dogs are typically grouped by height to make the race fairer. If your pet is normally energetic, and receives plenty of daily exercise, he will likely do well. On the other hand, a canine couch potato may be ill-equipped for the course.

One of the standard requirements for agility training is that dogs must be at least twelve months old in order to compete. A lot of owners begin to lay the groundwork earlier. For example, they’ll enroll their puppies into professional obedience classes while also taking the time to train them at home. As the pups become more accustomed to responding to basic commands, many owners then enroll them into agility classes.

Obedience training is critical since your pet will be racing on the same field as other canines. He must be able to get along with other pets, and focus on completing the course.

Types Of Obstacles To Expect

A typical agility trial will include several contact obstacles, all of which are completely safe. For example, your canine will be expected to walk across a balance beam; he’ll need to manage an A-frame structure that requires him to walk up an incline, and descend the other side; and he’ll need to traverse a series of jumps.

There are many types of jumps on the field, including doubles and triples (two and three bars, respectively), suspended tire jumps, and long jumps. Before you begin training your pet, ask his veterinarian to examine him for joint problems. Assuming the vet gives his approval, start small and gradually make the jumps more difficult.

The trials also include tunnels. Dogs normally find them intuitive; they know what they are supposed to accomplish. During training, start with a short tunnel through which your pet can easily see the other side. Then, lengthen them. He may be hesitant initially, but treats will provide the proper motivation.

There will also be at least one teeter-totter on the course. A long plank measuring up to twelve feet will be balanced by a pivot. Your dog will be required to run across the teeter-totter, completing it as the far side descends.

Weave polls are common, and may include up to twelve poles. Your dog will be expected to weave through them without skipping poles or knocking them down. The polls may be spaced as closely as twenty inches. This, of all contact obstacles, is often the most difficult.

Most agility trials will also involve a pause box. This is a simple, small square marked on the field. Your canine must arrive at the box, and remain within it for a set time before proceeding to the next obstacle.

Agility training can be a fun experience for many dogs and their owners. As mentioned earlier, prior to getting involved, make sure your canine’s veterinarian approves of his participation.

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categories: dogs, dog, pets, canine, dog training, dog care, dog behavior

Adult dogs that are comfortable around other canines and people have usually received proper socialization early in their life. It begins within the first few weeks following birth. If a puppy has positive experiences with others, he will typically develop into a healthy, friendly canine. You’ll be able to place him within a variety of environments without worry regarding how he’ll behave.

On the other hand, if a pup has been abused or has suffered negative experiences with others early in his life, he will likely display fear and distrust. This can have a major influence on his ability to remain comfortable around other dogs and people.

In this article, we’ll explain how socialization begins with a puppy’s exposure to his mother and littermates. We’ll also describe how puppies learn to relate to the first people they meet, including their new owners.

Mother And Littermates

A puppy immediately learns to trust his mother. She provides warmth and protection. She gives him a feeling of security from the unknown and unexplored world that lies beyond his immediate environment. His mother is also the one who helps him learn how to breathe and eliminate. If his behavior becomes unacceptable, she provides loving but firm discipline.

His littermates provide an opportunity to interact with peers. He learns to play with them and test boundaries. This is the time during which he learns the value of relating to his own kind. Puppies who spend very little time with their littermates before being adopted often have trouble getting along with other canines in adulthood.

First Exposure To People

Professional breeders try to expose puppies to people within a few weeks of their birth. The earlier a puppy interacts with people, the more comfortable he will be around them throughout his life. Many breeders encourage kids to hold and pet the puppies in their care within the first week following their birth. As long as the interactions are supervised and children are taught to be delicate with the pups, this early exposure can prove invaluable.

Meeting Your Pup For The First Time

Most breeders prefer to keep puppies for seven weeks before allowing families to adopt them. During this period, the pups spend most of their time in the company of their mother. By the fourth week, they are spending an increasing amount of time away from their mother, and interacting with people. By the end of the seventh week, the pups are released to their new families.

When you bring a new puppy home, it’s important to continue his socialization. During the first week away from his mother, avoid abandoning him for long periods of time. He will feel a sense of loss for his mother and littermates. Spend time with him to keep his attention occupied.

A lot of puppies go through a phase near their eighth week during which they suddenly display apprehension for anything that is unfamiliar to them. This lasts for a couple of weeks. It will pass.

Providing Ongoing Opportunities For Socialization

The first twelve months of a puppy’s life are very impressionable. The experiences to which he is exposed will shape his behaviors for the rest of his life. It is critical that you take every opportunity to introduce your pup to new people and environments. Take him to a park where others bring their own pets. Take him on walks using different routes that expose him to a variety of other owners and their pets.

An ideal outlet for meeting others is within group obedience classes. This gives your puppy a chance to interact with his own species and other people in a friendly and controlled environment. He’ll learn that those who are unfamiliar to him pose no threat.

A puppy who has received proper socialization early in his life typically develops into a friendly, happy, and well-adjusted adult dog. These are the qualities that make for a more pleasant canine companion.

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