Things You'll Need
- Treats
Instructions
Train your dog basic commands. These are commands that the dog should know regardless of whether it participates in agility competitions or not. They include: sit, stay, come, heel and lie down. Doing this will strengthen your relationship with your dog as well as prepare the dog for advanced training.
Familiarize yourself and your dog with the agility equipment. Decrease anxiety for you and your dog by walking around the course and observing the different pieces of equipment. Allow your dog to smell the equipment.
Use treats to reinforce positive behavior. In addition to being excited yourself, praise your dog with treats and verbal cues when it gets near or on top of the equipment.
Allow your dog time to evaluate the situation and the venue. Don't push a dog too far in a day if it is reluctant to use the equipment. Move slowly in the training process.
Mix up your training routine. Sometimes dogs will become bored with repetitive training on single aparati. Use the A-frame one day and the weave poles the next, for example.