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.
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