What steps should I take when thinking of gettin my dog involved in agility?

Question

I have a 2yr old Aussie that I'm sure would be great at agility and frisbee. We are looking at getting a portion of the yard fenced in as a start. He knows some basic commands like sit, stay, come etc, but is easily distracted by other dogs, people and small animals. Once he gets more exercise, I'm hoping his will listen with more consistency. I don't want to invest alot of money on the equiptment if I don't know how well he will do, or if we may just do it as a casual exercise routine. Thank you!

Answer 1

Sounds like you need to work on your dogs focus. You have to make sure your dog is focused on you when it's time for training/work. You might consider getting into an obedience class where a trainer will be able to help you with this, based on your dogs personality.

As for equipment, you can to a search on line to find instructions to make your own equipment out of pvc piping. There are also a few good books with directions on it as well. My hubby will be building us some this spring when we start our Agility classes.

If you want to look into taking a proper class, you might contact your local agility club and see if they can make any good referrals for you on trainers.

Answer 2

My canine and that i do agility. I've checked out earthdog, rally-o and flyball. There are gigantic advantages to doing efficiency exercises together with your canine. 1. Your dog gets a job. And that's relevant for a dog's focal point and well-being. A dog and not using a job becomes stressed or mischievous or insecure. A canine with a job is optimistic and self-assured. 2. You emerge as a crew with your dog. It is now not about going speedy or leaping. It is about studying to work together, reading your dog, your canine studying you. Once I plan a course, the first question i am perpetually asking myself is "what would my guy do nice at?" 3. There may be conditioning that comes from this with gigantic wellness benefits. Each to your canine and you. Oh, and it can be freaking addictive! After I pull my agility bag out of the closet to get competent for sophistication, my man starts doing pogo-stick jumps straight up, his tail is going 90 miles a minute and he starts sneezing (which is a canine's sign of "this is nice") or yelping! Final of all, i will admit that certain sporting activities might no longer be a just right fit. A dog that hates noise or does not like balls might have disorders with flyball. A sight hound maybe challenged at some elements of Rally-zero. A high-quality Dane isn't going to do well at earthdog. At dachshund is not a satisfactory match for agility. But what? Very few groups win championships. For illustration, in agility, you seek a smooth run (no errors and underneath the highest time). And also you get a ribbon for a CR and a Q (qualification) although you do not finish within the high 3 of your crew. You could have enjoyable, you be trained. The titles and wins are simply icing on the cake.

Answer 3

You can make your own equipment, I made an AKC reg course and it is nicer than some of the bought equipment at other schools. Join the yahoo group agility equipment, there are some good plans there, as well as people to give advice.

To work on distractions, take him places with distractions and work him. That is why obedience classes are so good, but you could try outside the fence at a dog park, in Petco, or at a flea market.

Answer 4

My canines and that i do agility. i've got regarded at earthdog, rally-o and flyball. There are large reward to doing overall performance activities alongside with your canines. a million. Your canines gets a job. and that's serious for a canines's concentration and wellbeing. A canines without a job turns into under pressure or mischievous or insecure. A canines with a job is beneficial and beneficial. 2. You replace right into a team alongside with your canines. it relatively is not approximately going rapid or leaping. it relatively is approximately studying to artwork mutually, examining your canines, your canines examining you. when I plan a direction, the 1st question i'm continually asking myself is "what might my guy do superb at?" 3. there is conditioning that comes from this with large wellbeing reward. the two on your canines and you. Oh, and it relatively is freaking addictive! when I pull my agility bag out of the closet to get waiting for sophistication, my guy starts off doing pogo-stick jumps at present up, his tail is going ninety miles a minute and he starts off sneezing (that's a canines's sign of "it relatively is large") or yelping! final of all, i will admit that express activities might desire to no longer be a stable extra healthful. A canines that hates noise or would not like balls might desire to have themes with flyball. A sight hound might desire to be challenged at some components of Rally-0. a large Dane can no longer do nicely at earthdog. At dachshund isn't a large extra healthful for agility. yet you be attentive to what? very few communities win championships. case in point, in agility, you seek for a sparkling run (no blunders and under the optimal time). and you get a ribbon for a CR and a Q (qualification) regardless of in case you do no longer end in the best 3 of your team. you have exciting, you learn. The titles and wins are in basic terms icing on the cake.

Answer 5

You can make the equipment yourself. My friend & co-breeder of some of my dogs is very active in agility.
She has made the jumps & poles & stuff out of PVC pipe - very cheap & light weight.
You can also join a local agility club & take classes there.

Answer 6

Find an agility club in your area... you will need to train there with other dogs and distractions...... agility is a blast,,,,,, and it is more fun with others who are interested in the same thing have fun

Answer 7

when training for agility your dog is usualy oflesh so you have to always have constant atention.i would recomend walking around the backyard loaded with treats. give him one treat and walk around to the other side of the yard.if he follows give him a treat.when you stop,tell him sit .tell him sit when he's either right beside you or behind you.if he gets infront of you when your walking turn right around and walk the other way.do it repitidly and enrol him in a training class to learn how to keep his attention.eventually whenever you walk he will walk with you.and when you stop he should sit next to you,never in front of you.

Answer 8

talk to your vet and take it slow. make sure he is in good health and you will have to start feeding him more if he exercises more. to make him focus more maybe you could rub some of his favorite treats on the Frisbee to make it smell really good.

Answer 9

bloody great big ones