Dog Agility Training for Beginners

Is Agility Training Right For Your Dog  |  Agility Equipment  |  Tips For Dog Agility Training  |  Reviews From Dog Owners | Conclusion |  FAQs

Dog agility training is a highly rewarding and fun activity that you can enjoy with your dog easily. It is a nice way to connect with your dog, teach them new skills, and get them to do some exercise. If you’ve ever had the chance to see an agility competition, you will know it is an obstacle course for dogs. Dogs must leap over hurdles, run through tunnels, and whatnot. Whether you want to compete in an agility competition with your canine companion or just want to have fun, you need to consider dog agility training. In this article, let’s explore the topic of dog agility training for beginners. Let’s look at how you can get the training started and take it to another level with Home Plus Kit from SwiftPaws.

Is Agility Training Right for Your Dog?

Honestly, any mixed breed or purebred dog can undergo agility training or lure coursing. From best hunting dogs to Chihuahuas and Pugs, all dogs can complete dog agility training. Maybe if you are thinking you will need to be athletic, no need to worry. You won’t have to run as fast as your dog to complete the training. Agility training welcomes everyone and you can rest assured.

Benefits of Agility Training

Dog agility training brings a lot of benefits to the table. Basically, agility training is like a social aspect and exercise for your dog. Your dog will feel excited and happy to be out and participate in a job with you. Other than offering just physical health benefits, dog agility training helps build a stronger bond between the canine and the owner.

Unsurprisingly, dog agility training even benefits dog owners. Yep, that is right, it will benefit you as well. Participating in the training will get you running with your dog and if you go to a formal training center, you will also get to meet new people who share the same passion. Most importantly, you will be spending more time with your furry companion, which in itself will improve your mental health.

Getting Started in Dog Agility Training

Now, there are two ways you can get into dog agility training. One, you can join a formal agility training center. Second, you can begin at your home. If you go with the former, you can just search dog agility training near me and it will show you the nearest center you can join. Meanwhile, if you go with the latter, you will save money and time but you will not have an experienced trainer with you.

To get started at home, you can just start training some basic skills and work with homemade obstacles such as a hula hoop or an open box. They will simulate actual obstacles and you can train your canine to go through these obstacles. Now, you can find multiple videos and books that can help you walk through the basic steps of training.

Basic Moves in Dog Agility Training

First of all, you need to let your dog be off-leash and let it run wherever it wants. This is where teamwork comes in. Since you cannot touch your dog, you will have to use your body language and cues to direct them.

First of all, you will need to train your dog to move right beside you. You can start by rewarding your dog just for sitting beside you. After that, try to work towards moving and be gradual. You can then transition it into running. It can be very helpful to use an object as a guide to help your dog move around. That is why most people use the Home Plus Kit from SwiftPaws to create a perimeter in their lawn and guide their dog.

Teaching your dog to tackle is another basic move in dog agility training. You are not supposed to be always at their side, which means your dog must work effectively at a distance. You can build this skill using a low jump, a little bag of treats, or a favorite toy. Begin by throwing the bag over the jump so that you can do can chase after it while jumping over the obstacle. When your dog understands the game, adding a verbal cue will help like “Go.” Gradually, add distance to the game and make sure that your dog runs both on your left and right sides.

Agility Equipment

You may already know that an agility course involves several obstacles, typically between 10 and 20, depending on the level of competition. Some common equipment includes jumps, tire jumps, open tunnels, weave poles, seesaws, and a-frames.

Well, you can easily get this equipment online. If you are interested in a DIY project, you can think about it as well. You can then use the obstacles to create a dog agility training course. For instance, you can set up different obstacles at short distances and make your dog run over them.

If you want to take your training to the next level, why not make it automatic? No need to run around your dog. Instead, let your dog experience the thrill of chasing a prey. You can use the Home Plus Kit from SwiftPaws to create an automatic and remote-controlled course up to 750’. It kit comes with a main unit, 3 pulleys, a remote, a battery, a charger, a line, a line winder, flags, stakes, a tote bag, and tethers. In other words, it is a full package for effective dog agility training.

Pros and Cons of Dog Agility Training

Some notable pros of dog agility training are as follows:

• Enhances mental sharpness and physical fitness of the dog
• Promotes discipline and obedience in the pet
• Improves the bond between dog and the owner

Meanwhile, some cons of the training are:

• Needs consistent effort and time.
• Dogs may find obstacles and hurdles intimidating.
• May lead to injury if not performed carefully

Comparison with other Dog Sports

Actually, dog agility training is not the only dog sport around. Obedience training is also a popular sport that involves training the dog to follow commands. It often involves training the canine to stay and sit upon a command.

Other than obedience training, flyball is another popular sport for dogs. Basically, it is a relay race that involves a dog fetching a ball. Again, it requires some training before your dog can actually participate in the sport.

There is no doubt that each sport has its own perks. Perhaps the easiest obedience training but sports like dog agility training and flyball promote lots of exercise and physical activity, which are good for the health of your canine.

Tips for Dog Agility Training

1. Before participating in an obstacle course, try to improve your dog’s attention. Make sure that your dog is ready to learn and there are no distractions around.
2. It is essential for your dog to know the basic commands like come, sit, stay, and no.
3. Be realistic about the fitness level of your dog before starting the dog agility training. It is never good to enroll in a boot camp if your dog has yet to do anything more tiring than walking.
4. Improve the body awareness of your dog. It is one of the key assets in agility training and these exercises can help your dog be more conscious of their own capacities. It can involve using a balance disc or walking backward on a leash.
5. Gradually, introduce more obstacles. Teach your dog to jump before trying tunnels and weaving poles.

Reviews from Dog Owners

Take a look at what your fellow dog owners have to say about the Lure Coursing Kits of SwiftPaws:

Reviews:

Adrian Hugh. | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

My dog absolutely loves the kit. It has brought an entirely new level of excitement to our training session. A great kit for both beginners and professionals.

Reuben Woods. | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Home Plus Kit is very user-friendly. It comes with everything I need. I can definitely say it has helped improve my dog’s agility a lot.

Henry Tim. | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I have tried several course kits but I have to say Home Plus Kit is the best of them yet. The quality is good and I like that it’s customizable.

Conclusion

Overall, dog agility training brings a lot of benefits besides it being a very exciting sport. It promotes dog health, discipline, and the bond you share with your dog. If you are interested in dog agility training, you can get started right away at your home or you can join an agility training centre. You can set a course on your lawn with multiple obstacles and get your dog to run beside you.

If you want to take it to another level, you can use the Home Plus Kit from SwiftPaws. Some of its key benefits are its ease of use, customizable speeds and settings, a full lure kit, and a large training course. It gives your dog the excitement to chase prey. Not to mention, it also trains your dog to run without assistance in the obstacle course. Besides, it comes with all the accessories you need to enhance the agility training for your dog, making it the best lure coursing kit for beginners.