Whether you want to train your dog at home or take it to the next level in agility competition, you need the right equipment. A top-rated set includes a pair of adjustable bars, a tunnel, and other pieces that meet American Kennel Club-level safety standards. It’s also easily movable, with a bag that allows you to carry it between outdoor locations. Dog agility is a fantastic exercise and bonding experience, but not without risks. Make sure your dog is in good health before starting agility training. A veterinarian usually recommends a physical exam. This includes a thorough eye exam. Generally, dogs with healthy joints and good vision can enjoy agility.
Safety Considerations
Dog agility is a great way to exercise your dog and improve their mental health. But training sessions should always be safe, and the dog agility training equipment should be sturdy enough to prevent injury. It’s also important to consider whether your dog is suited for agility competitions. If they are nervous around crowds or aggressive toward other dogs and people, they might need help to compete safely. Safety considerations for dog agility training include proper warm-up and cooling down exercises, avoiding pushing your dog too hard beyond their physical limits, and ensuring that they have unobstructed vision when running the course. In addition, dogs must have their nails trimmed regularly to avoid them catching on the equipment. It is also essential to know that the safe agility course design level varies between different sanctioning bodies. This is because there are varying opinions regarding what is safe for certain dogs, such as fast, long-striding dogs. This can result in unsafe courses if the correct safety precautions are not considered.
The A-Frame
Dog agility challenges a dog to execute commands and maneuvers at full speed while keeping a tight grip on his handler. It also exercises and stimulates a dog’s natural hunting instinct. In the wild, hungry dogs nimbly chased small mammals like rabbits over logs, around rocks, and up steep embankments to catch their prey. To make the most of the sport, owners should carefully consider the goals of their training sessions. For example, some trainers discourage serious jumping and weaving work in young dogs because the flexing of immature joints can damage them. A veterinarian should examine young dogs to ensure they have good joints and that their development is on track to close the growth plates in their knees, elbows, and shoulders.
The Tunnel
Dog agility is a great cardiovascular and muscle-building exercise for both dogs and handlers. However, agility is not without risk. While most agility equipment is designed with safety in mind, some equipment can be dangerous if misused. For example, one of the main risks in agility is dogs getting pinched between pieces of equipment or falling through gaps in the ground. To avoid this, the environment around each obstacle must be securely anchored. The best way to do this is using stakes with heavy bases or sandbagged equipment. Most beginners introduce their dogs to low and smaller versions of each obstacle, gradually extending the height over training sessions to their complete competition forms. Dogs should not be dragged, pushed, or pulled over any equipment during this stage, and leashes are usually discarded.
The Jumps
Dog agility is an exciting sport that allows a handler to direct their dog off-leash through an obstacle course. It can be a recreational activity for both dog and owner or a competitive event against other dogs and handlers at top-level national and international competitions. Dogs are trained to run and jump at high speeds through a series of obstacles in a race against the clock. The judging system and scoring vary according to the organization sanctioning the event. Depending on their withers measurement, dogs can compete in one or more height divisions, each having a fixed number of jump heights. Various safety concerns have arisen with the different agility equipment as it has become more advanced. For example, the A-frame has undergone modifications to prevent injury to dogs that fly over the apex missing the real downside of the frame. Tunnels have also undergone safety changes as much more significant, and faster dogs have hit the strapping on the back of the tunnel, collapsing and harming their necks and shoulders. Jump cups have also undergone modification, moving from solid formats to plastic displaceable cups that open when the dog hits them and close after he has cleared them. A puppy should never undertake serious agility work under eighteen months old due to the potential long-term impact of jumping and flexing on immature, developing joints. Before starting intensive agility training, consult your veterinarian for a thorough physical exam, including hip, elbow, and eye exams.
The Seesaw
In agility, dogs must have the immense physical strength to perform the equipment correctly. In addition to the physical requirements, dog agility requires high coordination and split-second timing between handler and dog to complete the course within the judge’s established Standard Course Time (SCT). Some trainers, including radiographs of hips and elbows and eye health, recommend some pre-screening of dogs for agility. Leashes are usually discarded as they can get entangled in equipment and may interfere with the dog’s traction on the equipment. Nails must be trimmed to prevent them from catching on the equipment and allow for adequate traction.
