How to Get Prepared for Dog Agility Competitions

You’ve been teaching your dog tricks for months and he’s a star at running through tunnels, jumping through hoops, and listening to commands. However, he might not be quite as prepared as you think he is. Before participating in dog agility competitions, it’s important to make sure your dog is prepared and ready to be successful. Below are a few preparation tricks.

- Practice in Different Settings. One of the most important things you can do for your dog is let him practice in different settings and around plenty of people. When it comes down to the actual show, there are going to be a lot of people watching. There will be noise, and it will be held in an area your dog is not familiar with. For these reasons, it’s important to get the dog accustomed to working in different environments and with a crowd.

- Choose Comfortable Obstacles. Choose obstacles your dog is comfortable with and then have him practice those first. This will give him confidence and training before you get down to the more difficult obstacles. For instance, running through a tunnel is relatively easy but making your way through a maze might be more difficult. Praise him often as he learns his new skills and he will try harder!

- Learn All the Rules. Before entering your dog in any competition, learn all the rules first. This will ensure that your dog doesn’t get disqualified because you weren’t aware of a particular rule – and after all his hard work! Many clubs and shows have manuals or websites that list rules that you can go over before the day of the event.

By taking the time to go over these preparations, you can ensure that the big day will go off without a hitch and that your pooch will get recognition for all of his hard work.