Intro & History Dog agility training began as a sport in the UK in the 1970s, and involves successful completion of an obstacle course. It's a great way to develop a strong bond between pet and owner; it can also help build confidence in timid dogs (and owners). It's also a great form of exercise as it uses not just the dog's physicality, but the intelligence as well. The human partner may find that their fitness improves as they are required to do as much work as the dog. Whilst agility training can be done to allow participation in competition, there's no rule to say it's not just for a fun time with your dog.

Type of suitable dog Any dog can be trained for agility, although competitively, working breeds such as Border Collies tend to excel (to the point where they can have their own separate category when competing). It's possible to start when the pooch is a puppy, but as some of the activities are quite strenuous on the joints, it's recommended that the puppy should be at least 8 months old, and can obey basic commands, such as sit and stay. Both owner and dog also need to be fairly fit.

Equipment What is required to begin training is a basic set of equipment: a tunnel; cones for weaving through; something to jump over; an "A" frame; and a table to pause on. This may seem daunting and expensive, but you may fine a club that you can join or a class in your area. However, as training for agility is a gradual process you may find that you can start slowly with one piece of equipment and build up the course gradually. Initially a lead and collar will be necessary until your dog is familiar with everything.

Procedure Don't expect Fido to be brilliant after the first few goes, for a start he or she may not understand what is expected of him. If Fido is by nature timid the course may be a little scary for him. Set -up the obstacles and let Fido become familiar with them before beginning the training. Start slowly with one obstacle and some very low jumps, which you may have to complete with Fido until gets the idea. Encouragement is the key: your dog will respond and learn more quickly he or she thinks they're doing the right thing: lots of praise and treats when Fido does it right. Never punish: bonding with your dog is supposed to be a fun activity!

If you are interested in training your dog, for whatever reason, then you can find some qualified help here. There are some wonderful articles available specifically written to help you to train your dog to do anything. And this is information is not restricted to agility training. If your dog jumps, bites or just cries in the night, then there is something that you can do about it.

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Some of the main lessons for training a dog for agility, as well as a discovering the real secrets to training a dog. Learn how to deal with excessive barking, nipping or jumping, without scolding or hitting your dog.