Dogma running out of chute

Getting Started in Agility

Agility Animation

I started in 1999 and worked with Dogma almost two years before he injured himself in a game of fetch. I now have a puppy and I am already grooming her into an agility title winner. This time I'll do it right!


Yep! Here he is! Dogma running the AAC Trials on July 22, 2000!

Home

What you should know when you start agility

You really don't need to know anything but there are some things that help. Attend a competition or fun match or demo. Attend an agility class two or three times as an observer. Do you feel comfortable with the instructors and the way they teach.

What you can do before you start classes / at home training

Make a list of commands and phrases that your dog hears. You will be very surprised at how long that list is. I would often say "Get out of there" or shorten to "Out" if Dogma began to sniff in the waste basket or enter someone's yard or other area where I did not want him to go. Not even remembering this until I was getting some strange behaviour when trying to target train him to avoid obstacles using the command, out.

I try to expose him to new situations as much as possible - off-leash parks, busy streets, other dogs. This helps him adjust to new environments and experiences.

Some dogs have alot of trouble with the a-frame / wall. These same dogs may currently have problems with stairs. Practice at home on stairs, one patient step at a time saying "easy" as you go. Couple other things would be to place treats on the steps as he comes down - this will slow him down so he doesn't miss the zones.

Dogma came from an abusive home, it took a long time to build his confidence and address other issues. The issue of a handler not being "alpha" in the eyes of the dog," can be a problem. We had to be careful how we did this with Dogma, especially since his previous owner must have been male - every time my husband would say something to Dogma, Dogma would roll over and urinate. We had to build confidence in Dogma without Dogma thinking he was boss. In short -- we would praise (and treat) every time he did something right (if he was laying in a spot he should lay, etc.) we would give him guidance. Every where I went and everything I did I would tell him where to lie down, where to sit, and so on. This left no doubt in his mind at what to do - thus building confidence - but also building control (which is what agility is about) and establishing hierarchy. (Dogma knows that my husband's command overrides mine but that he still has to listen to me.)

The point above also had the benefit of calming the dog down. One exercise I would do often with him is to get him all excited then having him lie down. He would be rewarded profusely for this. When we go for walks and he used to get all excited I would get him to sit (as still as possible) while I put the leash on and then we would go. Sometimes it would take an hour before we would go out for that walk - if he didn't hold still enough for me to easily clasp the leash on then I just sat and waited until he calmed down. (Now he holds his head up for me to snap the leash on - it's so cute.) The next phase was Dogma would race out the door just about dragging me down the stairs - he was so excited and interested in everything. So back in the house we went until he would calm - or sit in front of the door - outside - until he calmed. Then we would start the walk and away he'd want to go - so I kept changing directions - suddenly I'd walk in the other direction (yes, sometimes we would spend a half hour just pacing back and forth in front of the house). But now it's paying off big time. Some people don't believe he's a springer.

Self Help Guides on Training Agility from some of my favorite sites and people
Classroom Training

What I like to do is: