Get Your Dog Started In Agility

Your Dog

Obviously, doing agility requires having a dog. While there are many “traditional” breeds that we often see in agility trials such as herding breeds like Border Collies and Shetland Sheepdogs, any breed of dog can enjoy the sport. Dogs as diverse as Chihuahuas, Miniature Pinschers, Siberian Huskies, Alaskan Klee Kais, Miniature Poodles, Pumis, and “All-American” mixed breeds can be seen competing in agility on a regular basis. See the list of many breeds that have been successful in dog agility on our Awards page. Your dog older dog can learn too.  There are senior (called “Veterans”) classes with lower jumps for older dogs.

It is important to make sure your dog is physically healthy and if you have any concerns, please talk with your veterinarian. Dogs that are less than a year old may be at risk of damaging their limbs as their growth plates have not closed yet, so we recommend that for puppies, you work on control exercises or obedience training before your dog matures. 

For dogs approaching physical maturity, a first step will be to see if agility is something that your dog enjoys doing. There are several ways that you can do this:

• Local pet fairs and expos often have “try it rings” with agility equipment where a trainer can help you bring your dog through an easy obstacle course.

• Find a local trainer or club with either a training facility or an outdoor agility practice area and see if you can attend an introductory session.

• If you are the industrious type, you can build some simple jumps and test your dog in your backyard or a local park. Jumps can be made cheaply using some PVC pipes and PVC elbow fittings from your local hardware store. You can Google for do-it-yourself equipment plans.

Control Training & Obedience

There are several “fundamental” skills that your dog should know before getting started:

• Sit

• Down

• Stay

• Recall (Coming When Called)

• Eye Contact (between you and your dog)

• Crate Training