Agility with your dog: requirements, equipment, and tips
Are simple walks getting too boring for you and your dog? Then agility with your dog might be just what you need! It is a modern dog sport that helps improve communication between humans and dogs and is particularly enjoyable outdoors in the summer.
What is agility?
Agility is a popular dog sport that involves completing an obstacle course flawlessly within a specific time. Neither a leash nor a collar is used.
Originally developed as a filler activity at the Crufts Dog Show, this new sport has taken the world by storm. Now, in addition to smaller club competitions, there are even state and national championships!
What can the dog learn from this?
Agility training with your dog is primarily about fun and shared physical activity for both you and your dog. This sport also strengthens the bond between dog and handler. Furthermore, it improves communication with your dog through body language.
According to the rules, the dog completes the course without a collar or leash. The owner may only guide their pet using verbal commands and body language. Touching the dog is not allowed.
Requirements for agility with a dog
A high level of skill is required from both dog and handler, as the obstacles are extremely varied. Furthermore, your dog should be in good health to prevent any existing illnesses from being aggravated by the sport.
At what age can you start with agility training?
Many owners wonder at what age they can start training their dog. The dog’s growth must be largely complete. Once your dog is 18 months old, it can participate in official tournaments organized by the German Kennel Club (VDH).
Which dogs are suitable for agility?
Especially extremely energetic dog breeds such as Siberian Huskies. They love physical exercise. Of course, all other dog breeds are also welcome to participate.
Basically, any dog that enjoys new challenges is suitable. It is not a purely goal-oriented sport; the primary focus is on fun and variety.
This naturally requires the four-legged friend’s interest as well. If the dog simply refuses to be enthusiastic, even the owner’s ambition will not help.
What do you need for agility training?
There is a wide variety of equipment: from tunnels and seesaws to tires, slalom poles, and wheelbarrows.
Health aspects: Is agility healthy for the dog?
Agility is a healthy form of fitness training that challenges the dog both physically and mentally. It learns to run through poles in a slalom, jump over hurdles, and overcome other obstacles such as seesaws and tunnels.
All of this requires a lot of concentration, agility, and coordination. For dogs that otherwise spend a lot of time indoors, agility is a great way to get some exercise in a species-appropriate manner.
At the same time, training together strengthens the bond between dog and owner. The dog is guided through the course using gestures and verbal commands, which requires trust and good human-animal communication. This also trains obedience, making agility a dog sport with an educational component.
When agility is not recommended
There are breeds that, due to their individual characteristics, are not suitable for agility. These are primarily large, heavy dogs like the Newfoundland or the St. Bernard. For her, the physical strain of agility is too high.
Even small dogs with long backs, like dachshunds and Basset Hounds, should participate in a different, gentler dog sport.
Another exclusion criterion is joint diseases such as hip dysplasia. Agility training is not healthy for dogs with this condition. If in doubt, consult your veterinarian before starting training.
Tips for beginners: How do you get started with agility?
Before your dog can nimbly zip through an agility course, he needs to learn each station. To begin with, you can use simple household and garden objects instead of professional agility equipment.
For example, you can make a hurdle from sturdy cardboard boxes and a broom handle. A small slalom course can be set up using glass bottles filled with sand. However, make sure that the dog cannot injure itself on the homemade obstacles.
Now it is time to teach the dog the necessary commands. For example, “Forward” sends the dog through the obstacles in front of it. “Away” signals a change of direction, while “Go on” is a command for more speed.
For your dog to learn these commands reliably, he should already know the basic commands. After each training session, there will, of course, be plenty of praise and a treat or two as a reward.
Simple agility exercises to try.
Once the dog has become familiar with the basic agility equipment, it can be combined to create a small course. It is important to vary the setup regularly. Otherwise, the dog will become accustomed to the path through the obstacles. In this case, the dog would simply be repeating a memorized sequence of movements instead of using its brain.
The following basic exercises are well-suited for beginners:
- Tunnel: First, the tunnel is completely collapsed, and the dog is lured through with a treat. The tunnel can then be gradually opened further. With the command “Through,” the dog is sent through the tunnel.
- Hurdle race: Set up two hurdles a short distance apart. Jump over them together with your dog to motivate him to play. Once the dog understands what you want him to do, you can stand next to the hurdle and ask him to jump.
- Balancing: During the dog walk, you can let your dog walk across a fallen tree. Alternatively, you can build a boardwalk in the garden and guide your dog along it using a treat.
Agility for advanced participants
Once you and your dog have practiced a bit and your dog clearly enjoys the training, you can participate in agility competitions. Agility has become one of the most popular dog sports. Numerous competitions are held every year, including junior, European, and world championships.
Participation in agility competitions
In an agility competition, the dog must complete the course as quickly and flawlessly as possible. The presiding judge sets up the obstacles in accordance with the FCI (Fédération Cynologique Internationale) rules.
However, the judge can decide the sequence of equipment. This creates a creative competition course and thus a constantly new challenge for the four-legged participants.
The competition rules specify what constitutes a fault. This includes, for example, jumping off the seesaw or table before the obstacle has been completely cleared. Penalty points are awarded for each fault. The goal is for the dog to master the various obstacles in the prescribed order and within the given time. Despite the competitive nature of the event, fun should, of course, always be the primary focus.