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Training Your Dog for Agility Competitions

By: David Harding Following the best in breed is perhaps one of the toughest yet rewarding contests there are on the dog show circuit. The dog agility competition is when a dog is run through various obstacles, and scores are based on speed and accuracy on maneuvering those obstacles.

All dogs large and small compete in these competitions and their placement is based on the weight and height category. The placements of the obstacles are designed to be complicated because it is not only the dog that is judged but how well the handler leads the animal through it.

During the competiton the dog will have to, with the careful assistance of the handler, negotiate various obstacles like tunnels and jumps. The handler will receive a layout of the course beforehand. The agility training the dog received prior to competition day will determine how well it does.

When it comes to starting out in dog agility training the handler can use a favourite treat to get the dog to work its way through the various obstacles. It is best to tackle one aspect of the training at a time and ensure each part is mastered before moving on.

There can be hundreds of different distractions around a dog agility competition course so it is imperative that there is clear communication between handler and dog. There are no room for mistakes as an incorrect or misunderstood call can cause the dog to run off course.

The handler and dog do not come into contact with one another during any stage of the agility contest and so its extremely important the handler, who may not neccessarily be the owner, knows exactly how to get the dog to perform to simple commands in order to get thru the various obstacles.

Dog agility training takes dedication from both owner and dog. Consistency is the name of the game but watching your dog achieve and work its way successfully through the course will be worth all the hours you put in.