How to Start Agility Training at Home With Your Dog

How to Start Agility Training at Home With Your Dog

Teach your old (or young) dog some new tricks on an agility course. Don’t worry — despite what you see on televised competitions, your pet doesn’t need to be super fit or very fast to take advantage of this fun form of exercise. “Agility can be really basic and can be done at home,” says Erin Askeland, an animal health and behavior expert at dog training and boarding company Camp Bow Wow. “It doesn’t have to be at a high level to have the benefits.”

Indeed, agility training can be a rewarding form of exercise and interaction for all dogs, regardless of size, age or breed. Case in point: Colleen Demling-Riley, founder of dog training company Pawtopia, recently watched a basset hound take on an agility course. “He slowly walked around the course, trampled a jump and moseyed through the tunnel. But in his mind, he was going so fast!” she says, and his joy was apparent.

So, even if your pup is more of a snuggle bug than an athlete, give agility work a try. It’s a way for dogs to get exercise that’s more than just walking around the block, and it teaches them how to interact with objects in a new way, both physically and mentally. Plus, it gives a massive boost to the communication between you and your pet, since it forces you to rely on each other to accomplish the goals of the course.

Training a dog on a course doesn’t take that long — beginners (those who are not hitting the course regularly) need to do it for only about five to 10 minutes a day, or 20 minutes a couple of days a week.

“Most dogs won’t be running around like mad for an hour,” Askeland says. The best obstacle to begin with is something low, especially if you’ve got a puppy who may not yet have fully formed bones or joints. Something the dog can step over, instead of jumping, is a great start. So is a short tunnel, or small traffic cones instead of weave poles. Once they successfully make it through their first obstacle, you’ll see the other huge benefit of agility training: confidence. “Kind of like when a young kid gets their first home run, dogs feel joy when they finally master an obstacle that’s been hard for them like a weave pole or a tunnel,” Demling-Riley says. “You can see that they’re suddenly like, ‘Nailed it!’ ”

Before you start agility training, take your pup to the vet for a checkup to be certain that it’s all right for them to try it. Make sure you have a space to work in that is enclosed, flat and safe — it could be a fenced-in backyard or even a room with the furniture pushed to the side. As your dog improves, you’ll eventually want to take them off-leash for the obstacles, though not every dog behaves well when off-leash.

Also, agility training should be fun for your dog. If at any time they look like they’re in distress, you should stop immediately.

How to start agility training

Find a Class

For the most structured agility option, look for a class or a trainer in your area. Pet shops may have beginner classes to introduce your dog to the sport, but you can also search the American Kennel Club’s website for local agility clubs. Askeland and Demling-Riley suggest visiting a class before committing: Both you and your dog should feel comfortable with the trainer.

Make Your Own

Askeland and Demling-Riley say cardboard boxes are perfect for creating agility obstacles. Open both ends of a box to make a tunnel, or set up smaller boxes to act like weave poles. You can also use a plastic hoop as a low jump and a dog bed as an impromptu pause platform (a spot where a pup stands still for a few seconds).

Set Up in Your Backyard

To get you started with agility training on professional equipment, you can find entire courses (including jumps, tunnels, poles and platforms) online at sites. Read the reviews first — you want your selection to be safe for your pet. Here are a few favorites:

On Sale

Dog Agility Hurdle Cone Set

TRIXIE Dog Agility Hurdle Cone Set

Now 18% Off

Credit: Amazon
On Sale

Zip & Zoom Outdoor Dog Agility Training Kit

Outward Hound Zip & Zoom Outdoor Dog Agility Training Kit

Now 38% Off

Credit: Amazon
On Sale

Wooden Dog Agility Seesaw

PawHut Wooden Dog Agility Seesaw

Now 25% Off

Credit: Amazon
7 Piece Deluxe Dog Agility Equipment Set
Better Sporting Dogs 7 Piece Deluxe Dog Agility Equipment Set
Credit: Chewy

This story originally appeared in the September 2024 issue of Good Housekeeping.

Headshot of Jennifer Billock

Jennifer Billock is an award-winning writer, bestselling author, and editor of the Kitchen Witch Newsletter. She is currently dreaming of an around-the-world trip with her Boston terrier. Check out her website at jenniferbillock.com.

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