Agility dog training is a great deal of fun for dogs and their owners. The goal of agility training is to be able to complete an obstacle course that includes things such as jumping, speed, stopping, sitting, etc. The level of difficulty will determine the type of obstacle course. If you are considering doing agility training for your dog, you are in for a fun adventure. Dogs love it because it is a great form of exercise and owners like agility training because it helps them connect better with their dog.

In agility competitions, the goal is to complete the course in the shortest amount of time with the fewest mistakes. The goal in training your dog for the agility course is to gain a combination of speed, intelligence and, of course, agility. The breed that excels in competitive agility are the herding breeds such as border collies. However, any breed of dog can train and be successful in agility competitions. Every breed from Yorkshire terriers to the Saint Bernard enjoys the agility course.

In an agility competition, all dogs compete on the same type of equipment. There are jumps, or hurdles, that consist of two side posts with horizontal bars. The height of the hurdle is based on the height of the dog. There are also many types of hurdles that include single, double and triple-bar jumps, jumps with barriers and a tire jump. Weave poles are included that require your dog to zigzag through five to 12 poles in a line without a miss.

A pause table or box is included and it requires the dog to maintain self control during the course because he will need to jump on a small table and maintain a sit or lie position for five seconds. There are also tunnels; one is a flexible tube and the other will be a chute that is not open, but you dog will have to find the opening and work his way through the chute. Other obstacles include climbing walkways and a teeter totter type of walk.

Overall agility dog training is a great way to connect with your dog. Even if you decide not to compete, your dog will love the exercise and challenge.

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