Agility Dog Training: What I've Learned Works
I've owned many dogs, throughout my life, but have never known exactly how to train them properly. I based my training on punishment and just couldn't figure out why that didn't work that well. But, almost two years ago, I started training my Papillon for agility competition. She was extremely high-drive and I knew she'd really love it. So, I found a good Agility Training school and off we went. We've been competing, very successfully, for almost a year now and, looking back, I learned so many important things about dog training!
First of all, most trainers require that dogs have completed at least a basic obedience class before proceeding to agility training. This is critical to agility training and, in my opinion, every dog and handler could benefit from a basic obedience class. I learned that I have a food-motivated dog and that she will work her heart out for highly prized treats, not for punishment! There are skills you and your dog will learn, through an obedience class, such as recalls, sit/stays, down/stays, and walking nicely on a leash. Each of these skills is something you will need every time you compete, not to mention day-to-day life with your dog.
The pace of your training will always be set by your dog. Each dog learns at a different speed and, what comes easily for one dog, may not come easily for another. So, be very patient while training your dog any skill. Make it a game. Let your dog take as much time as it needs, without getting impatient or frustrated, to figure out what behavior you want from it.
All tasks must be broken down into small pieces, whether the task is a simple sit, the beginnings of obstacle training, or more complex tricks or agility sequences. If you break the task down to something small, then mark/reward and repeat, several times before making the task larger, you will have success without stressing the dog out. For example, when training an Agility Tunnel, you scrunch it up to its smallest form. Have someone place your dog at the entrance while you sit on the ground at the exit, with a treat, and call your dog. As soon as the dog comes through that little piece of a tunnel, you mark/reward. Slowly begin expanding the tunnel using the same technique. In just a few minutes, you'll have your dog going through however long a tunnel you need.
For agility training, once the dog begins obstacle training, there is never a wrong answer. Dogs get confused, and may shut down, if they start being told they're doing the wrong thing, so keep the training light and never scold for doing the incorrect thing. If the dog doesn't do what you want it to, you simply do not mark/reward for that action. You just ask again and, the minute you get the correct response, mark/reward and make a huge deal of it. That will make your dog more anxious to give you that same answer again. As you start competing, you might want to use a particular word to indicate the incorrect response, such as "uh oh," or "oops," but not with a scolding tone. This will indicate that the dog will be asked to try again but everything is fine between the two of you.
Lastly, always keep the training fun for both you and your dog. Even when you start competing, or have been competing for a long time, this is critical. If you start getting caught up in the competition and title-winning, you might forget why you started agility to begin with: because it's fun! When the game stops being fun, your dog won't enjoy it anymore and neither will you. Agility is a wonderful sport and will forever secure the relationship between you and your dog. Run fast, run clean, and, above all, have fun!
About the Author
Learn about hamster accessories and hamster babies at the Types Of Hamsters site.
Dog Agility Exercises : Dog Training Obstacles: The Tunnel
|
|
Dog Pet 18 Foot Obedience Agility Training Tunnel chute tool
$34.99 |
|
|
Dog Pet Agility Training Tunnel 18 ft Long New In Box
$37.99 |
|
|
600D 18' Dog Chute Tunnel+Case+Stake Agility Pet Equipment Training Gift Frisbee
$54.95 |
|
|
15' 600D Dog Obedience Agility Tunnel Frisbee+Case+Stake Pet Training Equipment
$49.90 |
|
|
New Portable 16.4’ Dog Agility Tunnel For Training Obedience With Free Case
$26.99 |
|
|
NEW 18' DOG AGILITY TUNNEL OBEDIENCE TRAINING EQUIPMENT
$72.98 |
|
|
NEW DOG AGILITY TRAINING TUNNEL PREMIUM 18' FOOT FEET W/ METAL STAKES
$47.95 |
|
|
15' 600D Dog Obedience Agility Tunnel Frisbee+Case+Stake Pet Training Equipment
$49.90 |
|
|
New Portable 16.4’ Dog Agility Tunnel For Training Obedience With Free Case
$0.99 |
|
|
600D 18' Dog Chute Tunnel+Case+Stake Agility Pet Equipment Training Gift Frisbee
$54.95 |
|
|
15' 600D Dog Obedience Agility Tunnel Frisbee+Case+Stake Pet Training Equipment
$49.90 |
|
|
dog agility tunnel with training tips Obedience training or fun 16'' x 6.5 ft
$24.95 |
|
|
15' 600D Dog Obedience Agility Tunnel Frisbee+Case+Stake Pet Training Equipment
$49.90 |
|
|
600D 18' Dog Chute Tunnel+Case+Stake Agility Pet Equipment Training Gift Frisbee
$54.95 |
|
|
600D 18' Dog Chute Tunnel+Case+Stake Agility Pet Equipment Training Gift Frisbee
$54.95 |
|
|
18' 600D Chute Dog Agility Tunnel+Stake+Case Obedience Training Pet Gift Frisbee
$54.95 |
|
|
PetSafe Dog Agility Training 10 Foot Open Tunnel Chute
$79.99 |
|
|
PetSafe Dog Agility Training 3 Foot Closed Tunnel Chute
$79.99 |
|
|
ADJUSTABLE PORTABLE DOG AGILITY TRAINING TUNNEL EQUIPMENT W/ CARRYING CASE 11030
$89.95 |
|
|
NEW PORTABLE 3' DOG AGILITY TRAINING TUNNEL EQUIPMENT W/ CARRYING CASE 11029
$86.95 |
|
|
15' 600D Dog Obedience Agility Tunnel Frisbee+Case+Stake Pet Training Equipment
$49.90 |
|
|
Dog Pet Agility Obedience Training Tunnel Chute 15' New
$31.00 |
|
|
600D 18' Dog Chute Tunnel+Case+Stake Agility Pet Equipment Training Gift Frisbee
$54.95 |
|
|
PetSafe Dog Agility Training Equipment - 3 Foot Closed Tunnel
$74.15 |
|
|
PetSafe Dog Agility Training Equipment - 10 Foot Open Tunnel
$74.15 |
|
|
Portable Dog Fun Run Nylon Mesh Tunnel Agility Training
$49.99 |
|
|
PetSafe Open Tunnel 10' beginner dog agility pet training tube Ripstop™ fabric
$99.99 |
|
|
PetSafe 8' closed shoot w/ 3' open Tunnel beginner dog agility pet training
$99.99 |
|
|
PETSAFE DOG AGILITY TRAINING 10 FT TUNNEL PDT00-001030
$68.88 |
|
|
PETSAFE DOG AGILITY TRAINING 3 FT TUNNEL PDT00-001029
$68.88 |
|
|
Petsafe PDT00-11029 3 FOOT Dog Agility Training Tunnel
$84.95 |
|
|
Petsafe PDT00-11030 10 FT Dog Agility Training Tunnel
$85.95 |
|
|
18' DOG TOUGH AGILITY TUNNEL OBEDIENCE TRAINING TOOL US
$54.90 |
|
|
Dog Obedience Agility Training Tunnel 18 Foot 600D
$69.97 |
|
|
420D Red agility chute collasped tunnel UV Resistant dog training
$56.00 |
|
|
420D Red agility chute collasped tunnel UV Resistant dog training
$84.00 |
|
|
18' Dog Agility Training Tunnel
$54.39 |
|
|
New 6 Foot Institutional Dog Agility Training Tunnel
$71.99 |
|
|
PETSAFE PDT00-11029, 3 FOOT DOG AGILITY TRAINING TUNNEL
$84.95 |
|
|
PETSAFE PDT00-11030, 10 FT DOG AGILITY TRAINING TUNNEL
$85.95 |
