Dog Agility Training | Dog Training Super Tips

Teaching Dog Agility Weaves With A Weave Chute

Posted by Lesley | Posted on 01-04-2011

Tags: Activities, Agility, Dog, Dog agility, Inch, Pets, Recreation, Shopping

Image via Wikipedia

There are many methods to teach dogs how to weave. Having attended a variety of agility camps and agility seminars, I’ve seen quite a few of the top handlers present their preferred method of weave training. Their training techniques vary,but the one thing they do have in common, the end result, their dogs all weave fast and efficiently.

The Weave Chute is one method of training weaves. The Weave Chute is a structure where the weave poles pull apart and the dog runs down the middle channel. The weave poles are setup on a base either PVC or metal, the even number poles pull back to the same side and the odd numbered poles pull apart to the same side. The poles are brought closer together, training a chain of sessions, until the weave poles are in a straight line.

To start, the weave poles are about 3 feet apart. Set your dog on a Stay (Sit, Down, or Stand). Leave your dog and go to the other end of the chute or channel. Call your dog, allow them to run as fast as they can through the chute, when they get near you through a toy straight ahead or between your legs. You want them to keep moving past you and not slow up as they get near you.

Move the weaves closer together, try 2 feet for a few sessions, then 1 foot apart for a few sessions. When the weaves are about 1 foot apart your dog will begin to actually begin the weaving behavior, depending on the size of your dog of course. This is the stage to add guide wires. The guide wires help the dog stay on path through the weaves. Your dogs speed will most likely slow a little in this stage. This is all right, he is thinking more and feeling the weaves against him for the first time.

You are still using your Stay at one end of the weaves, leaving your dog and going to the other end of the weaves and calling him through. Make sure your dog is successfully coming to you through the weave path, not jumping over the guide wires and running to you. If this happens replace him. If it happens again, go back and open the weave chute a little more. Practice until he can come to you down the weave chute with 70% to 80% accuracy, not many of us are 100% right in everything we try. Begin moving the weave poles closer together in inches now. Most dogs do well even if the weaves are off set by one inch , but somehow when they are setup in a line, they must look different and training sessions may seem stalled for awhile. Be patient, practice with your weaves offset by one inch then in a straight line, if you encounter problems, go back to the one inch offset. Your dog will soon realize he can weave when the poles are in a straight line.

The next transition is taking off the guide wires. With 12 poles, you use 10 guide wires. The first guide wires I remove are from the middle. The last ones to be removed are the entry and exit guide wires. Weaving is mentally challenging to you and your dog, so be patient with your dog and yourself. Be prepared to put in a few long months of training to get those fast and efficient weaves.

Natural Dog Training is not a common format in most Dog Obedience Schools

Dog Agility Training a Great Way to Tap Your Dogs Skills

Posted by Lesley | Posted on 11-12-2010

Category : Dog Agility Training

Tags: Activities, Agility, Dog, Dog agility, Dog training, Pets, Recreation, Training

Image by me'nthedogs via Flickr

Dog agility training is an excellent way to tap into your dog’s natural strengths. You can utilize your dog’s speed, flexibility, energy, and hunting instincts and more. It’s a way for dogs to maintain their inherent abilities that they would have used in the wild to track down their food, protect their lairs and make their way across difficult and varying terrain.

What is dog agility training?

Dog agility training involves a special course that forces your dog to use certain skills, such as jumping, zig-zagging, climbing and running. It is a team effort involving dog and owner, although the dog does most of the heavy work. It is a special form of training that is suitable for the working and hunting breeds specifically. Dogs must make their way through the course in a set period of time. The faster dog wins.

The agility trials are professionally judged and rewarded with ribbons, cups and other prizes. It’s more than training – it’s a fun sport that is gaining in popularity.

What it takes to participate

To participate, puppies must be at least 9 months of age. Retirement from the competitions is generally around 8 years of age, but it depends on the dog’s overall health and fitness levels.

All dog breeds are admitted, but its best if your dog has the personality to participate. Some dogs would rather relax while others have energy to spare. The more energy your dog has, the more suited he is to dog agility training because it requires significant output in both energy and speed.

Dogs that consistently obey the sit, stay, down and heel commands are ready to compete, however they must trust their owner. Otherwise, they will be reluctant to do some of the challenges like running through a tunnel or balancing across a narrow beam.

Benefits of Dog Agility Training

It enhances your dog’s inherent abilities, the skills it wants to use. Your dog will become more alert, vigorous and confident. Your dog’s problem-solving abilities will improve. It will reinforce the bond between you and your dog and perfect the communication skills between you.

It will put physical demands on your dog that will improve coordination, endurance and fitness levels as well as your dog’s behavior in other areas of life.

How much training is required to enter agility competitions?

For most dogs, 6-9 months of daily training is necessary to prepare them for the more rigorous exercises in agility competitions. You can help your dog prepare by encouraging fun games like go fetch, tug of war and catch. This helps to build and strengthen muscles that will be needed for agility work. It will also show your dog that this type of work can be fun. Graduate to similar exercises such as jumping across distances and over obstacles, and running through increasingly longer tunnels. In time, your dog will come to trust your requests and look forward to these exercises.

There is so much more to dog agility training, but these steps will get you started and help you determine whether or not you and your dog are suited to this type of work.

Take time to visit the dog agility competitions near you. Watch the process and the types of challenges that dogs face. See how well they do and imagine your dog participating. This will give you a first-hand look at how they are run.

Talk to the participants, organizers and judges and they will be happy to answer your questions about dog agility training and competitions.

Dog Agility Training… an Explanation of What Dog Agility Entails

Posted by Lesley | Posted on 11-11-2010

Category : Dog Agility Training

Tags: Activities, Agility, Dog, Dog agility, DogTraining, Pet, Recreation, Show jumping

Image by bunchofpants via Flickr

Introducing Dog Agility

Quite simply, if you are looking for a fun activity to enjoy with your dog, in a friendly atmosphere, with lots of like-minded people, and, which has the added benefit of keeping both you and your pet fit – then surely dog agility training must come out near the top of your list! Once you have tried agility training – it can become seriously addictive.

For those who have absolutely no idea what dog agility training is, perhaps the best way to explain it is to make an analogy with show jumping where the horses have to jump over different types of obstacles, all in the correct order, and within a specific time limit.

Try it out, just for fun, at home with your pet to begin with – stick a few weave poles in your lawn [Sorry! I apologise to all lawn-proud gardeners in advance, but we can have dogs AND be dedicated gardeners too. I know it applies to me too] and see if your dogs enjoy it, or place a telephone directory on the lawn and see if they like to jump.

Do nothing more than that, your pets safety must come first… so you will both need professional training before you go any further. For full safety information please see our article entitled… ‘Dog Agility… when, where and how it first began’.

Also please remember agility first requires that you be in complete control of your dog AT ALL TIMES, so basic obedience must come top of your list.

If you both enjoy doing agility, find a local club – you are sure to find someone amongst your local doggy people who knows where the local dog agility training takes place [failing that, try an internet search, or your local library, but a personal recommendation is always best... after all it could come with some useful tips]. Visit the club, or clubs, which are recommended, then decide which one you like and prefer… then why not join it? And who knows how far you might progress!

Should you and your pet progress well within your local club, you could in time represent your club in regional Agility Tests. Then, if the unimaginable happens and you win, your club team could go forward to national finals and it could even go on to compete at the Crufts Agility Trials in front of a huge, and growing, TV audience of the dog loving public – many of whom find the agility, flyball, obedience, etcetera, more rewarding to watch than the ‘Main Event’!

That dream is for the top few pairings [of dog and owner] within the top clubs – and you don’t have to aspire to those heights to get loads of fun and benefits from agility. Essentially pet agility training is a fun way to exercise for both pets and owners. It is an enjoyable and sociable sport, and a way of spending time with people who are on the same doggy wavelength.

You and your dog/dogs can go for weekends away together at agility club competitions. Many competitors have their own caravans, and attend regular meetings and camping sites, for the round of agility tests which are held year round at the various clubs countrywide.

This is just a basic introduction to what dog agility training entails. I am not going into detail on the ways rounds are judged or points awarded, nor will this introduction cover the different obstacles, and the need to touch the required contact points… we will leave all that, plus answering the often asked question of which breeds of dogs are suitable for agility to a later article.

Taken from my Dog Agility Training blog, which is one of four inter-related blogs on dogs, puppies, and their training, and fun sports for them [and their owners] – you’ll find links in the margin to the other blogs, together with helpful links to pet info on health and other topics.

Being Careful With Dog Agility Training

Posted by Lesley | Posted on 11-10-2010

Category : Dog Agility Training

Tags: Activities, Agility, Dog, Dog agility, Dog breed, Dog training, Pets, Recreation

Mahoosuc finishing the five-second hold. She a...

Image via Wikipedia

Just who would need dog agility training? Aren’t dogs just naturally agile and fit and able to run and jump and chase balls and Frisbees and so on?

It’s partially true that dogs are naturally gifted athletes in their own right. They have very muscular bodies in proportion to their weight which makes them able to run fast, jump high, and do so many other spectacular stunts. However, dog agility training means more than just training a dog to run or jump; it involves teaching dogs how to do certain stunts or perform certain tasks on command of their owner, improving their time over an obstacle course, and teaching them how to perform some stunts in a particular way. This type of dog agility training would typically apply to show dogs that need to run or jump or keep a certain pace according to the show’s requirements; they also need to keep in step with their owners, follow a certain obstacle course in a particular order, and so on. Just learning how to do these things is only half the experience; a dog needs to learn how to do these things in a particular way, at a particular speed, when given a particular signal, and so on.

As much as it is fun to watch those that have been through this type of dog agility training there are some cautions that owners should consider before simply signing up their dog for such a school. For one thing, most schools will only accept dogs that are 18 months or older, and for good reason. Dogs younger than this are still growing and trying to force them to learn different stunts can stunt their growth or damage them long-term. Also, it’s important to keep in mind some dog’s natural physical makeup. Smaller dogs with shorter legs cannot always do so well in jumps while larger dogs may have a problem with tunnels and such. A good school that provides dog agility training will take these things in mind and adjust or alter their training according to the dog’s size and breed; an owner that is attempting to train a dog on his or her own needs to do the same.

It’s also easy for an owner to assume that dog agility training should include punishment for when a dog doesn’t perform as expected, but experts in the field know that it’s much more effective to reward a dog when it does well than it is to simply punish it when it doesn’t perform as expected. Treats, petting, play time, favorite toys, and things like these can all be used as rewards for a job well done. Dog agility training should be fun for the dog and the owner, not a chore or trauma for either.

And remember that not all pets respond the same to dog agility training; some breeds are just too skittish or hyper to jump and run on command, so don’t let your expectations get the best of you.

Dog Agility Training – The Benefits For Your Dog

Posted by Lesley | Posted on 11-08-2010

Category : Dog Agility Training

Tags: Activities, Agility, Dog, Dog agility, DogTraining, Pets, Recreation, Shopping

A Papillon dog at an agility competition.

Image via Wikipedia

A dog’s happiest moment should be spent running, jumping, catching, and stretching; dog agility training can really help turn idle dogs into active dogs that age gracefully and happily. You might be surprised to learn that the hardest part is starting, but once you have started the sense of achievement as you and your dog progress is reward in itself. Dog agility training can be great fun for both you and your dog as it consists of high energy and quick thinking movements. Dog agility training has many benefits it can

Transform an idle dog into an active one
Increase your dogs confidence
Improve physical development
Allows for mental stimulation with its quick thinking movements
Most of all is fun

How Does Dog Agility Training Work

Through verbal cues or body language given by the instructor a dog that is off the leash is guided through a range of obstacles. The trainer needs to be aware of the course and the order of the obstacles and the dog needs to focus on the trainer and the cues given by them to conquer each obstacle.

In an obstacle course you will find a variety of exercises such as

Jumping through a tyre
Running through tunnels
Running up and down a frame
Weaving through poles
Jumping across barriers

Training your dog

When you begin to train your dog you need to take into consideration the dog’s maturity.

Dog agility training can only begin when your dog reaches a certain maturity and can respond well to basic commands. Each dog has their own starting points, for smaller dogs which weigh less than 50 pounds you need to wait till they are 9-12 months old for large dogs you will need to wait till they are around 10-14 months. If you begin training your dog too early you are putting them at risk of causing serious injuries.

A Few Rules To Consider

The first few times your dog goes through the obstacles, ensure that you go at the dogs pace and make sure that it is a fun experience for them.

Ensure that your dog is under control and listens to your commands this will decrease any risk of potential injuries.

Treats and happy talk to encourage your dog through the obstacles are a must. Keep the mood happy and positive.

Reward your pet when they have reached a goal and have performed a correct action. Gradually teach each obstacle first and then join then together to form the course.

If your dog does not want to participate do not force them, the sport is intended to be fun for both you and your dog. If your dog does not want to initially participate then stop and bring then back to it in a couple of days.

Have fun and always end your training on a positive note.

Like everything we all need to start somewhere and your dogs agility training is no different. Having a positive attitude and guidance your dog can master the world of dog agility training.

For more information on what obstacles to choose for dog agility training then visit http://www.dogbeddingandmore.com

Dog Agility Training Basics

Posted by Lesley | Posted on 11-07-2010

Category : Dog Agility Training

Before you begin your dog agility training, basic obedience training must come first.Your dog needs to be able to come to you quickly when you call him/her, sit, lay down, hold a stay and keep their cool around other dogs. If you could train your dog in some off leash heel work you will have a big advantage but it is not a must.

Another side note, if you and your dog have played fetch, you will have an easier time with dog agility training. You can start by introducing your dog(s) to smaller versions of the obstacles. Then, you gradually work your way up to larger and larger equipment until they reach their full competition forms. Your dog will need ‘spotting’ at this stage kind of like you would when working out in a gym. You should always have your dog pre-screened before entering any intensive training. He/she can become badly injured if you don’t have their hips, elbows and eyes checked first to make sure everything is OK.

I also suggest that you do not use any restrictive collars or technique that may compromise the dogs use of the equipment properly. Once they have learned the basic obstacle work, they can enter the next level of training. That’s when the handler gradually conditions the dog to jump higher and perfects an effective command vocabulary of body signals as well as vocal ones. The agility obstacles that are the hardest and take most work are the jumps. Your dog must undergo about 6+ months of skeletal conditioning at low jumping heights so that he/she can thicken their bones and develop needed strengths for landing jumps in the future.

These are just some of the very basics of dog agility training that I thought I’d share with you in this article. I hope you learned a thing or two!

German Shepherd Dog Agility Training

Posted by Lesley | Posted on 11-06-2010

Category : Dog Agility Training

German shepherd dog agility training provides the owner plenty of benefits. The German shepherd dog really is a wonderful animal and not only do they make good working dogs; they also make terrific family pets. To begin with, it is incredibly an astonishing exercise for both the dog and yourself. They are nevertheless very unlike from other pet breeds and need to be handled and trained with a diverse approach to say your average labrador or poodle for instance. There’s a lot of exercise to be done with this type of training, but also the dog will be able to socialize and learn to behave better in the open with other dogs and people. Regular training will assist also to the development of body awareness in the dog. While they become further able to manage the strength and actions of the body, they’ll also be capable of performing harder moves.

If you employ into training, absolutely, you will gain the faith and admiration of your dog. These dogs positively prosper on challenging activities and they are so keen to serve their master and please. You will establish yourself as a trustable leader, and that is the most important kind of connection you can have with a dog. You can surely start looking for agility training in dog schools near your area. There are some places that offer areas where you can train your dog freely. You can teach your dog agility thanks to a guide or an instructor. It will have a positive impact in dog respect and everyday life with your dog, building his group more pleasurable and amusing and making a deeper relation between you both.

Dog Agility Training Tips

Posted by Lesley | Posted on 11-05-2010

Category : Dog Agility Training

Tags: Activities, Agility, Dog, Dog agility, Dog training, Pets, Recreation, Training

NEW YORK - OCTOBER 17: Chloe, a Border Collie...

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

The question is just who needs dog agility training? Isn’t it true that dogs are just naturally fit and agile, able to run, jump, chase Frisbees and balls.

The simple fact is that dogs are naturally gifted
athletes by their very nature. Most dogs have very muscular bodies in proportion to their weight. Because of this they are able to run very fast, jump high (you ought to see Mandy, our German Sheppard), and perform many types of spectacular stunts. The fact is, however, that dog agility training involves more than just training a dog to run or jump.

Dog agility training involves teaching your dog how to perform particular stunts and tasks on your command. It may include improving their time over an obstacle course. You can also teach them how to perform certain stunts in a special manner.

The type of dog agility training to which I refer would typically apply to show dogs. Show dogs need to run, jump or keep a certain pace according to to the show’s requirements. Besides that, those dogs also need to keep in step with their owner or trainer. They have to be able to follow an obstacle course in a specific order.

Your dog being able to learn how to perform all these things is only half the experience. Your dog needs to learn how to do these skills in a certain way, at a specific speed and when give a hand signal or a vocal command.

It is a pleasure to observe dogs that have undergone dog agility training. Before you embark on training your pet this way or consider enrolling them into a school for such training you should stop and consider certain things.

First, many schools that specialize in this type of training will only accept dogs that are at least 18 months old. There is a good reason for this. Younger dogs are still growing. If you try to force them to learn advanced or difficult tricks or routines, it is possible that you will stunt their growth or cause some long term damage.

The second thing is that it is important to keep the dog’s physical makeup in mind. Obviously, small breed dogs with their shorter legs cannot always perform jumps. Larger dogs, on the other hand, may have difficulty with tunnels. When you find a good school that provides dog agility training, they will take all of this into account. A good school will provide a curriculum that is appropriate to your dog’s breed and size. It is important for owner’s attemptimg to train their own dogs to take this same factors into consideration.

It is a common mistake to assume that dog agility training includes punishment for your dog when they do not perform as expected. Many experts say otherwise. It is much more effective to reward your dog when it performs well. Different trainers use various methods when training dogs. You can use clickers, treats or positive reenforcement for training your dog. Do your research and discover which method appeals to you. Keep in mind that dog agility training should be fun for both the dog and the owner. Dog training should not be a chore or a trauma for either one of you.

Keep in mind that not all dogs will respond in the same way to dog agility training. The plain truth of it is that some breeds are simply too skittish or hype to respond to commands. It is important that you do not allow your expectations to spoil your friendship with your dog.

10 Golden Rules in Dog Agility Training

Posted by Lesley | Posted on 11-04-2010

Category : Dog Agility Training

Tags: Activities, Cats and Dogs, Dog, Dog training, Pets, Recreation, Shopping, Training

Image via Wikipedia

1) Play with your dog but on your rules. Your dog loves to play, so let him have this joy. At the same time, try to introduce new rules and restrictions in the game. Allow your dog to have a lot of fun, but teach him to obey your rules while doing this.

2) Keep the dog on continuous monitoring. This will help you evaluate the progress and understand where you have to work harder. In this way you can easily correct any mistakes that may occur.

3) The dog’s name is the most important training tool you have. It is also powerful instrument when asking him to follow your instructions. Use the name after every command you give. It will prove to be very effective.

4) Dog training is more about asking him to do something, rather than not to do one thing. Use only simple and clear commands, positions and object names. This will help you communicate with him and will help him to better understand you.

5) Always maintain dog’s agility. There are lots of available techniques you can use and work hard with obstacles. Include exercises with jumps, tunnel crossing, poles, contact approaches and others. Try to give clear commands and carefully plan your instructions.

6) When playing with obstacles, always offer directions before the dog reaches an object. In this way, he will know where to go and what to do and will be capable to well manage your instructions.

7) It is wishful for your dog to approach contacts and weave at the correct angle. Sometimes this could take an extra moment to straighten out. Still, this will make the pet run more efficiently and will cut down on lost time on future runs.

No matter what happens, don’t get angry! And never show anger in the training. On the contrary, use reward as much as you can. This will offer greater efficiency in the process and you’ll teach the pet to execute movements and orders in the right manner. Never punish the pet for your bad feelings!

9) When dealing with agility exercises, try to work to the sometimes rigidly and never give up. Sometimes, even experienced judges might miss calls for bars down or contacts that you think you have missed. Always focus on your work with the dog through the course. This is essential for the final success.

10) Be nice and enthusiastic when interacting with fellow competitors, judges, students and friends. Avoid discussions of what you may consider to be the fault of someone else. Try to be pleasant and kind.

Apply these golden rules tips and soon you will see your dog in greater shape and happier!

Dog Agility Equipment You Should Know

Posted by Lesley | Posted on 11-03-2010

Category : Dog Agility Training

Tags: A-Frame, Activities, Agility, Dog, Dog agility, Dog park, Pet, Recreation

An Australian Shepherd doing agility at the Ro...

Image via Wikipedia

When it comes to dog training, agility is one of the main aspects that are greatly considered. Agility is a dog sport in which a handler and her dog run as a team through an obstacle course in a race for both time and accuracy. The goal in any dog agility competition is to execute each piece of equipment correctly without any disqualifications. There are several national and international agility organizations with each having its own regulations and standards for its agility equipment.

Basically, an agility course is rather like an obstacle course with standard elements that each dog must pass through in order to complete the run and receive a qualifying score. If a single element is missed, the team is disqualified. This course consists of jumps, hoops and obstacles that you can set up for yourself. You can visit your local pet shop for this equipment. The basic elements of dog agility equipment are:

The Weave Poles are a series of thin poles attached to a straight plank base.
The A Frame is a ramp with a strong incline and equal decline. A-frame is painted a bright color, usually yellow, forming the contact zone, onto which the dog must place at least one paw while ascending and descending.
The Dog Walk is another type of ramp. The two end planks form ramps leading up to and down from the center plank.
The Teeter is a long plank on a fulcrum that each dog must mount at one end and walk across to the other end.
The Tunnel is a long tube each dog must run through. The tunnel is constructed of flexible vinyl and wire, such that it can be configured in a straight line, or in a variety of curves.
The Chute is similar to the tube at the entry point, but the rest of the chute is simply nylon without the hoops to support it, so dog are basically running blind through this element.
Jumps are the same as you would find at an obedience trial, and the pole height is set according to the size of the dog.
The Tire is suspended on a frame and each dog must jump through it on its way around the course.

Please also check out our other guide on Dog Agility Equipment, Dog Training Clickers and Dog Agility Training

Teaching Dog Agility Weaves With A Weave Chute

Dog Agility Training a Great Way to Tap Your Dogs Skills

Dog Agility Training… an Explanation of What Dog Agility Entails

Being Careful With Dog Agility Training

Dog Agility Training – The Benefits For Your Dog

Dog Agility Training Basics

German Shepherd Dog Agility Training

Dog Agility Training Tips

10 Golden Rules in Dog Agility Training

Dog Agility Equipment You Should Know

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