If you have ever watched dogs zipping around a dog agility course, you can tell that not only are these animals highly trained, but they are enjoying themselves. Dogs love all the jumps and weaves and tunnels that are part of these competitions because they mimic their natural instinctive behavior. However, you might think that dog agility training is something limited to only certain types and personalities of dogs, but you might be surprised to note that most dogs can learn these skills.
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.
Perhaps the easiest way to begin is to introduce your shy dog to the pause table. Be sure to opt for an adjustable table and begin at the lowest height. If your dog is always suspicious or nervous around anything new in the yard or in your home, give them time to check out the equipment before you try to get them to jump onto the table. Let them sniff and inspect it and then after a few days have passed, try to encourage them to get on the table. You can carefully place them on the table while holding them and gently petting or you can lure them up with a special treat or a favored toy. This can take some time, but eventually your dog will have the confidence to climb up on the pause table all by themselves.
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.
Once your dog has mastered the contact trainer and pause table, you probably will notice that they definitely have gained some confidence and have a spring their step. You can continue to add pieces of equipment until they have mastered a wide variety of tasks. You can continue with the miniature sized equipment, which can be less intimidating and also fits more easily into your yard, basement or family room. If they are ready for a bigger challenge, you can join a local agility club and see how they handle the mix of dogs and the larger equipment. If your dog still prefers working out at home, keep up with the training and try again when they seem more confident.
Agility training is also great exercise for your dog and helps the two of you create a stronger bond. While this bond is important to build with any dog, a shy or timid dog really needs this extra encouragement, and dog agility can be a fantastic way to boost confidence.
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.
Perhaps the easiest way to begin is to introduce your shy dog to the pause table. Be sure to opt for an adjustable table and begin at the lowest height. If your dog is always suspicious or nervous around anything new in the yard or in your home, give them time to check out the equipment before you try to get them to jump onto the table. Let them sniff and inspect it and then after a few days have passed, try to encourage them to get on the table. You can carefully place them on the table while holding them and gently petting or you can lure them up with a special treat or a favored toy. This can take some time, but eventually your dog will have the confidence to climb up on the pause table all by themselves.
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.
Once your dog has mastered the contact trainer and pause table, you probably will notice that they definitely have gained some confidence and have a spring their step. You can continue to add pieces of equipment until they have mastered a wide variety of tasks. You can continue with the miniature sized equipment, which can be less intimidating and also fits more easily into your yard, basement or family room. If they are ready for a bigger challenge, you can join a local agility club and see how they handle the mix of dogs and the larger equipment. If your dog still prefers working out at home, keep up with the training and try again when they seem more confident.
Agility training is also great exercise for your dog and helps the two of you create a stronger bond. While this bond is important to build with any dog, a shy or timid dog really needs this extra encouragement, and dog agility can be a fantastic way to boost confidence.
About the Author:
Cheng Bernhardt enjoys dog agility training. To discover a dog agility course, or to find more about training equipment for agility for dogs, please visit the Carlson-Agility.com website today.
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