Your family dog needs exercise, and while a walk at the park is great, it can be even more fun to enter the world of dog agility. This type of training improves obedience, provides a fun source of activity for your pet, and it is something the whole family can get involved in and enjoy.
Dog agility training is something that all members of the family can work on, but it is crucial that everyone train in an identical fashion. Your dog will become confused if one person uses their own set of signals or commands while another person uses a completely different method. Training, whether it is for dog agility or obedience, simply needs to be very consistent. When everyone trains the same way, it is much easier for your dog to be successful.
If your child or teen is interested in dog agility, consider enrolling them in some type of junior handler program. USDAA, the nation's largest dog agility organization, has its own program as does the American Kennel Club. This is for children younger than 18, and the goals of the program include teaching handling skills for dog agility as well as teaching the importance of responsible pet ownership. Many 4-H clubs or groups will offer agility dog handling for children, as well.
Dog agility clubs are quite common these days, and sometimes it definitely pays to join a local group. You can take classes, use the club's equipment, socialize with other dog agility enthusiasts and even learn how to set up your own dog agility course at home. This can be a great way to gauge whether or not your dog will truly enjoy dog agility.
Once you have seen whether or not this is an activity you will all enjoy, it's time to start buying your own equipment. It's sometimes a good idea to purchase mini agility obstacles at first. This mini equipment is easier for dogs to master and because it is smaller, it's easier to set up coursework in your yard. Some smaller pieces even fit in your garage, basement or family room for those times when your dog needs exercise and it's rainy or stormy outside. Small dogs also need to use mini equipment and even in dog agility courses, smaller equipment is used for these animals.
You can find all the agility equipment you need at Carlson Agility. This includes agility jumps, weaves, pause tables, A-frames, see-saws, dog walks and many other items. There are great starter kits to consider, and they offer a full line of mini equipment. Many pieces of equipment can be shipped at no charge, which definitely can reduce your costs.
Dog agility training is something that all members of the family can work on, but it is crucial that everyone train in an identical fashion. Your dog will become confused if one person uses their own set of signals or commands while another person uses a completely different method. Training, whether it is for dog agility or obedience, simply needs to be very consistent. When everyone trains the same way, it is much easier for your dog to be successful.
If your child or teen is interested in dog agility, consider enrolling them in some type of junior handler program. USDAA, the nation's largest dog agility organization, has its own program as does the American Kennel Club. This is for children younger than 18, and the goals of the program include teaching handling skills for dog agility as well as teaching the importance of responsible pet ownership. Many 4-H clubs or groups will offer agility dog handling for children, as well.
Dog agility clubs are quite common these days, and sometimes it definitely pays to join a local group. You can take classes, use the club's equipment, socialize with other dog agility enthusiasts and even learn how to set up your own dog agility course at home. This can be a great way to gauge whether or not your dog will truly enjoy dog agility.
Once you have seen whether or not this is an activity you will all enjoy, it's time to start buying your own equipment. It's sometimes a good idea to purchase mini agility obstacles at first. This mini equipment is easier for dogs to master and because it is smaller, it's easier to set up coursework in your yard. Some smaller pieces even fit in your garage, basement or family room for those times when your dog needs exercise and it's rainy or stormy outside. Small dogs also need to use mini equipment and even in dog agility courses, smaller equipment is used for these animals.
You can find all the agility equipment you need at Carlson Agility. This includes agility jumps, weaves, pause tables, A-frames, see-saws, dog walks and many other items. There are great starter kits to consider, and they offer a full line of mini equipment. Many pieces of equipment can be shipped at no charge, which definitely can reduce your costs.
About the Author:
Cheng Bernhardt loves dog agility training. To find an agility equipment for dogs, or to find useful agility dog training equipment like dog agility kit, please check out the Carlson-Agility.com site now.
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