Paws For Agility

Rally is a sport in which the dog and handler complete a course that has been designed by the rally judge. The judge tells the handler to begin, and the dog and handler proceed at their own pace through a course of designated stations (10 – 20, depending on the level). Each of these stations has a sign providing instructions regarding the next skill that is to be performed. The movements are brisk and continuous. Scoring is not as rigorous as traditional obedience.

Any breed of dog, pure or mixed, is encouraged to compete in dog rally. The main objective is to bond with your dog and have a good time. There should be a sense of teamwork between the dog and handler both during the numbered exercises and between the exercise signs. This should allow them to advance to a higher level and maybe earn titles and ribbons. The more important thing is that the dog gets excellent obedience training.

No two canine agility courses are made the same, which makes training your dog a difficult task. Each organization has specific guidelines for setting up the obstacles, including the appropriate distance between the equipment, a designated number of turns and other relevant information. When it comes to devising canine agility obstacle plans, you want to be sure to include all of the basic apparatuses like the tunnel, tire jumps and weave poles.

It’s a good idea to intersperse difficult obstacles with those that are a bit easier. If you require the dog to do through the weave poles, complete a series of jumps and then leap through three tires, they’re not going to have enough energy to do much else. Also keep in mind that the dog’s obedience—not just their agility—will be tested during competition. Because of this, it’s imperative to make sure they heed to your orders and go through each of the contact obstacles the proper way each time.

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.

In my youth, I used to compete in a variety of athletic competitions—from swimming and crew to football and archery. As I’ve gotten older it’s been increasingly difficult to compete at a high level, but the competitive fire still burns deep inside of my. Recently I’ve been looking for a cathartic release from this sentiment, and I think I’ve finally found it.

My wife and I recently got a new dog, and I’ve been amazed by his unsurpassed physical prowess. He simply loves chasing down balls, running through the yard and swimming in our pond—basically anything that gets his blood pumping. Since he’s so athletically inclined, I decided to purchase some canine agility equipment and train him for competitions. As I guessed, he loves the training and both of us our chomping at the bit to get into some real contests.

After training dogs for decades, I’m quite familiar with the various apparatuses used to hone a dog’s agility. Of course, each of the different types of obstacles tests a different aspect of a dog’s fitness. But when it comes to pure agility, I feel that the agility weave poles are the best way to train and the truest gauge of the dog’s quickness.

My first introduction to the weave poles was actually during football practice, but the poles used for canines are practically identical—although they have been scaled down, of course. You can either purchase individual poles to stick in the ground at designated intervals or a set that has the poles already measured out and placed for you. The individual poles offer you more versatility when setting up your training course, while the sets are obviously more convenient.

Many people think that a dog agility course is simply a test of a dog’s physical capabilities. Fitness is obviously at a premium in agility competitions, but it takes more than a finely tuned body to excel. In order to get through a course in competition, which is arranged differently every time, the dog must learn to obey the commands of the trainer.

Not only must the dog be able to listen on the move, they also need to be able to gain their composure in the middle of competition. So when you’re training a dog, don’t neglect the mental aspect of the regimen. Obstacles like the dog agility teeter and the pause table require a combination of mental and physical toughness.

Pets are therapeutic animals who give us unconditional love and a source of comfort. And while pets can make us feel better, we need to make sure their needs are met as well. Dogs especially need lots of exercise to stay healthy and entertained. It’s best if you have a fenced yard that your dog can play in so he can run around without being supervised if you’re in pain.

You can set up a dog tunnel in your yard to help keep him entertained; he’ll have a great time running through it. If your dog enjoys playing in the tunnel, you may want to consider investing in some additional dog agility toys. Even if you never enter them in a competition, these toys provide continual entertainment for canines and keep them in shape at the same time.

Like many Americans, I’ve fallen victim to a sedentary lifestyle. From 6am to 6pm, I’m either sitting in gridlocked traffic or behind a desk typing. As you can imagine, this routine is wreaking havoc on my health. Unfortunately, my dog Myshkin has adopted my sedentary habits as well, although I obviously have to take the bulk of the blame in that department. In order to better our quality of life, I’ve recently resolved to put both of us on an exercise routine.

It’s a well-known fact that sticking to a workout regimen is easier with a companion—and who better than man’s best friend? Last week I got a membership at the local gym so I can go lift weights and get in some low-impact cardio before I head off to work. I’ve also purchased a variety of dog agility equipment for Myshkin, although I don’t plan to enter him in competitions anytime soon.

When I witnessed an awful spill by a dog misjudging the tire jump, I searched for a product that might be able to avoid having any injury by hitting the tire jump. I found it at Agility Tools by Windryder.

 The ‘Break-Away Tire’ represents the ultimate in safety, making it ideal for dog clubs, dog parks, and for anyone where increased safety is a concern.

The tire is masterfully constructed by a one piece water-proof (pre-painted) foam expulsion with internal magnets that will ‘separate’ and open at the bottom of the tire (i.e. split) upon the impact of a dog landing on it. It will then return to its original form after the dog passes through, without manual resetting.