Have you ever thought about canine agility for your dog? We’re not talking about your dog getting around well. We’re talking about a form of exercise that has become very popular of late.
You may have even seen agility trials and competitions on television. It doesn’t matter if you have a purebred or a mutt. If you have a dog with lots of energy, here’s some information about how you can get him involved in the canine sport of agility.
Benefits
Not only do you get the chance to bond with your dog in a way you never could before, the both of you will also get great exercise.
One of the things agility does is connect dog and handler over obstacles and through a preset course. You’ll direct her through tunnels, over jumps and up and down a teeter-totter. All without the aid of a leash.
Speed and accuracy are crucial in this type of sport so the faster you can get your dog through the course without mistakes the better.
Training
Like any competitive sport, you’ll want to train first. Some dogs take to agility easily and others take more time to learn. But any dog can become an agility course champ.
<Also Read: Tips For Getting Your Dog Started In Agility>
An agility course simulates what dogs typically do in the wild: run, jump and climb in their pursuit of their prey. Sometimes that means they have to squeeze through tight spaces and jump over fallen logs.
It’s all part of the fun.
Exercise
If you have a dog who is high energy like a Border collie or a Jack Russell terrier, agility training and competition is a great outlet. And it gives high velocity dogs a job.
The exercise benefits will reach you as well. You will need to run right alongside your canine to guide them through the course. It’s great cardio!
Bonding
Perhaps the best benefit of all is that your dog cannot get through an agility course without you so your bond will grow stronger. She will rely on you to give her both hand and voice cues so she knows where to go next on the course. And every course is different.
Try agility training for some great exercise and then join a local team. You and your dog will become part of a great sport.
Reference link: http://www.cesarsway.com/dog-training/exercise/benefits-of-dog-agility-training
Image Credit: istockphoto.com
