Agility Training Methods

There are a variety of benefits to dog agility training. Besides learning obedience and obeying commands, agility training provides additional physical activity for dogs, something a lot of breeds require. With the proper techniques, the dog is able to jump and weave his way through obstacles in no time.

  1. Obstacles

    • The first duty of a dog owner considering agility training is to become familiar with the types of obstacles. The most common obstacles found on a course are jumps, weaves and contact obstacles. Jumps include bar jumps, spread jumps and tire jumps. Weaves consist of six to 12 upright poles that the dog must weave through. Contact obstacles include the A-frame, the dog walk and the teeter.

    Commands

    • Various commands are used by the handler as the dog negotiates the obstacles on an agility course. For jumps, the common commands are "jump" and "up." The tire jump, however, often has a special command such as "hoop," "through" or "jump through." There are several words that are used when the dog encounters weaves. These include "in," "out," "weave," "snake," "zig-zag" and "wiggle." Contact obstacle commands depend on the obstacle. Common A-frame commands are "charge," "mountain," "wall" and "climb." Dog walk commands are "walk," "walk it" and "walk on." Teeter commands include "teeter-totter," "seesaw" and "tip it."

    Obedience

    • When training the dog for agility, a proper foundation is the key to success. The dog is to have a handle on the most basic commands such as "sit," "stay" and "come." The dog needs to be able to complete these actions both on and off a leash. When training the dog with obedience commands, consistency is important. Choose a word to associate with the skill and stick with it. Keep training sessions short for the best results. Set up a reward system for the dog and, most importantly, never punish the dog for her failures. Only reward successes.

    Clicker Training

    • One tool commonly used in dog training is the clicker. Clickers are plastic devices that fit in the palm of the hand and emit a distinct clicking sound when a button on the device is pressed. This sound is something the dog associates with his behaviors, a method known as classical conditioning. To clicker train the dog, start by giving him the command. When the dog performs the action, press the clicker button and give him a treat. Repeat this process until the dog seems to have a grasp on the command, and then gradually take away the clicks and treats until the dog engages in the command without them.