Agility

There are many organizations that offer agility events and titles for dogs. Even so, many people train their dogs in agility just for the enjoyment of developing teamwork with their dogs and the sheer fun of running together towards the same goal.

Some obstacles your dog would learn to navigate include contact obstacles such as the a-frame, teeter-totter, dog walk and pause table; open and collapsed tunnels, weave poles and various types of jumps, including a tire jump. Obstacles are placed in a different order for each event at progressively more difficult combinations to challenge you and your dog as you grow together as a team.

If you are wondering if agility is for you, check out local clubs. Usually they will allow you to sit in on a training session, or will give you dates of an upcoming local trial so you can watch and decide if this is a sport for you and your dog. You can teach your dog agility if you take the time to train slowly and keep it fun for the dog. Remember, if introduced correctly, it can be your dog’s version of an amusement park!