Paws For Agility

When a person things about dog agility competitions, they likely have an image in their head of weave poles. After all, for a dog to bob back and forth between the poles at breakneck speed takes a tremendous amount of skill. Handlers put forth a significant effort when training for the weave pole event.

A weave pole fault can be incurred in several ways. A fault can be applied if the dog enters the weave poles incorrectly (the first pole must be to the dog’s left). Skipped poles and back weaving can also result in a fault.

I began training my dogs on agility courses when they were puppies. I made sure that the courses were tailored to their small stature and weren’t punishing on their developing joints. The agility training, I found, really helped enforce good behavior. My dogs are much more attentive and obedient than other dogs.

As my dogs aged, I added on to their agility obstacle courses. Jumps, tunnels, and weave poles can get quite pricey. Fortunately, I found some great discount dog products online. Not only did I find incredible deals on agility course equipment, I also found discounts on pet scales, rocker boards, and leash tabs.

Making the decision to own a dog comes with a lot of responsibility. For many people, the initial thought process involves little else than how cute the puppy is going to be or how excited your kids are going to be when you bring the dog home, but there are certainly other factors to consider. Do you have a home that’s big enough to accommodate a dog? Do you have the time to walk the dog every day? Do you have the funds to kennel the dog when you go on vacation? The list goes on.

But if you’ve considered all these factors and decided that you can provide a loving and happy home for some lucky puppy, make sure you’re prepared from day one. When you bring the dog home, it will be very curious about its new environment. Depending on the temperament of the dog, it will either want to explore every possible room or it will want to find a secure place it can call its own. Make sure you have all the dog products at your home already, so the dog can have a set of security items if needed. This includes everything from a soft blanket to several dog toys.

Each dog varies not only in breed, size, and coat, but also in behavior. Wonder why there are dogs which always annoy you while others show pleasing dog behavior that make you want to take them home with you? This is all because each of them, like humans have their own personality and traits. That is why it is very important that before getting yourself a dog to care for, it is best to do some research about the dog’s character and what traits you can actually expect from them.

Before you should look further for help, try helping yourself by not asking too much from the dog. After all, dogs are just like human kids, they have a very simple mindset which you can work to understand. Once you think you already have a full grasp of their behavior, you can purchase dog training products and refine their conduct. Give them rewards for the jobs well done, and a little punishment if they misbehave. Remember that they can be desirable pets if you just know how to be a good pet owner.

When my dog Baxter and I began training for dog shows about five years ago, I had little idea as to where to begin. All of my knowledge of dog training had been garnered through vague descriptions on TV, and I didn’t really have the money to invest in a professional trainer. After purchasing some books on the subject, I came to find that I would need to purchase some equipment if we were going to have any chance of competing.

Luckily for us, I was able to find a dog agility in a bag set that included all of the essentials to get us started. The set had everything from an agility tunnel to jumps, and within a few months, Baxter was going through the course like a pro. Although I have now invested in some more advanced equipment, Baxter and I still utilized the original set of apparatuses when we train.

It is almost universally agreed upon that the weaves are the most difficult aspect of dog agility training. You may be able to get away without purchasing some training equipment, but that is not the case with agility weave poles. In order to be successful, you and your dog will have to put in a significant amount of time in on this apparatus.

When making your purchase, try to find a model that is lightweight and portable. This will ensure that you utilize the tool and it doesn’t end up sitting in a corner gathering dust. Also look for a model that has adjustable poles that can be fixed in either a straight up or angled position.

For many dog agility trainers, welcoming a new puppy into the fold is an exciting endeavor. Safety guidelines dictate that owners should wait until a dog turns 9 months old before subjecting them to rigorous agility training, however. After this milestone is reached, it’s best to start off slow. Begin with a few small jumps or a run through a collapsible tunnel.

In due time, you and your dog can progress to the more challenging parts of the course – most notably the pole weave and the dog agility teeter. Bear in mind that dogs have a hard time adapting from “sprint mode” to “sit patiently” mode. You can’t just flip a switch. At first the dog is highly unlikely to sit still on the teeter for much longer than a second or two. Keep working at it and the routine will come together in time.

So, you and your dog have mastered the tunnel. That’s puppy’s play compared to one of the most difficult agility training exercises: the weave poles. Think of it as a sort of slalom course for dogs. The hardest part about training your canine to weave is overcoming the natural tendency to skip a pole here or there.

Start out slow by practicing a few basic moves and then work on stringing them all together into a routine. Don’t expect your dog to understand the point of this exercise – he or she merely responds to your commands and gestures. If you mete out the correct balance of discipline and positive reinforcement, your dog can become a pro between the poles.

Travel Jump Set

The Travel Agility Jump Set  is a portable, take it with you, dog agility training equipment set that can be used indoors or outdoors.  They are perfect for taking anywhere. They weigh only 14 lbs and are adjustable from 4″ to 24″

You can set up a square to practice “pivot” exercises, or set them up in a row to practice “distance” exercises (i.e. sending your dog to jump ahead of you). The 4 jumps come with 36″ long bars that disconnect in the center to make them very portable.

Agility in a bag

These six agility training obtacles all fit in a bag and weigh only 18 lbs.  Just sling this portable practice dog agility course over your shoulder and practice dog agility at parks, beaches, camping, or anywhere you want! You get weave poles, pause box, tire jump, hurdle jump and a closed tunnel a.k.a. chute tunnel with removable chute to be used as a plain tunnel.

I found this set to be the most practicle, inexpensive way to get the most value in dog agility training equipment. The dog agility equipment shown here is easy to assemble. It can be used indoors as well as outdoors. I am confident that you and your dog will have a lot of fun practicing with this agility equipment. Isn’t that what this sport is all about, having fun for you and your dog?