Dogs are naturally agile and fast. But why is there such a thing as dog agility training? What is really in the dog agility training that dogs need to learn? In order to be able to answer these questions that tickle your curiosity, you need to know what dog agility training is for.

The dog's athletic capabilities come out naturally even on ordinary days and ordinary circumstances. Their physical structure gives them the ability to run, jump, and do stunts that only dogs can perform. Dog agility training is therefore more than just jumping and running, as it involves teaching your dog to perform particular tasks at the word of its master and do the task in the shortest possible time and in a specific way.

The dog agility training is specifically intended for dogs that are featured in dog shows. Hence, the dog should be trained to perform tasks according to the show's rules and requirements. Learning to perform the tricks involved in dog shows is not all there is in a dog agility training; as the dog should be taught to do them as its master tells it to in certain ways as quickly as possible.

Preparing Your Dog for Agility Training

Dog agility trainings are usually conducted in dog training schools. Witnessing dogs taught to perform their tricks during these dog agility training sessions is really worthwhile and enjoyable. If you are really interested in signing your dog up for this regimen, you need to consider a lot of things.

One of the things to take into consideration is that dog training schools will only accept dogs that are at least 18 months old. The reason for this is that dogs below 18 months old are still in the process of growing up. The schools don't want to stop or retard the dog's growth by subjecting them to rigorous activities. Another point to consider is your dog's physical attributes, as smaller dogs with shorter legs could possibly not perform as well in jumps while large dogs may not be able to excel in tunnels.

For example, a dog with shorter legs with can not perform as well as taller dogs in jumping to reach certain things while bigger dogs may not be able to perform as well in working through tunnels and holes.

Many dog owners presume that dog agility training involves lots of punishments if the dog cannot perform as expected, but training experts think otherwise. They believe that dogs perform better if you lavish it with rewards if it performs its job well.

Rewarding your dog with treats like physical attention or by giving it its favorite playtime or toy for a job well done will register in the dog's mind; doing it can surely encourage your dog to do good each time it is instructed to do something, because it expects something good. Dog agility training, when done in a way that is fun and exciting will surely give both the dog and its owner a very rewarding experience.

Be Realistic

Being realistic is one of the main ingredients that will make you persevere with the training. You should understand that not all dogs are the same, and they have different levels of intelligence; and the length of time that they spend to learn certain skills vary from one another. Just be realistic and sensitive to your dog's dog reactions so that you can understand

It is good to expect and be optimistic, but being realistic to specific situations is the best way to be flexible with your dog's responses.

Stan Beck is an experienced dog training professional who has put his years of experience into a Dog Training Guide to help dog owners with their dog training needs. He also maintains a dog training website where you can get useful tips that can help you make your dog training job simpler and more practical.

Written by Stan Beck using tags: agility-pet-urns, dog agility training, Pets

Most of us think about bathing dogs in one of two ways. Either we believe that dogs nearly never need bathing, or we fall in with the people who feel a dog should be bathed once a month or even more often. The truth is somewhere between the two.

Bathing is really good for dogs, but it may cause problems if you do it too much.

This is because dogs have natural skin and fur oils, the same way that people do. If you bathe your dogs too frequently, their skin will become dry and itchy. This creates a risk of scratching and breaking skin. Remember that the natural oils really are beneficial, and that they protect your dog from many things.

If you want to make bathing fun for you and your dog, there are a few things to pay attention to.

1. Ear protection is important for your dog in the bath. If the ear canal gets soap and water in it, an infection could occur. This could be temporary, but serious damage could also occur. Infections can cause harm to the ear drum, leading to possible deafness. Some signs that your dog could be suffering from an ear infection, he may shake his head often or develop a discharge from his ears.

If you want to make sure this doesn't happen, plug your dog's ears with cotton. Do this gently - never force the cotton into the ear. Just place it securely at the entrance of the ear to keep water out. Dry the ears gently when the bath is over, too. This can be done using a cloth on your finger. You can also use a cotton swab, but don't do this too deeply. You could cause damage to the ear drum.

2. Use a shampoo intended for dogs. These are made to protect your pet's fur and skin. Soaps meant for people can be irritating and harsh. There's also a chance your dog will be allergic to the perfumes in human products.

3. How often you bathe your dog should depend in part on what breed he is. Longer haired dogs need more washing than shorter haired breeds. If you have a hairy dog, like a spaniel, baths should be scheduled once every two months or so. Different breeds may go as long as six to eight months. If your dog spends lots of time outside, he'll get dirty more quickly, so pay attention to this.

Start your dog off correctly when it comes to bathing and bathtime. Patience and compassion can be very important since a dog that's frightened will be harder to bathe. Make the process fun - the majority of dogs enjoy getting wet, after all.

Set the bath up outside when you can, and encourage your pet to run through it. Distract your pet from the water with a toy or two, and once your pet calms down, you can start the bath. Some people use a leash to keep their dog from running off.

When you bathe your pet, get the shampoo, towel, soap and other tools together early, and avoid using the hose. Water from the garden hose is usually too cold. Use a bowl with water from the bath instead - it'll be warmer.

If you teach your dog that bathing is fun and enjoyable, he'll be excited about the prospect.

It's also important to look into the right dog training tools to make sure your dog behaves the way you want him or her to. Click Here for a proven dog training program that you can start using today to improve your relationship with your pet!

categories: bathing a dog,how to bathe a dog,dog training,how to train your dog,dog training tools,dog agility training,best dog training,dog training program,dogs,pets

Written by Cliff Stone using tags: bathing a dog, best dog training, dog agility training, dog training, dog training program, dog training tools, Dogs, how to bathe a dog, how to train your dog, Pets