Dogs are fun!
They’re loyal, good company, and eager to please.
But if you want your dog to be the best he can be, then it’s time for some training.
Dog agility is a great way for dogs and their owners to exercise together while building trust and confidence.
In this blog post I’ll walk you through how to train your dog for agility so that you can get started on the right paw!
Table of Contents
- What is dog agility?
- Tips on how to train your dog for agility
- 1. A dog- of course!
- 2. Treats- Lots of treats!
- 3. A collar.
- 4. A 6′ length of light weight rope.
- 5. A clicker.
- 6. A separate collar (and leash).
- 7. A good quality harness.
- 8. A set of dog nails clippers.
- 9. Your dog’s costume.
- 10. Water and food bowls.
- 11. Protective eye wear.
- 12. A roll of paper towels.
- Why train your dog for agility?
- What are some benefits of dog agility training?
- Is there anything I should be aware of before starting an agility course?
- How much does it cost to get started in this sport, and what’s included in the price?
- Conclusion
What is dog agility?
Dog agility is a sport in which dogs and their owners compete against other pairs in an obstacle course.
The dog has to demonstrate speed, accuracy, and teamwork as they make their way through the course.
If you’ve seen a dog around an agility course, then it’s likely that you’ve already been exposed to this fun sport!
It’s popular, tax deductible, loads of fun for both humans and dogs, and extremely rewarding.
Agility tests your dog in ways that normal daily activity does not
It forces him to think quickly (or maybe more accurately- act quickly), and will even test his pain tolerance as he flies over jumps.
The agility community is full of friendly people who love dogs.
At each competition there are tons of different vendors with all sorts of goodies for sale- from treats to toys to collars.
It’s really a great time!
Tips on how to train your dog for agility
To get started with training for agility, you will need a few things.
If you’re going to take the plunge into this sport (I highly recommend it!), then here’s what you’ll need:
1. A dog- of course!
Hopefully there’s nothing else surprising in this list, but I wanted to make sure that it is clear that dogs are the only animals allowed at Agility competitions.
Cats and any other pet simply can’t compete because they do not possess that level of obedience and teamwork.
If all goes well, your companion will be the best athlete in every agility competition he enters, so don’t discount him just because he isn’t another species!
2. Treats- Lots of treats!
Training without treats is possible, but only if you have a very obedient dog and you are not competing.
But going into your first competition with an untrained dog would be foolish at best, and dangerous at worst!
It is recommended that people entering agility competitions invest in a good quality treat pouch or bag.
Learn more about finding the right treat pouch here.
If you’re planning on training for competitions where there aren’t other teams present to distract your dog from his food, then it may also be worth investing in some single treat dispensing toys as well.
3. A collar.
You’ll need to train with something that works both as a leash, but also as a collar.
There are some leashes on the market that actually expand to be used as collars, but if you don’t want to go out and purchase a new one just yet then just make sure that your leash is capable of being buckled around your dog’s neck when needed.
If not, then simply buy another inexpensive one for this purpose only.
4. A 6′ length of light weight rope.
This will be used at competitions so that handlers can communicate with their dogs while running through course rather than verbally calling commands.
Attach this to your belt or waistband and it should be easy enough for you to quickly grab it when needed in order to send signals to your pup!
5. A clicker.
This is the only piece of equipment on the list that you won’t be using to train your dog, but will use throughout every competition.
If you’ve ever seen a clicker in action before then I’ll let you guess what it’s used for, but if not then here’s a little lesson.
The basic principle behind clicker training is that when something good happens (like getting a treat), then there needs to be some sort of marker or signal to let the dog know exactly what he did right!
Since dogs don’t understand English, they need an outside help to communicate with us.
That’s where the clicker comes into play! It makes this unique sound which dogs can hear even at great distances.
It’s a lot easier to just show you how it works rather than try to describe it!
6. A separate collar (and leash).
Other than the fact that your dog can’t compete without one, he will thank you for having one that isn’t covered in saliva (but no worries- regular collars and leashes clean up really well!)
It also helps if your dog has two different sizes of collars on him so you can adjust the size appropriately depending on where his ID tags are located and whether or not he’s wearing any other gear like a sweater or bandana.
I’ll go into more detail about gear later in this post, but for now just make sure your dog has two collars, one that can be looped under his tags and another that he is free to wear at all times.
7. A good quality harness.
Once again, this is something you won’t need for training but is a requirement for entering an agility competition or event!
Many dogs become frustrated when they are tied on by their collar (and it’s certainly not the most comfortable), so using a harness instead will help them feel more relaxed during the whole process.
The best kind of harness to use are ones where there are no buckles or snap closures around your dog’s neck, as they can slip from underneath if tugged on too hard by other dogs and/or handlers in the ring.
It’s recommended to get one that covers your dog’s shoulder blades in order to protect his spine.
8. A set of dog nails clippers.
We hate to break it to you, but your dog will be getting a manicure before he competes!
If you’re not sure how sharp their nails need to be, then just check with the organizers beforehand and they should be able to tell you what length is required.
When in doubt, cut them shorter rather than longer as this will help prevent injuries like tears or chews on the skin from occurring.
More information about clipping your dogs nails can be found here.
Keep in mind that if you are working towards “going pro” in agility, then your dog will be required to wear booties in certain conditions that can also affect how sharp his nails must be cut.
9. Your dog’s costume.
Agility competition costumes aren’t required (as I know some handlers/owners would love for them to be), but for those who want their dogs to stand out on the course, here are a few simple rules you’ll have to follow:
a) Make sure every item of clothing is easily removable
(ie: Velcro or zippers).
This means no buttons and definitely no safety pins!
IMPORTANT NOTE: If your dog is wearing any form of bracelet/watch (like this one ), it needs to not only match the colour scheme of his costume, but also glow in the dark!
Make sure there is some sort of reflective material attached to it that will be visible from a distance.
b) Your dog cannot wear any kind of special shoes designed for running or other sports.
Trust me, he won’t need them anyway!
c) No clothing should have holes in it larger than 1 inch.
Any bigger and your dog could become entangled on an obstacle, which can lead to injury.
IMPORTANT NOTE: If you do choose to put a costume together for your dog, make sure you know what he’s wearing during each run because some judges may ask him to remove certain items before beginning his run (ie: A sweater).
10. Water and food bowls.
Bring enough for everyone involved as well as a few treats that he doesn’t get on a regular basis.
This will help keep him relaxed while waiting for his turn to compete in the ring.
11. Protective eye wear.
If your dog is not wearing any kind of costume or other gear, then make sure he has some form of eye protection to help prevent irritation and injury from debris such as dust and hay particles when you are walking around the course.
12. A roll of paper towels.
Great for cleaning up dirty paws before going into the ring!
Why train your dog for agility?
Because it’s fun for you and your dog to work as a team!
It provides great exercise for both, the chance to learn new tricks and commands, while also meeting lots of new people from all over the world!
Not only that, but it has been proven to improve your dog’s obedience skills as well as act as an anti-depressant for pets with behavioral issues.
What are some benefits of dog agility training?
Builds confidence in your dog Helps keep him happy and healthy Burns lots of extra calories Improves both physical and mental strength Increases bond between you and your dog Teaches good manners (ie: Heeling, coming when called)
Develops relationships with other dogs in the ring Builds a stronger bond between you and your dog Can be done anywhere!
Just make sure there are no obstacles or hazards present.
It’s probably best to do inside if it’s too hot/cold outside.
Is there anything I should be aware of before starting an agility course?
Yes.
Although it is a fun outing for the both of you, there are definitely some risks that come with dog agility training.
Make sure to never force your dog into a situation he doesn’t want to be in, such as getting him to jump over something that is too big for him or running an obstacle too fast.
Always make sure you are there when it comes time to do any kind of training and keep in mind that dogs can get injured at any time.
As a handler, it’s your job to pay attention and make sure everything is going as smoothly as possible.
How much does it cost to get started in this sport, and what’s included in the price?
The initial price can actually be fairly costly, not to mention the fact that you may have to spend even more money later on.
However, for a more in-depth list on exactly what you should expect to spend when starting your dog off in this sport, refer to this blog post.
The good news is that there are lots of agility clubs where you can train (as well as get together with like-minded people) and they usually offer classes at very affordable prices.
And some even offer training packages that will include everything you need like jumps/barriers, a tunnel, weave poles, etc!
If the price is still too high however, don’t worry about it.
You can easily do all of this with little or no money using items from around the house!
For those of us who own dogs but do not have easy access to an agility course, there are plenty of ways to get involved and train our pups at home.
There are many great YouTube channels out there that cater specifically to pet owners by providing step-by-step instructions on how to create an obstacle course in your own backyard/home.
(ie: Two Little Cavaliers)
All you need is a little creativity and some patience!
Conclusion
Dog agility is an awesome sport to train your dog.
It’s also a great way for you and your pup to have fun together!
There are many benefits of doing this, including increased confidence in both you and your pet as well as improved coordination skills.
Agility training should be approached with caution though despite the potential risks it poses, there are plenty of ways that could help prevent them from happening or minimize their effects.
The best thing about learning how to do agility training is that it doesn’t need much equipment which makes it easy on the wallet too!
Free book How to be the alpha dog