You don’t need to be young and fit to enjoy an active life with your dog. There are so many activities that you can take part in and you and your dog will have a lot of fun and maybe even some competition. One of these activities is dog agility.
Let’s start with dog agility. This is where your dog has to negotiate a series of obstacles on a set course within a specified time. I know it always looks fast and furious but a good handler can send a dog round a full course without having to do any running at all. There are many dog agility shows held up and down the UK every weekend and people of all ages and abilities take their dogs along for fun and competition.
One of the myths about dog agility is that you need to have a border collie to be able to compete. Nothing could be further from the truth. There are dogs of all shapes and sizes competing on a regular basis from very small terriers right up to the large breeds such as briards and German Shepherds. What is more important is that your dog is fit enough to be able to start agility. If you have an older dog or a dog that my have problems such as a heart murmur, or joint problems it’s best to get a check up at the vet’s surgery.
Generally speaking dogs should be at least 12 months old before they start jumping and they have to be 18 months old before they can compete at UK Kennel Club events. There is no upper limit on a dog’s age. Dogs over nine years old will often compete in veterans classes or in special classes with very small jumps. The oldest dog I’ve ever heard of starting agility was a 14 year old rescue collie. Lucky dog. The new owner saw past the age barrier and the dog was able to start enjoying a new life.
One of the problems with starting agility is that it is very addictive. It’s enormous fun for both the handler and the dog and once you‘ve had your first training session you’re likely to be hooked for life. There are very few dogs that don’t enjoy jumping and generally they get very excited when they know that any kind of agility session is on the cards. Agility people are very friendly too. Mostly they train with a dog club and you can be as active or inactive within the club as you want to be. If you want to start dog agility lessons it is best to find a local club that runs beginner’s courses.
Most people say that they won’t compete with their dogs when they start agility. Some will just carry on attending training classes or they will train their dogs at home for fun and exercise. Quite a few people do go on to compete though and this is where the addiction really kicks in. There are so many of us who panic and wish were anywhere else but at a show when it’s our turn to go in the ring, but once you’ve done your run you get a tremendous buzz as you leave. If you’ve had a clear round to boot there’s nothing quite like the high you’ll get and you have to experience it to understand. If you want to find out more about dog agility and other activities why not visit my websites, Dog’s Own for agility and other dog activities, and Agility Bits for dog agility beginners.
Let’s start with dog agility. This is where your dog has to negotiate a series of obstacles on a set course within a specified time. I know it always looks fast and furious but a good handler can send a dog round a full course without having to do any running at all. There are many dog agility shows held up and down the UK every weekend and people of all ages and abilities take their dogs along for fun and competition.
One of the myths about dog agility is that you need to have a border collie to be able to compete. Nothing could be further from the truth. There are dogs of all shapes and sizes competing on a regular basis from very small terriers right up to the large breeds such as briards and German Shepherds. What is more important is that your dog is fit enough to be able to start agility. If you have an older dog or a dog that my have problems such as a heart murmur, or joint problems it’s best to get a check up at the vet’s surgery.
Generally speaking dogs should be at least 12 months old before they start jumping and they have to be 18 months old before they can compete at UK Kennel Club events. There is no upper limit on a dog’s age. Dogs over nine years old will often compete in veterans classes or in special classes with very small jumps. The oldest dog I’ve ever heard of starting agility was a 14 year old rescue collie. Lucky dog. The new owner saw past the age barrier and the dog was able to start enjoying a new life.
One of the problems with starting agility is that it is very addictive. It’s enormous fun for both the handler and the dog and once you‘ve had your first training session you’re likely to be hooked for life. There are very few dogs that don’t enjoy jumping and generally they get very excited when they know that any kind of agility session is on the cards. Agility people are very friendly too. Mostly they train with a dog club and you can be as active or inactive within the club as you want to be. If you want to start dog agility lessons it is best to find a local club that runs beginner’s courses.
Most people say that they won’t compete with their dogs when they start agility. Some will just carry on attending training classes or they will train their dogs at home for fun and exercise. Quite a few people do go on to compete though and this is where the addiction really kicks in. There are so many of us who panic and wish were anywhere else but at a show when it’s our turn to go in the ring, but once you’ve done your run you get a tremendous buzz as you leave. If you’ve had a clear round to boot there’s nothing quite like the high you’ll get and you have to experience it to understand. If you want to find out more about dog agility and other activities why not visit my websites, Dog’s Own for agility and other dog activities, and Agility Bits for dog agility beginners.
No comments:
Post a Comment