Dog Agility Training
Agility game was started in England actually and it is not an ancient game. Fashioned after horse Show Jumping, Agility established its bases in the United Kingdom in 1978. Today, Agility is going to be the fastest growing dog sport in the world. Agility is a sport in which a dog expresses its agile nature and adaptability by defeating different barriers. In this sport, the handler is given a specific amount of time to direct his dog without leash around a course. Originally, loosely modeled on equestrian stadium jumping competitions, the sport has evolved its own additional obstacles, scoring systems, and performance ideals.
Agility courses are shaped with barriers and dog has to perform properly. The judge predetermines the track and flow that each hurdle must be taken and the handler directs the dog without leash through this obstacle course. The handler usually cheers, claps, and call the dog through each hurdle to handle dog for premium performance. The dog has to face variety of jumps built of weave poles, tunnels, climbing obstacles, and a pause table. Each course has time limit and the dog that finishes with the minor course mistake and in less time, wins the game. But normally the game rules vary from organizers to organizers. Rules usually depend on authorized organization of the trial in which you are participating.
Victory in agility requires good training. Agility is a game of physical skill, patience, control and teamwork between handler and dog. Agility is basically a race against the time, but at the same time, accuracy is the first condition. The hurdles in agility have been designed keeping in mind both factors of safety and viewer's comfortability to watch the game. All jumps easily displace bars to prevent dog from any kind of injury and he should not misjudge and take down a jump bar.
For correct performance, the good footwear is vital, wear such shoes that you can run in and have a good grip. Also wear comfortable clothes in which you can run progressively. For the dog though a usual check collar or half check good for heelwork practice, but these are not suitable for agility. The proper collar is a leather or webbed buckle collar. That should have fairly long lead made of leather, nylon or rope, but not of chain. Chain made lead can prove to be troublesome in the jumps.
Agility popularity is increasing day by day. Now even in United States, people organize agility courses for their companion dogs. To play an agility game is great fun time for you and your dog as well.
