Free Dog Training Tips And Videos

How Agility Can Builds Confidence In Your Dog

Is your dog sensitive to sounds or is it timid around other dogs. Then agility training can provide the right environment and a good structure to build the necessary confidence in your dog. The classes are great places to learn about the training and sport. But it can still take a long time, before the dog is ready to leave your lap or the hiding under the chair.

A shy dog can only learn when it is inside its comfort zone. So all training must start where it feels safe, and all learning must be done in small increments. The best place for training and learning is probably the home.

So, how do you train at home? You will need guidelines and equipment. There is a multitude of websites that can give you information on agility training. There are also books and videos that will give details and visual aids and lesson plans for beginners thru expert levels.

There is a variety of equipment that is useful and helpful to have at home. Equipment recommendations are based on your available space and location of training. Do you have a large yard that will hold 10 obstacles? Do you have a small yard where you will need setup equipment and then tear down before you can setup again? Will you be training in your garage or basement, or as some agility addicts, in your living room?

The equipment has to be safe and sturdy when training a timid dog. A good place to start your agility training is a pause table. A 12″ high pause table (preferable with adjustable legs) is a great starting point for dogs in all sizes. Setup the table in an area that the dog is familiar with. If your dog is the type that barks at everything new, you can leave in the house or yard for a couple of days before using it. Then the dog can inspect and smell it. Remember you need to use baby steps with an insecure dog.

To encourage it to get up on the table you can use treats or its favorite toy. And remember it may well take several lesson. If it loses interest, you should try something new like placing yourself on the table. Then you can either hold it or have it on leash, while you are sitting on the table. But remember only to treat it when it comes against you. Never reward it, when it is pulling away.

When the dog gets more experienced, you might want the dog to jump on the table using a cue word like Table, stay on the table as you back away with the word Stay and Come to you, when you call. You should extend the distance slowly, not pushing the dog to hard.

If you follow the above instructions, you can introduce new obstacles that can give your dog a new success. When it success a new piece of equipment, its confidence will grow.

Martin Elmer is the editor of Hundefan - a website about hundeartikler. Here you can also read about transport hunde.

categories: dog,agility,equipment,training,dog agility,agility equipment,dog agility equipment,dog training,dog training equipment,dog table,pets,confidence,timid

Tweet This Post