Tips On Getting Started In Dog Agility Training

Getting your dog in top shape and keeping them there, is not only a great new hobby, but excellent for your health as well.

When getting into the agility training, you'll find that you make hundreds of new friends for both you and your dog, and

you'll each get a good workout while forming an excellent lifelong bond. There are a few tips that you need to know in order

to get started, let's take a look now.

One of the first steps for both of you is to make sure the that you are healthy enough to get started with some strenuous

exercise. If you both have been hanging around the house watching TV together for years, you'll want to start gradually with

agility training, so that neither of you experiences the pain of sprains and pulled muscles. If you have any doubts, take

your dog to the vet and have him checked over, and do the same for yourself as well.

Another excellent tip is to check online and see if there any dog agility clubs near where you live. Starting and continuing

with an agility training routine is often difficult to do completely on your own. By joining a club you will most definitely

make friends with other like-minded people and their dogs, that will keep you the emotionally supported, plus all the helpful

tips that they'll provide you on your journey.

A decision that you need to make, is whether or not you're going to go into competition or you just want to spend more time

with your dog while getting in shape. If you have decided to be competitive, then there is some equipment that you'll want to

buy in order to practice in your own backyard. Some beginning pieces of equipment to go with are the dog tunnel, weave poles,

and a teeter totter. There are also many things around the house and in your garden, that can be used as well. Having your

dog walk along a short garden wall, or jump over a small string that is stretched between two poles, walk along fallen logs

or jump through tires can all be effectively used in agility training.

One of the most important parts of agility training is actually teaching your dog basic obedience and listening to your

commands. You'll find that once your dog has become well trained, and has the confidence in you as the master, the agility

training is much easier for him than it is for you. He'll need to know all the regular commands like sit, stay, come, down,

away and other basic commands to become successful in agility training.

It's important when getting started, to start slow and become proficient at each type of agility obstacle before moving on to

something new. Then, each day when you do your agility training, refresh your dogs prior training by quickly going through

all of his old procedures so he never forgets.

Teaching your dog agility training, for fun and exercise, can open a whole new world of friends, for both you and your dog.

Online, there are many pages of accessories and agility equipment available for you to browse, plus toys and food for your

dog as well.

Wayne Booth is owner of Canine Behavior Specialists, http://www.CanineBehaviorSpecialists.com in Nashville, TN where he helps

people train their dogs and solve behavior problems. Wayne has been teaching people how to become Professional Dog Trainers

since 1990 and he is the Training Director of the Canine Behavior Specialists Network, http://www.K9-University.com.

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