Does your dog possess
all the necessary qualities to become an impressive athlete? Have you
considered what benefits both you and your dog can reap from an intensive
agility training that would not only improve his physical shape, intelligence,
mental alertness and vitality, but also strengthen your mutual bond, nurture
communication and enhance obedience? Surely you want what’s best for your
little friend and taking up a well-structured, extensive agility training routine
might be just what you both need to deepen your relationship and enjoy some
rewarding health benefits.
There are several
factors you should keep in mind before settling on the right agility training regimen,
including your dog’s ancestry, his food tolerance and habits, his current level
of activity, as well as his age and overall lifestyle. Certain breeds (especially
medium build or working breeds) are a lot more prone to training, both mentally
and physically, but that doesn’t mean that with some purposeful agility
training you won’t be able to increase the stamina of any dog. For example,
some breeds, usually giant ones, such as Mastiffs, are not very resilient as
their breathing tends to get heavy and laboured quire easily, so a long
training session might be out of the question. Another group of breeds, such as
those with short legs, also find it difficult to keep up with all the jumps
involved in agility training. This should in no way discourage you from
enrolling your dog in a training program, because ultimately it is up to each
individual dog’s personality and vigour.
Ideally, your dog
should be at least 9 or 10 months old at the time of starting a dedicated
agility program. On the other hand, don’t push your dog too much physically or
mentally over the age of 8 years, as their instincts naturally slow down and you
might only cause your dog unnecessary stress.
So, what will your
dog’s agility training routine involve? In most cases a special set of
successive obstacles is designed for dogs to complete in a predefined order
under a specific time constraint. These obstacles may include various types of
jumps, passing through tunnels, etc. To get to that stage, however, your dog
needs at least 6 months of daily practice to ensure he knows his way around the
equipment (tunnels, bars, hoops, etc.) and that he is well versed in obedience
commands (such as directions: left, right, back, forward, etc.). Remember to
reward your little friend with treats after successfully learning a new
command. The key for success is introducing each new command or piece of
equipment gradually and only after the dog has mastered the previously
introduced item. Before embarking on this particularly rewarding journey, you
must be confident that you will be able to devote time to agility training on a
daily basis, otherwise there is no point in starting at all.
Another crucial factor
in your dog’s successful training is his weight. Make sure you are well aware
of what healthy and balanced diet is appropriate for your dog’s breed in order
to stimulate muscle growth, reduce fat and give him plenty of energy to tackle
the challenges of agility training. Above all, you should try to have fun and
enjoy spending some quality time with your canine friend.
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