Paws For Agility

In order to get your dog ready for competition, you have to effectively recreate the obstacles they’re going to encounter. Training for strength and endurance isn’t enough; if the dog isn’t familiar with the various apparatuses, they will be lost when it comes time to compete. Most people don’t have access to a dog agility course in their community, so the best option is to simply purchase the equipment yourself.

Not only does this allow you to train at your and your dog’s leisure, you can also adjust the equipment as they get stronger and more adept at the course. Start with the basic tools, such as a dog agility see saw, weave poles and a tunnel. Once they’ve mastered these obstacles, you can begin introducing more advanced equipment and connecting the various apparatuses to set up a functional course.

In my experience training dogs for agility courses, one of the most difficult apparatuses to prepare then for are the tunnels. If you’re unfamiliar with dog agility training, a tunnel may seem like a rather pedestrian obstacle. But most tunnels found on the course are actually agility tunnel bags, which don’t stay open all of he time.

Since the tunnel lacks a rigid structure, the dog will often become disoriented when they are going through. Especially during competition, where the dog doesn’t necessarily know what obstacle is next, it’s important for the trainer to be in constant communication with the animal. This will help them keep their bearings and find their way to the next piece of equipment in the course.