Agility training is important to dogs for a number of reasons. Not only does it give your dog plenty of mental and physical stimulation, it helps to keep them well-trained, reactive and teaches them best behaviour practices too.
Developing your dog’s agility can also help to solve separation anxiety issues, as well as promoting a healthy and active lifestyle.
What is a good age to start agility training?
Eighteen months old is the minimum age for competing in agility, but it’s good to start agility training at just under a year old.
What kind of agility is best to start with?
Starting with jumps at a low height is a good place to start. Remember to make every activity fun for your dog, so training bit-by-bit is best. Even when your dog matures, training should be done little and often for best results.
What is the peak age for dog agility?
On average, dogs are at their best in this sport from four to six years of age, but that’s at a professional level. Dogs of all ages can benefit a lot from this kind of training.
What are the trickiest agility exercises?
The weaves are one of trickiest manoeuvres to teach, but incredibly rewarding. They’re an ambiguous obstacle to a dog and require a lot of patience and great accuracy. Teach them slowly and try to keep training interesting to help them along.
What can I do to help my dog?
Never underestimate the importance of your positioning on the agility course, this will help your dog’s flow throughout the course.
How to get started:
If you want to take agility classes, watch an agility trial, or simply find local people who can introduce you to the sport, then finding a training club is your best bet.
Here is a useful list of all agility clubs in the UK: https://agilitynet.co.uk/activepages/clubs.asp. We hope that helps!
