How to Begin Agility Training

Agility training is a great thing to teach any high-energy dog. Dogs do not need to enter any competitions to learn this fun and energetic system, and it will give them something to drain all their extra energy. Just like humans, dogs need fitness, too. An agility course is a great way to give the canine a great workout and keep him in shape. A dog of any age can begin agility training, as well as any size or breed.

Things You'll Need

  • Jumps
  • Obstacles
  • Weave poles
  • Tunnels
  • Chutes
  • Pause table
  • Treats
  • Leash
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Instructions

    • 1
      Jumps are an important part of an agility course.

      Set up the agility course in a space big enough for all of the items to be placed and to give the dog room to get through them all. Agility Ability suggests that a professional may be needed to start training a dog in agility, but the professionals also say people with the right equipment can go at it on their own. What an agility course needs is jumps, obstacles, weave poles, tunnels, chutes and a pause table. The importance of the pause table is to give the dog a break and time to refocus.

    • 2
      Once dogs get used to an agility course, they will fly through without a second thought.

      Start the dog off on a leash and lead him through the course setup. Show him what he needs to do. Weave the dog through the weave poles; drop his leash and coax him through the tunnels. This walk-through can be done more than once.

    • 3

      Let the dog off his leash and begin training him on the course free-handed, using treats for encouragement. It is wise to establish different commands for each different piece of equipment, according to the Complete Guide to Responsible Dog Ownership. Some commands the dog will need to know are left, right, up, down and heel. Agility training will not happen overnight, so it is important to make this a priority in the dog's life, especially if he might be entered into a competition.

    • 4

      Keep leading the dog through the course until he can get through it just by commands. Make sure that he knows each different part of the course by the specific commands for the course. Always make sure he gets plenty of water during training so that he does not get worn out or dehydrated, just as with people when they work out.