Agility training for dogs is becoming more and more popular with many dog owners. It is a good way to let your dog release energy, but how do you start? What dog agility equipment do you need?
Before you start agility training, it is important to answer a number of questions, such as:
- “What is agility and how does it work?”
- “How do I prepare my dog for agility training?”
- “Do I want to train my dog myself or at a club?”
- “Which equipment do I need to get?”
- “Is my dog suitable for agility training?” or if you don’t have a dog yet: “What dog breeds are the best for agility training?”
We answer all these questions and more! Here’s a beginner’s guide with dog agility tips and equipment!
Table of Contents
1. Agility Training For Dogs In The Field
The obstacle course is constructed from agility equipment and can include anything from slalom, jumping over obstacles to crawling through a tunnel.
“What Is Dog Agility Training Good For?”
Agility training for dogs is done a lot for fun, but there are also serious competitions for Agility. Agility training is very good for dogs that are very active and it’s a great way to release their energy. So it’s not a bad idea to do this with your dog just for fun. It also allows you to bond with your dog!
There are many agility clubs around the world, so you can join a training center to get the best out of you or your dog. You can also choose to buy your own dog agility equipment and build a track at home. This is definitely a good idea if you want to start training with a puppy.
There are also worldwide agility competitions so find out where they are in your neighborhood. In these contests there are various levels so you can join whenever you feel ready!
“Can You Earn Money In Dog Agility Contest?”
Yes, in some competitions you can win up to $10,000 if you win first place. Of course you and your dog have to train very hard. You have to be patient and spend a lot of time in training with your dog, but that is definitely worthwhile and fun to do.
As mentioned before, there a lot of clubs where people train in groups, but it helps if you get your own dog agility equipment. This allows you to train your dog at home or in a park. This saves a lot of time and makes training easy.
2. Preparing Your Dog For Agility Training
Whether you have a puppy or an adult dog. When you want to start agility training, it is very important that your dog knows the basic commands, such as:
- Sit
- Lie down
- come
- stay
When your dog is familiar with learning tricks, the rest will also become easier. Your dog knows now that he / she gets a reward when he / she has done something well. Here you can possibly use the help of a ‘clicker’.
After this you can teach your dog step by step to face an obstacle! This is the fun part, but this will not always be easy and fast. You will have to be patient.
“How do I train my dog for agility at home?”
Now you can choose to do agility training at a club or you can do it yourself. It’s better not to take puppies to a club right away. Instead you can start training your dog yourself and go to a club when your dog is 1 or 2 years old.
If you are going to train your dog yourself you can do this step by step. First teach your dog to:
- crawl under obstacles and through tunnels
- zigzag through poles or flags
- Jump over bars and trough hoops
When he/she has a taste for it, you can set out a whole course. In the beginning you will have to guide your dog a lot with the help of a treat. Later on, your dog may not even need this motivation and will know exactly what to do.
Training your dog with agility equipment can easily be done in your garden or in the park. In the next part, we recommend the best complete agility sets, but also the some extra agility equipments you can add to your track. So you can get started right away!
3. Dog Agility Equipment
when the basic commands are mastered, the real work can begin. For agility training you have endless equiments, but which ones do you need to get started? And which ones do you need if they become too easy?
Dog Agility Equimpent Complete Set
CHEERING PET Dog Agility Equipment
This set contains the fun basic obstacles with which you can immediately get started. Because there is also a whistle (and even a candy bag), you are also ready to become a trainer.
The set consists of 28 parts, including these essentials:
- 58.5″ Long Dog Agility Tunnel
- Adjustable Hurdle
- 2 vertical Poles
- 8 slalom poles
- Whistle
- Rope Toy
- Pause Box
- Stakes
- 3 Carrying Bags
The carrier bags make it easy to take the set with you to the park for example! The set is designed for a complete dog workout experience. Prices change regularly, so check the link to Amazon for the current price.
Extra Tools
The set above is of course perfect to start with and to see what you can achieve with your dog. If you’re a fanatic, it is a good thing if you can eventually add the following gear to your own dog agility course:
Agilipet Dog Agility Training Tunnel Weight Bags
Weightbags are ideal if you want to train your dog more often. It can be annoying when the tunnel starts rolling when your dog goes through it. The bags keep the tunnel in place of course, but you can also put your stuff in them!
XiaZ Dog Agility Hurdle Cone Set
The complete set contains jump obstacles, but a good addition could be these cones. These can be used for the jump course or for slalom.
This is certainly a nice addition to your course.
DIY: Make Your Own Agility Obstacles
Old Car or Bike Tire
With an old car or bike tire you can make a good obstacle. Make sure the opening is big enough for your dog to jump through. With the help of a sturdy rope and a tree you can make your own obstacle! See if you have one yourself or maybe you can pick it up somewhere for a small fee or even for free!
A Net
With a net you can make a cool crawl obstacle. With a number of hooks in the ground and a net you’re already done. Cool to add next to the tunnel!
Be creative!
4. Best Dog Breeds
In theory you can do agility training with any dog, but some breeds have more potential to do this even better.
“What Are The Best Dog Breeds For Agility Training?”
If you want to do agility training just for fun, I wouldn’t worry too much about the dog’s breed. However, if you want to achieve a lot with agility training, I would recommend to choose one of the dog breeds below. Not only are these dogs super suitable for agility training, but they are also very good family dogs. These dog breeds have qualities such as: extremely active, obedient, loyal and sweet!
- Border Collie
- Australian Shepherds
- Golden Retriever
- Shetland Sheepdog
- Whippet
- Jack Russell Terrier
- Cocker Spaniel
- Papillon
I hope you have learned something from this ‘beginner’s guide’ and wish you the best of luck training with your dog! Please leave a comment if you any other questions about agility training with your dog!