 | Charlie Traffas has been involved in marketing, media, publishing and insurance for more than 40 years. In addition to being a fully-licensed life, health, property and casualty agent, he is also President and Owner of Chart Marketing, Inc. (CMI). CMI operates and markets several different products and services that help B2B and B2C businesses throughout the country create customers...profitably. You may contact Charlie by phone at (316) 721-9200, by e-mail at ctraffas@chartmarketing.com, or you may visit at www.chartmarketing.com. |
Pets
2007-02-01 16:23:00
Agility is fun for you and your dog
I have watched agility at dog shows and on television and it looks like a lot of fun, but is there any real benefit to doing this with my dog?
ANSWER: I believe you have answered your own question with the most important reason to do an activity with your dog: It’s FUN!!
Let’s break it down and look at the aspects that make agility so rewarding for your dog and for you. Agility is the dog equivalent of the military obstacle course for humans. To participate, your dog must learn the name for each obstacle and go there when directed. They learn to go over jumps, through tunnels and shoots, climb an A-frame, walk the dog walk, dart in and out of the weave poles, sit on a table, and go over a teeter. You are your dog’s team leader so you must run with him, telling him which obstacle to take next and keeping him on course. You are training your dog to go from couch potato to conditioned athlete. Obviously the exercise will do you good as well. Remember the adage: “If your dog is to fat you need more exercise.” Healthy dogs need a lot of exercise. Agility stimulates your dog physically and mentally. Dogs that get adequate exercise are less likely to have unwanted behaviors at home. By preventing boredom and frustration you head off destructive or aggressive behaviors that surface in dogs with little or no way to release their energy.
Agility is not only physically challenging but stimulates the mind as well. When first introduced to the agility obstacles the dog must figure out how to do things he has never done before. She must also increase her vocabulary by learning many new commands. Then, as she progresses to sequencing several obstacles in a row, your dog must process where to go when told and how to navigate while running as fast as she can. Of course you must run along, telling your dog what course to take. This means you have memorized the course well enough to remember to tell your dog which way to go. An agility course is never the same twice. You are not training a circus dog to repeat a singular performance over and over. You may have taught your dog to walk politely on a leash and some basic commands such as sit or down. Now you are asking him to take off at full speed, go exactly where you tell him, stop on the table, then take off again with 100% accuracy. This kind of team work takes time, patience and commitment. It is a fantastic way to bond with your dog while exerting your control.
Let’s recap: What are the benefits of running agility with my dog?
1. Great physical exercise for both human and canine.
2. Great mental stimulation for both team members.
3. Great way to bond between species.
4. A much more obedient dog. Best of all Agility is just GREAT FUN.
