How to Improve Spatial Awareness in a Dog for Agility

In the sport of agility, your canine athlete must be acutely aware of how obstacles are situated, and where all the parts of her body are relative to an obstacle she's negotiating. This is spatial awareness. Don̵7;t worry if your pal is a bit clumsy at the start of training: Simple and fun exercises that help to develop coordination and balance are among the kinds of work that can also help sharpen her spatial awareness, whether she's a natural athlete or not.

  1. Coordination and Spatial Awareness

    • Not all dogs are born knowing exactly where and how to place each of their four feet at all times, but practice can improve these skills. That's why exercises that work on developing balance and coordination can improve your dog's ability to take fast turns and negotiate a variety of surfaces off and on the agility course. Like an athlete in any sport, your canine athlete must train to be up to the challenge. Without work to develop her athletic skills, she's more likely to make mistakes and suffer injuries.

    When to Begin

    • You can start work aimed at improving your dog's spatial awareness at any age. For example, puppies can learn at an early age to safely negotiate stairs and a variety of surfaces and terrains, developing the skills needed to help prevent injuries. Older dogs also can benefit from work that improves spatial awareness. However, if your older dog is having difficulty with negotiating obstacles, consult her veterinarian before you begin work. A variety of issues, both cognitive and physical, could be causing the difficulties.

    What to Teach

    • Off the agility course, you can work with your dog on simple coordination exercises even in your living room on a rainy afternoon. For example:
      -- Walking through a ladder that is lying on the ground.
      -- Turning to the right and to the left on command.
      -- Walking backwards.
      Letting your dog run in a variety of natural situations, such as in the woods or over natural obstacles, is also a great way to bring out and strengthen natural athletic abilities, including spatial awareness.

    Putting It Together

    • Your dog's confidence will improve as her athletic skills increase. With continued practice, she should be able to negotiate agility obstacles with ease and safety. An added bonus is that you and your dog will become a closer working team as you enjoy the exciting sport of agility together.