How to Agility Train Your Dog

Agility training can be fun for both you and your dog, but it requires hard work. As with all training, you need to get and keep your dog's attention, be consistent with commands and praise, learn ways to motivate the animal and develop a positive relationship with your dog. Teaching your dog to run a competitive agility course can take months or even years, and professional training courses are recommended, but learning the basics on your own can help you get started.

Things You'll Need

  • Dog treats
  • Dog toys
  • Agility obstacles
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Instructions

    • 1

      Get in shape. Since you will be running alongside your dog, directing the canine's progress over jumps, through hoops and tunnels and up and down A-frames and tables, you are going to get a workout. If you aren't as quick and agile as your dog, it will be difficult to teach your dog agility.

    • 2

      Arm yourself with plenty of treats and toys. Use a high-value treat such as cheese or freeze-dried liver to motivate your dog. Agility training is an unusual, demanding objective and requires an unusual, sought-after reward. If your dog is not motivated by food, try using a favorite tug or squeaky toy to lure your pet through the obstacles. Use a happy voice when giving praise and a firm voice when giving commands.

    • 3

      Teach your dog basic obedience. A good deal of running agility courses depends on your dog's ability to focus on you and obey the basic sit, stay and down commands. For example, the table obstacle requires that your dog either sit or lie down on a tabletop and remain there for a five-second count before you release the canine to continue on the course.

    • 4

      Acquaint your dog with the components of the agility course in small steps. This is important since you don't want your dog to become overwhelmed or frightened by an obstacle. For example, when teaching your dog to jump through the tire obstacle, start with the tire touching the ground and have your dog walk through it, giving a treat if your pet succeeds. Once your canine is consistently successful, raise the tire an inch and repeat. Continue raising the tire little by little until your dog is jumping through it at the required height.

    • 5

      Teach your dog to target. Several agility obstacles require your dog to stop just before leaving them. For example, at the end of the A-frame (the dog climbs up one side of a steeply pitched plank and down the other side), the dog must pause and touch a designated area before proceeding, primarily for safety reasons. Begin this training by having your dog touch your hand as you hold a treat and then releasing the treat, saying, "Touch" or "Target." Once your pet is doing that consistently, divert focus to another object, like a paper plate. Move the paper plate ever farther away from you, rewarding the dog for targeting on it.

    • 6

      Find a local agility course and trainer. Once you have taught your dog basic obedience, introduced obstacles and shown how to focus on you and to touch a target, you can either put an agility course in your yard to run your dog through for exercise or find an experienced trainer in your area to help you and your dog perform in agility competitions.