Unleashing Loki’s agility ability
Loki smiles for the camera
Loki learns jumps
Tunnel - yes!
Loki works it on the catwalk
Loki prances down the teeter totter
Loki conquers the a-frame
"I ate dirt."
July 27, 2009 -
Pet:
Have you ever watched a Border Collie bound through a set of weave poles in seconds flat? Their speed and endurance is nothing short of spectacular! I always wondered how agility handlers trained their dogs to fly so fluently through tunnels and jumps without distraction. This spring I experienced the rush of my life as I directed my 7-pound Japanese Chin to run through an entire agility course unleashed and uninterrupted.
Agility is a sport in which you direct your dog through an obstacle course in a race for both time and accuracy. Some participate for fun, while others do so for competition. My favorite aspect of this challenging sport is how much it improves the communication you have with your dog. Plus, it’s a great way to increase (or decrease!) your dog’s confidence while burning off some extra energy at the same time.
I was pleasantly surprised at how well Loki took to the obstacle course from the get-go. He seemed to really enjoy the challenges the obstacles posed—and the hot dogs didn’t hurt either! From walking the “catwalk” to the weave poles and teeter-totter, he was able to complete all the obstacles in unison by the end of the course.
Prior to taking the course Loki had a fear of large dogs. So, one of the reasons I involved him in the sport was to increase his confidence. Loki was the smallest dog in his class, which exposed him to a lot of large dogs in a controlled situation. To my surprise, now he is playful and excited when we approach larger dogs.
We took our classes at Partners Dog Training in Cave Creek, Arizona. They have a fabulous facility and really gave us a lot of personal attention throughout the course. If you think your dog would excel at agility, or if you just want to learn more, check out the United States Dog Agility Association for information about dog agility in your area.
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