Puppy Training - What Is Agility Training And Does My Puppy Need It?

Title: Puppy Training - What Is Agility Training And Does My
Puppy Need It?
Author: Carol Sommers

In this article, I will give you tips on agility training your
puppy.

Agility training is actually preparation for a doggie sport
that started in the late 1970's to fill in some time between
some events in a dog competition. In dog agility competitions,
dog handlers are given a specific amount of time to direct their
dog through an obstacle course. The dogs are not on a leash and
they may find a number of different courses to navigate through
like jumps, see-saws, weave poles and tunnels. Patterned after
equestrian events, dog agility has evolved from the doggie
equivalent of a half-time show to an event in its own right.

If you plan to adopt an active dog into your family, you might
want to consider agility training for him. Dog agility is a
sport, but you do not have to plan to compete in order to get
your puppy involved in it. It is perfect for a dog breed that is
known to be restless or bored easily. In addition, it is also
good for dogs that need more exercise and discipline. However,
one of the caveats is that you should have a good bond with your
puppy. Because agility training can be quite involved, you will
be spending a lot of time with him!

You can start puppies as young as four or five months old on
agility training. Of course, they are still growing into their
feet so they may not seem that nimble! With puppies, you will be
playing a lot (at least it will seem that way) but they are
learning. Your puppy will not start with any stressful
exercises; in other words, he will not be walking across any
tall obstacle courses and perform jumps. Their obstacles are
just a few inches off the ground so they don't get hurt, yet the
principles are the same as for older dogs.

Puppies will be able to train on the tunnels and weave poles
however. Trainers usually push balls and other toys through the
tunnels as an incentive. In addition, puppies are given special
sticks to carry in their mouths as they weave through the poles.
They soon learn about spacing and how to not bump into each pole
so that they can get through the course.

The key to agility training for puppies is short sessions. They
have short attention spans and keeping them in long sessions is
just setting them up for failure. Rewards are used a lot as well
as plenty of praise, hugs and love. The great thing is that
puppies, once they master a course, are so excited! Agility
training also works wonders for the shier puppies that need more
socialization skills.

As dogs grow older, the agility training sessions become more
advanced. In addition, they go through more exercises and
conditioning as well. You will find that you will need to pay
more attention to your dog's diet as well because the more
active he is, the more nutrients he needs.

You can have your dog compete in various agility events if that
is your ultimate goal. However, your dog gets a lot more out of
the agility training because he is spending time with you. As a
result, he is more devoted to you and an outstanding member of
your family. The added plus to all of this is if he is normally
a dog breed that is overly active and mischievous, the agility
training will tone that down quite a bit.

About The Author: Carol Sommers is a professional puppy trainer
that has been training puppy's for over 7 years now. She has an
award winning course that focuses on puppy training and puppy
house training. Visit http://www.TotalPuppyTraining.com for more
information

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