How Do You Know When To Start Training For Agility?

Even with the popularity of the sports growing, many people still wonder when to start training for agility with their dogs. There are several schools of thought on the question of agility training starting. Most people, though, are talking about formal training. Consider, though that there is much more to the process than that.

How to Start Agility Training

When it comes to the question of when to start training for agility, the truth is that you can start almost immediately with your puppy. Early on, let your puppy get used to things like crawling through tunnels, down slides, or up ramps. A big part of things is being able to train your dog to be comfortable with the action. Then, when he gets older and you think about starting real training, you will not have a fear to overcome. All that will be left will be teaching your dog when and how to do each obstacle on the course.

Basic Skills To Learn

So still not sure when to start training for agility? Maybe a better barometer is to wait until your dog has a good grasp of some sort of recall or return command. When you have taught your dog to "come" you have given him a skill that will allow you try any number of other things, including starting to work on agility skills. Work early with teaching your dog to return to you when he or she hears the command of "come." Then, when you start agility training you will be able to get him back whenever there is a problem.

Whether you are thinking of schools to send your dog to for agility or you just think you have a particularly agile dog who you think may excel, it is hard to know when to start the training. The truth is that there is no concrete answer to that question. The best thing you can do is look for clues that your dog is ready to accept the training and learn how to work agility courses with regularity. Once you know he can recall and return well and is used to the actual skills involved, you can begin to think about sending him off or teaching him agility on your home from the comfort of your own home.

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