| Those planning to institute a regimen of dog | | | | full compliment of obstacles everyday during |
| agility training need to be prepared to | | | | training may cause the animal to become |
| donate a lot of time, effort and praise on | | | | confused on the day of competition. |
| teaching their dog the tricks of the agility | | | | |
| trade. Dog agility training can be common | | | | Dog And Handler Must Agree To Work Together |
| among breeds as well as size as most agility | | | | |
| contests are based on the animal's size and | | | | Similar to a dog show, the handler is not |
| relative ability based on past competitions, | | | | always the dog's owner, rather the handler is |
| as opposed to breed. Teaching the dog to | | | | the one who has administered the dog agility |
| conquer an obstacle course neither it nor its | | | | training and to whom the dog faithfully |
| handler has seen before, will take a lot of | | | | listens. However, the dog must be of the |
| dedication for the real competitor to become | | | | right temperament for agility competition and |
| part of the team. | | | | one that will not be intimidated by the |
| | | | obstacles. A shy or timid dog would not fare |
| A competition of a dog's agility goes beyond | | | | well when faced with obstacles and probably |
| simple handling by command and begun in | | | | will not perform well. |
| England patterned after certain horse | | | | |
| competitions, dog agility training takes into | | | | In dog agility training the handler will have |
| account fence jumping, teeter-totter, wing | | | | to know what motivates the dog to want to |
| jumps a tire jump and more. The idea is to | | | | please the handler. The dog and the handler |
| have the dog complete the course, in a | | | | must both be in good enough physical |
| prescribed order with only voice commands | | | | condition to complete the obstacle course as, |
| given by the handler. The tricky part is the | | | | although no physical contact is permitted, |
| 100-foot square course and its obstacles are | | | | the handler typically stays with the dog |
| set the day of the show and the handler is | | | | through the course, giving the voice |
| allowed one walk through to become familiar | | | | commands. |
| with the layout. | | | | |
| | | | The event is judged based on correctly |
| Most believe that dog agility training should | | | | completing the obstacles and is a timed event |
| be done one obstacle at a time and once the | | | | so speed is of the essence, as well as the |
| dog successfully and repeatedly is able to | | | | dog being able to recognize each obstacle and |
| overcome an obstacle, it can move onto the | | | | know exactly how to meet it quickly. |
| next one. Attempting to have the animal run a | | | | |