Dog Agility Training

One of the most interactive activities is dog agility training, personally I love it because it helps me to keep fit, and the huge bonus is when you pick up those trophies at the end of the competition.

Dog agility training is quite a lot harder than usual training options, yet it is the most fun. If you are unsure of what dog agility training is - it is a sport for dogs and their owners. The competition comprises of a main event, which include a few different courses for your dog to run. In each course there are a set number of obstacles, 26 is the average. For your dog to win he has to complete the course without faults and in the least amount of time. You may think this sounds easy.

There are different types of courses:-

1. Jumping courses - are full of obstacles which your dog has to jump over, without knocking the pole down.
2. Weave courses - These courses are made up of poles where your dog has to weave in and out of the poles in a straight line. Your dog has to complete the entire course and not come out before the end.
3. Agility Courses - There are contact points on obstacles which your dog must touch with their paws. This requires a huge amount of dog agility training.

To run your dog in a show you must be registered with a club. Many clubs meet up to once a week sometimes twice a week where they all train together, practice courses are set up, some owners concentrate on their dogs weakness so obstacles are set up just for that event.

To join a club you dog has to be over 1 yr as dog agility training is not allowed any earlier than this. Some agility enthusiasts do have their own equipment at home and they do start training their dog as early as six weeks. They usually lay the poles on the ground for practice rather than getting them to jump over anything which could be dangerous.

A lot of dog agility training must be done before you enter your first show. Your dog must be able to run a full course.

Dog agility training may sound like extremely hard work. It is spectacular!!