Agility for Dogs
By: Casey Carlson, Veterinary Technician at ZimmVet
One of the best ways to bond and interact with your pup is through agility!
The two of you will work as a team in agility, starting with trust, patience, and reward.
Start out with the mindset of this being fun, relaxed, and simple ‘asks’ of your dog.
First, you will want to start with a six-foot lead and preferably a harness that has a grab handle on top. The harness should fit snugly, without having too much ability to slip on any part of your dog’s body.
Next, you’ll want to have high-value treats on hand that can be given as a very small amount. A high-value treat would be food that your dog just cannot resist! An example might be hot dog bits or dried liver pieces (always make sure they are in small amounts and dog-friendly).
Last, and most importantly, make sure your surroundings and the items to be used are safe and secure. Having a safe environment makes learning and training much less stressful for your dog and injury less likely. The best area to practice in should be a fenced in or enclosed area; this will be perfect when you attempt off-leash commands for the first time!
Equipment for your course:
A pause table that can be a 6×6 foot wooden box with a height no more than one foot. Depending on the size of your dog, you may need this to be shorter. A seat cushion or pillow can be substituted to start out!
Poles or pool noodles will make great cavaletti equipment when placed on the ground. Always make sure the item can ‘break-away’ easily – meaning that it is not fixed and will not have potential to injure your pup.
Note: Starting out, it’s best to use the length of your dog’s body to help you decide the spacing between objects your dog will be walking, jumping, or running over.
Now that you have everything set up, you’ll need to guide your pup through the course. Those high-value treats are going to come in handy at this point.
Start at your pause table/object with your pup in a calm sitting position. Give a couple of rewards for your dog maintaining their position while staying engaged with you (eye contact, treat focus).
Next, guide your pup using your arm held out (like an airplane wing!) as you walk past each pool noodle. If your pup is still engaging with you, they will attempt to walk over the obstacles as you guide them. If they seem to be distracted or losing direction, try throwing a treat over the obstacle as you go past. Get excited and praise them when they come back to focus!
After repeating the task enough times, your dog should be more aware of the obstacles and what you’re asking them to do!
Agility should always be fun for you both; never force your dog to do tasks. Help them build confidence with praise and reward instead. You will get there with patience and time.
You’ve established the most important tool in agility – attention and team work!
If you are interested in taking your pup to the next level, here are just a few DIY ideas and more information at USDAA’s website.
Agility Course DIY:
http://www.gonetothesnowdogs.com/diy-agility-jumps/
