Dog agility is a fun and challenging dog sport for many dogs. Herding and working breeds with high biddability tend to enjoy it more, but any dog can participate.
You need good quality, safe, and appropriately sized equipment to train your dog in agility. It should also be easy to assemble and collapse for storage or transport.
Basics
Dog agility is a fun activity for dogs and their handlers. It helps them burn off excess energy while promoting the formation of a strong bond. It also provides the kind of brain exercise that improves a dog’s focus and reliability — essential in an environment with many distractions.
Whatever your intentions for agility training, the right dog agility training equipment can make or break your success. You’ll want to choose easy-to-transport and store equipment, particularly if you plan to use it at home or elsewhere outside the house. Most dog agility gear is designed to be portable and comes with a carrying bag that makes it easy to move around.
A basic agility set includes items like a tire jump, hoop jump, and weave poles. A collapsible tunnel is an excellent addition to any course. Some dogs are apprehensive about entering tunnels, seeing saws, and other obstacles, so working with your pet at their pace is best. Use verbal commands, treats, and gentle touch to encourage your dog.
Young puppies are not a good fit for agility because their bones and joints are still developing. Ask your veterinarian for advice and perform a physical examination to ensure your dog’s body can safely handle the demands of an agility course.
Intermediate
Choosing appropriately constructed and safe equipment is essential for dogs that have graduated from introductory agility classes and want to begin training for competition. The wrong equipment may make noise, move unexpectedly or be dangerous for your dog to touch or run into. It also should be sized correctly for your dog’s size and weight.
For example, you’ll need to ensure that the jumps are outfitted with proper safety bars to prevent your dog from jumping too high and causing injury. You’ll also need to use appropriately sized weave poles and the A-frame to ensure your dog can complete these obstacles safely.
A tunnel is a simple but essential dog agility obstacle that encourages dogs to follow your directions and use up their excess energy. Look for a sturdy tunnel that can be used indoors or outdoors and quickly set up, stored, and transported.
The seven-piece set offers a good combination of challenges and is suitable for beginner or competitive-level pups. It includes two bar jumps, an adjustable tire jump, six fixed-base weave poles, and a 10-foot-long tunnel supported by two sets of sandbags for sturdiness. Most importantly, it’s customizable to mimic the course of an American Kennel Club-level agility trial or a more modest workout.
Advanced
Investing in competition-grade equipment is a good idea for those more advanced in agility. But even for dog owners who don’t plan on entering tournaments, a good set of agility obstacles can provide hours of fun and bonding for the dog and its owner.
Suppose you’re looking for a quality, affordable option that can be used indoors and outdoors. It’s full of essential obstacles to help you train your dog in the basics, like a tunnel, open and single bar jumps, weave poles, and a pause box. It also includes stakes and a carrying bag for easy transport.
The Cool Runners kit provides a solid foundation for training more complicated maneuvers, such as tight turns and figure-eights. It is outfitted with six weave poles that adhere to American Kennel Club guidelines for agility trials and competitions. It’s also a reasonable choice for experienced agility dogs, as the spacing is less restrictive than traditional sets.
It’s essential to remember that you should only move your dog up to a higher level of agility once it has shown proficiency with the corresponding obstacles. Doing otherwise can lead to frustration and discourage the dog and the handler. It may also elicit fear, which is not the best for a pet’s mental and physical health.
Competition
When your dog is ready to compete, you’ll need an environment where they can test their skills in a more hectic and challenging setting. It can be an indoor training facility or a large open field. Regardless, it would be best if you chose an instructor who uses positive reinforcement and is looking out for the safety of all participants.
Once you have your space and equipment, it’s time to start practicing. Begin by teaching your dog to do the obstacles, such as jumping over a bar jump or going through a tunnel. Once your dog has mastered these, link them to create a sequence. It is known as sequencing, and it’s the key to your dog completing an agility course successfully.
During competitions, dogs must complete all required obstacles in an allotted amount of time. They fail to do so, resulting in faults that add to your total score. The most common faults include:
- Running the obstacle out of sequence.
- Displacing a bar on a jump.
- Need to overcome an obstacle.
In addition, the handler may accrue faults by touching the dog or the obstacle. To avoid this, practice agility training at different locations and under different conditions, such as inviting friends to cheer you on. It will also help your dog stay focused on the task and overcome distractions.
