Dog agility preparation
Dog
Agility Preparation:
Assessment and Evaluation
Before
you sign your dog up for training classes, purchase books on agility,
or set up obstacles in your back yard, you’ll need to do a bit of
preparatory work. The first and most important thing you’ll need
to do is determine whether your dog is physically and mentally able
to do agility. Make an appointment with your veterinarian for an
evaluation and assessment, paying special attention to his hips,
elbows, and spine.
Another
area that must be evaluated is socialization. Agility involves your
dog being able to be off-leash around other dogs and people. Clearly,
he shouldn’t have an aggressive temperament, and it’s important
that he be properly socialized to handle the excitement of an agility
event. If your dog has not been properly socialized, you will need
to work with him to ensure his ability to get along in this situation
before doing anything else, as this is critical to his and your
success.
It
may be worth your while to investigate “Canine Good Citizen” or
similar classes that teach socialization skills, often sponsored
by breed associations. Skills taught in addition to basic obedience
include:
– Accepting
a Friendly Stranger
– Sitting Politely for Petting
– Out for a Walk (walk on a loose leash)
– Walking Through a Crowd
– Reaction to Another Dog
– Reactions to Distractions
– Supervised Separation
Related
Pages
Dog
training
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Agility Training
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