Small Dog Agility for Beginners and Beyond

Small dog agility is a fantastic way to challenge and bond with your furry friend. Small dogs can start agility training as early as 6 months old, but it's essential to consider their size, breed, and health before enrolling in a class.

A typical small dog agility course consists of tunnels, jumps, weave poles, and contact obstacles like A-frames and dog walks. These obstacles are designed to be safe and accessible for small dogs.

As a beginner, it's crucial to start with simple obstacles and gradually increase the difficulty level as your dog becomes more confident and skilled. Begin with short tunnels and low jumps to build your dog's confidence and endurance.

Small dogs can reach speeds of up to 20 miles per hour while navigating an agility course. With patience, consistency, and positive reinforcement, even the smallest dogs can learn to love agility training.

Worth a look: Diy Dog Agility Jumps

Enrolling in agility classes is a great way to get started with small dog agility. Make sure the training center uses only positive reinforcement methods and that the trainers have the necessary certification.

It's essential to start with a pace that suits you and your dog. If your pup feels nervous, begin with one obstacle and gradually add more as they become more comfortable and confident.

Taking things at a slow pace will help your dog build confidence and prevent frustration. This approach will also allow you to enjoy the process and have fun with your dog.

Consider starting with a simple obstacle like a tunnel or a tire jump. These are great for introducing your dog to the concept of navigating through obstacles.

Remember to keep your early home training sessions short, no more than five or 10 minutes at a time. This will keep your dog engaged and prevent them from losing interest.

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Agility is a sport that's perfect for small dogs, and it's surprisingly accessible to all breeds, including mixed breeds. You can participate with your tiny pup, and they'll thrive on the mental and physical stimulation.

Courses typically have 14-20 obstacles, which can include tunnels, weave poles, and tire jumps. These obstacles will challenge your dog and keep them engaged.

At each trial, you and your dog will race around a unique course designed for that day, relying solely on your cues and body language to direct them.

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Dog agility is a sport where you direct your dog through a pre-set obstacle course within a certain time limit.

Courses typically have between 14-20 obstacles, which can include tunnels, weave poles, tire jumps, seesaws, and pause tables where the dog must stop for a set amount of time.

All of this is done with your dog relying solely on the cues and body language you use to direct them on course.

You'll find unique courses designed for each trial, and you and your dog will race around them.

All breeds, including mixed breeds, can participate in Agility – from the smallest to the largest of dogs.

Attending a competition, or "trial", is a great way to see Agility in action firsthand.

Consider reading: Build Dog Agility Course

Teaching your dog tricks can greatly improve their coordination and confidence, which will serve them well in the agility ring. Tricks can be a fun way to bond with your dog and help them develop their physical skills.

Teaching your dog to touch their nose to your hand or a target is a great trick for agility training. This trick allows you to move your dog or adjust their position by changing the placement of your hand or the target.

Walking backward is another beneficial trick for dog sports. By teaching your dog to walk backward, they'll develop basic body awareness and learn to pay attention to all four paws.

Jumping through a hoop is a great introduction to the tire jump, a common obstacle in agility training. This trick helps your dog develop the confidence and coordination needed to navigate the tire jump.

Expand your knowledge: Dog Agility Courses for Beginners

To practice agility with your small dog at home, you'll want to start by setting up your own obstacles. Tunnels and weave poles are great places to begin, and you can purchase them online or build your own using PVC pipes.

Beginners often start with tunnels, which can be collapsed when not in use, and tunnel holders to keep them in place. You can also use a few evenly spaced upright poles that your dog can run through.

Practicing at home is essential, and you should aim to spend at least 15-20 minutes a day working on the moves you learned in class. Consider using incentives like treats or toys to entice your dog through the course.

Take your time, especially in the beginning, while you're both getting used to the sport. It's essential to master the basics at home before moving on to more complex obstacles.

To develop flexibility, teach your dog tricks like "spin" and "bow", which will help stretch their sides and back. You can also use a figure eight around your legs to introduce weaving through the weave poles.

Increasing body awareness is crucial for agility, and you can help your dog develop this skill by teaching them to perch on objects, crawl through boxes, or walk through a ladder.

Build confidence by introducing your dog to moving objects, starting with lower objects like a skateboard or child's wagon. You can also build a wobble board to help them get used to shifting ground beneath their paws.

The weave poles are a challenging obstacle, but you can start by setting up tomato stakes or similar-sized poles in your yard, spaced 24 inches apart.

On a similar theme: Dog Weave Poles

When planning your small dog agility course, it's essential to consider your dog's capability and size. Make sure to plan obstacles that are suitable for your dog's size, such as a corgi not being able to fit through a tire jump meant for a German shepherd.

A corgi, for example, could not get through a tire jump meant for a German shepherd. You can easily adjust tire jumps to accommodate different sized dogs.

To build a fun and challenging course, consider including contact obstacles like A-frames and see-saws. These obstacles have your dog run up one side and immediately down the other of a wooden, A-shaped structure.

Here are some common obstacles you can include in your course:

When planning your agility course, it's essential to evaluate your dog's capability and choose obstacles that are suitable for their size. A corgi, for example, couldn't navigate a tire jump meant for a German shepherd.

You'll want to include contact obstacles, such as A-frames and see-saws, which allow your dog to run up one side and immediately down the other. A-frames are a great way to challenge your dog's agility.

Tire jumps are another must-have in your course, and the best part is they're easily adjustable for dogs of different sizes. They're typically found in competitive agility courses.

Weave poles are a fun and challenging obstacle that requires your dog to quickly weave their body between narrow plastic poles. Aim for five to twelve poles with about two feet between each one.

Tunnels are another versatile obstacle that can be made from fabric or even repurposed from children's play tunnels. They can be straight or curved, and are great for indoor or outdoor training.

To keep your dog stimulated and engaged, it's a good idea to create multiple course layouts, so you can switch things up and try new combinations. This will help prevent boredom and keep your dog excited to train.

Clip-On Jump Cup Strips are a great option for dog agility training. They are designed to be flexible and clip-on, making it easy to set up a course at home.

The flexibility of Clip-On Jump Cup Strips is especially important for safety reasons. Clip and Go wanted to create a jump cup with even more flexibility to help ensure the safety of dogs when they are slicing a jump close to the uprights.

To set up a jump, you can use a broomstick or other pole and balance it between two low objects like a stack of books or flower pots. Just be sure the surface is not slippery, as this can cause injury to your dog.

Remember, agility isn't a high jump competition, so it's essential to keep the jump height low, at a walking level for growing puppies.

Additional reading: Agility Dog Jump Heights

To compete in small dog agility, your furry friend must meet certain requirements. Your dog must be 15 months of age or older.

There are three types of agility trials to choose from: all-breed, specialty, and group trials. All-breed trials are the most common and welcome dogs from over 150 breeds and varieties recognized by the AKC.

To be eligible to compete, your dog must be registered with the American Kennel Club or listed with the AKC Indefinite Listing Privilege (ILP) program. This allows unregistered dogs of registerable breeds to compete in AKC Performance and Companion Events.

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Consider Competing!

If you're hooked on agility, you might be wondering what it takes to compete. To be eligible to compete in agility, your dog must be at least 15 months old.

Your dog also needs to be registered with the American Kennel Club (AKC) or listed with the AKC Indefinite Listing Privilege (ILP) program. This allows unregistered dogs of registerable breeds to compete in AKC Performance and Companion Events.

Mixed breed dogs can be registered through the Canine Partners program to compete. Spayed or neutered dogs are also eligible to compete.

Take a look at this: Akc Dog Agility

In addition to these requirements, your dog must be in sound health and up-to-date on vaccinations. This ensures that your dog is safe to compete and reduces the risk of injury or illness.

There are three types of agility trials: all-breed agility trials, specialty trials, and group trials. All-breed agility trials are the most common type and are open to over 150 breeds and dog varieties recognized by the AKC.

Here are the different types of AKC agility trials:

Group trials are divided into seven categories, including Sporting breeds, Hound breeds, and Herding breeds.

You can earn agility titles from the comfort of your own backyard. The Agility Course Test (ACT) is an entry-level agility event that's being offered virtually for dogs 15 months and older.

This virtual event is a great way to introduce your dog to agility training and earn your first titles at home. By mastering basic skills in your backyard, you'll be ahead of the game when you enter the sport.

Intriguing read: Backyard Agility Course for Dogs

You can continue your training by attending agility classes at a nearby AKC Training Club or a local training facility. This will give your dog a chance to practice on actual agility obstacles.

The ACT programs, including ACT Jumpers, are designed to help you and your dog get started in agility.