Many people are curios about dog agility training. The common belief that dogs are just naturally lively, nimble and capable of running swiftly and jumping high just make people ask if dog agility training is really necessary.
The dog’s athletic capabilities come out naturally even on ordinary days and ordinary circumstances. Their physical structure gives them the ability to run, jump, and do stunts that only dogs can perform. Dog agility training is therefore more than just jumping and running, as it involves teaching your dog to perform particular tasks at the word of its master and do the task in the shortest possible time and in a specific way.
The dog agility training is specifically intended for dogs that are featured in dog shows. Hence, the dog should be trained to perform tasks according to the show’s rules and requirements. Learning to perform the tricks involved in dog shows is not all there is in a dog agility training; as the dog should be taught to do them as its master tells it to in certain ways as quickly as possible.
Preparing Your Dog for Agility Training
Dog agility trainings are usually conducted in dog training schools. Witnessing dogs taught to perform their tricks during these dog agility training sessions is really worthwhile and enjoyable. If you are really interested in signing your dog up for this regimen, you need to consider a lot of things.
One of the things to take into consideration is that dog training schools will only accept dogs that are at least 18 months old. The reason for this is that dogs below 18 months old are still in the process of growing up. The schools don’t want to stop or retard the dog’s growth by subjecting them to rigorous activities. Another point to consider is your dog’s physical attributes, as smaller dogs with shorter legs could possibly not perform as well in jumps while large dogs may not be able to excel in tunnels.
These are the basic things that good dog agility training schools consider before giving the training that will suit the dog’s size. If you have the skill to give your dog this type of training, you should also put these primary requirements in mind.
Many dog owners presume that dog agility training involves lots of punishments if the dog cannot perform as expected, but training experts think otherwise. They believe that dogs perform better if you lavish it with rewards if it performs its job well.
A dog is very easy to please. Giving it some treats such as physical attention, play time or letting it play its favorite toys are welcome rewards that dogs take for good performance. It is a good idea for you to consider dog agility training as fun and exciting for the dog and its owner, rather than treat it as work or stressful experience for either of them.
Be Realistic
Since all dogs are not the same, you can almost always expect that their responses to dog agility training are different from each other. While some dogs are just too excited to jump or perform certain commands, other may seem to act like they are playing. It is good to expect and be optimistic, but being realistic to specific situations is the best way to be flexible with your dog’s responses.
