When you watch a dog agility competition, the dogs are having a fantastic time, zooming around the course. They love the challenge of navigating all of those obstacles and also enjoy all of the admiration and praise that comes along with a job well done. Most people probably mistakenly think that only certain breeds, sizes and temperaments of dogs will excel at dog agility, but this is definitely not the case.
The owner of a very shy dog probably would think that their animal companion would never enjoy taking on these obstacles, but agility training can be a fantastic tool to help your dog gain confidence. Even a dog that is very shy around people or other animals or fearful in general can gain a lot from this type of training. You simply need to account for your dog's personality. While a dog that loves to mix it up with other dogs and seems fearless might enjoy the world of an agility dog club, your timid dog probably would be much better off learning the skills at home from you, their trusted person.
One easy way to start training is by using a pause table. If your dog tends to be nervous around anything new, simple leave the pause table out in the yard or even in your living room for a couple of days. Let your dog sniff it and walk around it, and when he or she begins to seem comfortable with the table, place a treat or favorite toy on top and gently coax your dog to climb on the table. You can purchase an adjustable pause table and simply start out low to the ground and when your dog becomes more comfortable, you can add height. For a shy or timid dog, it could take a few days before they are confident enough to climb on the pause table, so just be patient.
Eventually, once your dog has mastered jumping up on the table and sitting, staying and remaining down for an extended period of time, you can add some more equipment. A contact trainer is an excellent option for your second piece of equipment. For instance, Carlson Agility sells a mini three-piece contact training that contains a pause table and a mini A-frame on one side and a mini dog walk on the other side. Using mini obstacles is a great way to start with a shy dog or a younger dog. Carlson Agility sells all the equipment you could ever need for dog agility training, including weaves, tire jumps, dog agility jumps, dog tunnels and chutes and much more.
Your dog's confidence level probably will have increased noticeably just by mastering the basic skills of the pause table and the contact trainer. They will probably be a bit less nervous around the new pieces of equipment you add, but it always pays to be patient. You also can get most pieces of equipment in the miniature size, which is not only easier for a shy dog to tackle, it also fits well into your yard and you can even bring a few pieces of equipment inside for nighttime or rainy day training and fun. If your dog has mastered it all and seems confident enough, you might think about joining a local agility club and seeing how your dog handles the larger equipment and the mix of dogs. If it's still a bit much, just keep on doing the work at home.
Not only does this type of training boost confidence, it's also a great form of exercise for your furry friend, who needs to get outside and run around every day. Working closely together to learn these new skills also strengthens your bond, and the two of you will become even closer through agility training.
The owner of a very shy dog probably would think that their animal companion would never enjoy taking on these obstacles, but agility training can be a fantastic tool to help your dog gain confidence. Even a dog that is very shy around people or other animals or fearful in general can gain a lot from this type of training. You simply need to account for your dog's personality. While a dog that loves to mix it up with other dogs and seems fearless might enjoy the world of an agility dog club, your timid dog probably would be much better off learning the skills at home from you, their trusted person.
One easy way to start training is by using a pause table. If your dog tends to be nervous around anything new, simple leave the pause table out in the yard or even in your living room for a couple of days. Let your dog sniff it and walk around it, and when he or she begins to seem comfortable with the table, place a treat or favorite toy on top and gently coax your dog to climb on the table. You can purchase an adjustable pause table and simply start out low to the ground and when your dog becomes more comfortable, you can add height. For a shy or timid dog, it could take a few days before they are confident enough to climb on the pause table, so just be patient.
Eventually, once your dog has mastered jumping up on the table and sitting, staying and remaining down for an extended period of time, you can add some more equipment. A contact trainer is an excellent option for your second piece of equipment. For instance, Carlson Agility sells a mini three-piece contact training that contains a pause table and a mini A-frame on one side and a mini dog walk on the other side. Using mini obstacles is a great way to start with a shy dog or a younger dog. Carlson Agility sells all the equipment you could ever need for dog agility training, including weaves, tire jumps, dog agility jumps, dog tunnels and chutes and much more.
Your dog's confidence level probably will have increased noticeably just by mastering the basic skills of the pause table and the contact trainer. They will probably be a bit less nervous around the new pieces of equipment you add, but it always pays to be patient. You also can get most pieces of equipment in the miniature size, which is not only easier for a shy dog to tackle, it also fits well into your yard and you can even bring a few pieces of equipment inside for nighttime or rainy day training and fun. If your dog has mastered it all and seems confident enough, you might think about joining a local agility club and seeing how your dog handles the larger equipment and the mix of dogs. If it's still a bit much, just keep on doing the work at home.
Not only does this type of training boost confidence, it's also a great form of exercise for your furry friend, who needs to get outside and run around every day. Working closely together to learn these new skills also strengthens your bond, and the two of you will become even closer through agility training.
About the Author:
Cheng Bernhardt enjoys dog agility training. To find a dog agility course, or to find more about training equipment for agility for dogs, please check out the Carlson-Agility.com website now.
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