Dog Agility 101

Dr. Paige Adams is aveterinarian and mom of an athletic doggie family made up of three Border Collies (Zara,Theory, and Rise) and one Beagle mix(Magic). Together, they zoom around agility poles, tackle teetering see-saws,and zip through agility tunnels. Sound like fun?

This excitingactivity is agility training. It's essentially CrossFit® for dogs, says Sean Prichard, a certifiedcanine fitness coach (CCFC) and head fitness coach at Pant & Wag. He points outthat there are two primary forms of agility training for dogs: casual training,which can be done in your backyard, and competitive training.

With the help ofDr. Adams and Prichard, we’ll explore how you can add a bit of high-energyexcitement into your weekly routine of walks and games of fetch.

What Is AgilityTraining for Dogs?

Agility trainingis a high-energy dog sport that teaches your pup to maneuver obstacles withdirection from you, their handler, using hand cues and voice. Whether youchoose to participate in competitive agility training (complete with timedobstacles and judges) or have some fun in your own backyard, it’s a great wayto bond with your dog and improve their physical andmental health.

“An agilitycourse strengthens every major muscle group, increases cardiovascular health,and improves the balance and coordination of our four-legged family members,”Prichard explains.

Agility training also providesopportunities for dogs to meet new people and pets, which can help them developtheir socialization skills. And Adamsreminds us that the most important thing is to have fun with our dogs. “We dothis to become a team and have fun with each other,” she says.

Can Dogs of All Ages Compete in Agility Training?

Puppies shouldn’t practice strenuous orrepetitive exercises, Adams says. Romping around on the agility course can befun, but consult your veterinarian to determine when your puppy is old enoughfor more challenging tasks. Keep in mind that dogs must be at least 15 monthsold to compete in agility competitions.

Senior dogs canalso benefit from the mental and physical exercise of agility training, butit’s important to tailor the course and pace to their needs. For example,Adams’ 9-year-old dog is semi-retired from competitions, jumping lower heightsthat match her abilities.

Regardless of your dog's age, Adamsencourages pet parents to get X-rays of their dog's hips, shoulders, and elbowsbefore conditioning for competition. This will ensure they’re free of any joint issues that could increase their risk of injury in a high-impactsport, she explains.

Are Certain Dog Breeds Best Suited forAgility Training?

Any breed of pup can enjoy the physical andmental challenges of agility training! That said, people-pleasing pups andfood- or toy-motivated pooches are the easiest to train. And above all otherbreeds, Border Collies reign as agility course champions, Prichard says.

How To Train a Dog for Agility

Rather than jumping straight into it (or jumping over 20-inchhurdles), our experts say to take a step-by-step approach to agility training:

1.   Familiarize your dog with the equipment. “Let your dog walkaround them, sniff them, pee on them, whatever they need to do to feel goodwith these strange objects,” Prichard shares.

2.   Use positive reinforcement. Rather thanpushing or pulling your dog through the course, encourage them to do it ontheir own, rewarding them with high-value treats andpraise throughout.

3.   Add obstacles. Once your dog has completed the obstacle course,reward them with a treat. Repeat this again and again, Prichard says, gainingspeed as your dog becomes more comfortable. Once they’ve mastered the simplecourse, add more challenging elements.

Keep in mind that if you and your dog planto compete, the course you practice should matchregulation standards. Deviating from the rules or course could teach your pup badhabits. Contrary to competitive training, “casual training is much moreflexible, as you can really do whatever you want as long as it's fun andfitness-based for your pooch,” Prichard says.

Dog Agility Equipment: What You Need

Ready to get started? Our experts say mostcommercial agility kits will be sufficientfor casual pups and their pet parents. If you plan to compete, “make sure youwork with a trainer or someone who can guide you on the best/safest productsand how to use them,” Adams suggests.

Jumps

There are several types of agility jumpsfor dogs:

·       Broad jumps

·       Double bars

·       Triple bars

·       Single jumps

·       Rings

The goal is for your dog to clear the jumpwithout displacing the top board or bar. But don’t make the jumps toochallenging, especially when you’re just getting started.

The jump height is based on the dog'smeasurement to the wither, which is the height of a dog from the ground to thehighest point of its shoulder blades. Start with setting the height to theirabilities until they work up to their wither.

Tunnel

Whether your pup chooses to crawl through atunnel or dash through it at full speed is up to their abilities—and theirconfidence to traverse a tunnel without seeing the end point!

Dogs just getting used to agility trainingmay appreciate an agility tunnel with a stableopening and sandbags or anchors that hold it firmly in place.

Weave Poles

In competitions, a pup must enter a set of12 agility weave poles spaced24 inches apart—at top speed. Without missing a pole, top-dog competitors focustheir sight straight ahead, weaving as close to the center line as possible.

A-Frame

The agility A-frame is an obstacle that isshaped like the letter "A." Dogs must climb up the A-frame to the topand then climb down the other side. To complete the obstacle properly, dogsmust make contact with the takeoff footing and the landing footing (designatedin yellow coloring).

Consider starting with a mini-A frame andgradually increase the height as your dog becomes more comfortable; theregulation size is 9 feet tall.

Teeter

An agilitydog teeter typically consists of a long, narrow plank that isbalanced on a pivot point in the middle—resembling a park seesaw. It shouldhave a non-slip surface to help dogs maintain their footing.

To use the teeter, dogs must first climb uponto the plank at one end. Then, balancing on the teeter, they shift theirweight and make their way to the opposite end. It’s important that the puprides the teeter until it makes contact with the opposite side, thendisembarks, Adams says.

Dogwalk

The dogwalk agility obstacle isn'tfor beginners, at least ones that like to do everything at full speed. Itconsists of a center section that is 48 inches off the ground and has tworamps. “This obstacle is long (three sections, each 12 feet long) and quitenarrow (about 12 inches wide) for how fast dogs run across it,” Dr. Adams says.“It’s one of the last obstacles we teach dogs for safety reasons, and we do itslowly so we know the dog has full body control.”

Table

Adams says the table, also called the pausetable, is a piece of dog agility equipment that is only necessary if you’replanning to show your pup in an American Kennel Club(AKC) agility course. “The dog must remain on this table for the judge’s count offive seconds, and then is released by the handler,” she explains. “The goal ofthe table is to show obedience during a high arousal/excitement situation.”

If all this equipment sounds like a lot,remember that pet parents and their pups trying agility just for fun don't needeverything on this list, just the items that sound like fun for you and yourdog. There are DIY kits and plans, but Adams cautions that making your ownobstacles could prove dangerous for your dog.

Dog Agility Classes and Shows Near You

No space for a backyard agility course? Noproblem. There are plenty of spots to try out the sport and get hands-ontraining. You can even compete at the level best suited for you and your dog.

Non-competitiveagility trails. Look for agility courses called “fun matches,” Prichardsays. If you and your dog are looking to make some new friends and have fun onthe course, this could be the agility level best-suited for you both.

Localhumane societies. You’ll likely find that they host bothclasses and fun community agility trails, Prichard says.

Officialsanctions. If you’re interested in competing, check the official AKC and USDog Agility Association (USDAA) calendars for events. The AKC calendar can befound here and the USDAAcalendar here. If you're working witha trainer, they’re sure to know the ins and outs of upcoming competitions andfacilities for practicing.