Dogs need to be kept active, especially the most active ones. You can achieve this by enrolling your dog for agility training to ensure that the dog remains active.  Agility training is a dog sport in which there is a handler who directs the dog in an obstacle course which entails a race with an element of timing and accuracy.

During the training, the dog runs off with no incentives such as food or toys, and the handler is not supposed to touch the dog or the obstacles. The dog handler uses the voice, body signals and movement. This means that the handler needs to have exceptional coordination while the animal needs to get exceptional training.

For the training to take place, obstacles are laid out in a particular area where the surface may have grass, rubber, dirt or special matting. These obstacles can be arranged or numbered to show how they should be completed. The challenging part of the sport is that it is complicated and the dog cannot complete it without the assistance of a person.

You can start your dog for the agility training at any age. The only thing is that you should be more careful when the dog is less than one year old to prevent harming its joints. The training should start on simple and lower training equipment. Different dogs have their own pace of learning, and you may find that confident dogs do not require a lot of encouragements while timid dogs may take time to get confidence.

It is upon the handler to use a handling style that suits the dog since dogs have different speed and levels of accuracy in the completion of the agility course. They also have different preferences for obstacles.

There are various levels of agility training depending on the size and experience of the dog.

1. Agility 1 is meant for dogs, which have basic obedience training but do not have experience in agility. The training will enable you and the dog to learn obstacle management basics together with the development of control and on how to maintain confidence.
2. Agility 2 training is the intermediate. It allows the dog to develop more control and fluidity. The dog also begins to learn agility coursework and footwork and to develop speed.
3. Agility 3 focuses on footwork and off leash control. The dog gets ready for agility competition. The level also emphasizes on agility coursework and precision.
4. Agility 4 entails the dog going through advanced handling and coursework on all obstacles. More emphasis is on speed, attention to detail and smooth progression through transitions.

If your dog has taken agility training, it can take part in competitions with other dogs. In those competitions, the handler must make an assessment of the course and decide on the strategies on how to handle the dog. The strategies should put into consideration the difference between the speed and the strength of the dog and the human.

Agility training is good for keeping a dog fit and active. Your dog can also win you many trophies on the agility competitions it takes part in.  Contact Us Today!