Dog agility is not just about exercising your dog. It provides great mental stimulation and also builds confidence and trust.
Socializing your dog is extremely important. Many people make the mistake of thinking that this just refers to letting their dogs meet other dogs; this is only the beginning. Agility plays a large part in socializing your dog to different objects, smells and surfaces. Dogs don’t instinctively jump through tyres nor do they see a set of weave poles and think, “yes, I’ll run in between them.” Most dogs need to be shown that it is OK and safe. They have to deal with some strange and unfamiliar objects – wait till you see some of pictures below. They are also have to cope with other dogs working nearby.
Dog Agility plays an important role in obedience and general training too. As you train your dog to use the course they have to learn to focus on you and listen to commands and watch you hand signals. It is also done on leash so you have all the control over your dog.
Challenges are placed in front of the dogs in the form of pieces of equipment. The dog is shown that there is no danger and that if they have a go, their courage will be rewarded with a treat or a pat. As they become more skilled, the reward alone is completing the course.
There is no need for harsh corrections or punishing your dog at all. If your dog doesn’t do as you ask, they have to repeat the task – there’s no reward. I use my voice and if they are straying to wide or aren’t doing something I want them to, I say “Ahh!” in a stern voice. If they do it right, it’s “good dog!” in a higher voice.
Each specific piece of equipment plays a role in these areas. Below is a description and an explanation of the role agility plays in training your dog.
Tyre
The dog is required to jump through the tyre without knocking it. The dog learns balance and how to judge the distance of the hole so its head, back, tail and paws come through. We have tyres of different size and differing challenges. To coach a dog through it is best to put the leash through and call the dog so it can follow the leash. When we are teaching a dog for the first time, an instructor will gently lift the dog’s front paws onto the tyre and hold them there until they jump through of their own accord.
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Triple jump
Messy Pawz Dog Training triple jumps are bright and interesting and each one of the ends are painted to represent the six dogs in the Messy Pawz family. The poles sit in a bracket and can be knocked out easily causing less pain if the dog hits them. The dogs are encouraged to hop or step over each jump, the challenge lies in them learning that they have back legs and if they don’t become aware of them they will knock the jumps over. The ends are also high and wide and many of the smaller breeds can’t see over them providing them with a further challenge of having to run between these ‘walls’ until they are safe on the other side.
A-Frame
A-frames come in various heights. They are nearly always made from a metal frame and wooden boards. They have special grip paint and runners to help the dogs climb. Climbing the A-frame strengthens your dog’s front legs and chest muscles. There are also contact points at the end of it which is a coloured band. The dogs are not allowed off the A-frame unless their front paws have touched this area: This is to stop dogs jumping off mid way and hurting themselves. It’s also a training issue. Agility dogs have to follow their owner’s commands to the letter for their own safety. One interesting aspect of the A-frame that recently occurred to me is that we know that there is another side; our dogs don’t. Imagine standing at the bottom and being command to run up a high board and not knowing what lies on the other side. We gently take the dog over the A-frame with one hand on its collar and one under its abdomen. This way we are showing the dog that there is nothing to be afraid of. This increases its confidence and its trust in us as instructors and, of course, its owner too.
Tunnel
Our tunnels are made of nylon and can be made long or short. One has two ends to keep it still and pegs for the body of the tunnel. The end supports are designed so that it looks like the dogs are running through the legs of the dog catcher and out the back of the dog catcher’s van. For some breeds the tunnel is so easy. Breeds that are meant to go into dark tunnels and ferret out rabbits, foxes and of course, ferrets. Jack Russells and Fox Terriers don’t even blink when it comes to the tunnel. Other breeds are not as confident. We take a very special approach to getting the dogs into the tunnel that works first time with over 99% of dogs. The ones that won’t go through are ones that already have significant trust issues with their owners. Once a dog has gone through the tunnel and gotten over its fear, it will go through over and over again.
Chute
The chute is a nylon tunnel that measures 60 cm or 2 feet. It has a sock attached that is 5 metres long. The sock is made of a soft nylon material. The challenge for the dog is to not only go through the tunnel but be prepared to run blind through the sock until they come through the other end. We have a special method of getting the dogs through which involves rolling the sock up and getting the dogs used to walking on the soft nylon and having it brush over their heads and backs. The owners are at the end calling them through and our staff are at either end guiding the dog. As with the tunnel, once the dog realizes that there aren’t any real dangers they are more than happy to run through. This poses another challenge for the owner: that is being able to catch them at the other end!
Weave Poles
Weave poles can come in many different designs. There are four to six poles to a set. By training your dogs to ‘weave’ you are asking them to think. The dogs are not allowed to miss a pole. They must follow the owner’s commands at all times. If they are allowed to miss one pole when they choose, they will extend this to other pieces of equipment and you may also have problems with discipline at home. While there is nothing to fear about weave poles, there is a higher level of discipline required.
See Saw
See Saws or Teeter Tots are available in many different lengths. They are mainly made of wood but there are also plastic ones available on the market now. There are a number of challenges presented when training to use the see saw. This is another piece of equipment where the dog learns it’s got back legs and it needs to have all four paws on the board before it can go any further. The see saw moves and this can be a challenge for most dogs who are fearful about walking on a surface that moves under them. When the see saw tips downwards and lands on the ground it makes a bang or thud noise. This can also alarm a dog. When training to use the see saw it is important that the dog is taken over it very slowly and carefully. When the platform has landed we make the dogs wait and give them a pat. We then make sure they come off the see saw in the proper way. Many dog owners will rush their dog over it and cause the dog to lose its footing or get a fright from the movement. This may cause the dog’s fear to return and may take several months of re-training to re-establish the dog’s confidence.
Dog Walk
The dog walk offers an interesting combination of climbing up one side; walking safely along the top and climbing safely down the other side. They are often made of wood and the height is adjustable. The more experienced dogs will sit, drop and turn around at the top and race up and along its platforms. Dogs learn to balance and watch where all their legs are. If a back leg slips off the edge it can undermine the dog’s confidence and result in a fall. For this reason, it is recommended that the walk be done very slowly.
Broad Jumps
These are wide jumps that are low to the ground. There are some that are manufactured to come apart so you can train your dog to jump over the pieces as you put them together to make the jump longer. Our broad jumps are made of wood and offer a different type of surface to walk on and jump over. They are also hollow and make a thud which once again, presents an unusual item that the dog must learn to walk on.
Kennel Jump
The kennel jump was especially designed for Messy Pawz Dog Training. It’s the shape of a kennel with a platform on either side. The dogs learn to step up, through and jump off the platform at the back which is removable for large dogs. It is made of wood with a metal frame. The dog learns to step on and up an unusually shaped object and learn to trust that it will be ok.
Double Jump
Our double jump higher when needed. The double jump is for experienced dogs that are over 12 months. Dogs under 12 months shouldn’t be doing any jumping because they have lots of fine bones in their paws and can do a lot of damage if they fall the wrong way. Giant and large breed dogs shouldn’t do any jumping until 18 months or even 2 years.
Pole
The pole is one of our obedience stations. You are required to train your dog to go around the pole and then come back and sit at your left hand side. The best way to accomplish it is to take your dog around the pole slowly and show him or her what you want them to do while they are on leash.
Pawz Table
Pawz Tables come in different shapes and sizes. We use two and sit them side by side so the dogs learn to hop up onto one, then the other. They are sturdy and adjustable. Once the dog is on the table you can command them to sit, drop or stay. It is a good way to take a breath on the course, too.
Hoops
We use the hoops in a different ways. They represent another of our obedience stations. The goal is to be able to put your dog in a sit or a drop and lower the hoops over him or her. Sounds simple doesn’t it? It can be quite difficult for a dog that isn’t used to having something lowered over its head. To begin with it is best to just place the hoops some of the way over the dog and gradually over time, increase how far you can lower the hoops. As you can see from this photo, Rocky quite enjoys having them lowered over him.
The Aussie Crawler
This is great training device for older dogs. The dogs are taught to crawl under the mess top. The sides are open so that the leash can be passed through. Pictured left this one is set at it's highest adjustment for larger dogs.
The Elvis Rocker
This is a fun training tool. It teaches the dog to balance and concentrate. As the dog puts its weight on one end, the other end lifts. Dogs are taught to stay focused while completing the Elvis Rocker. The one pictured on the right is a small, We also have a larger one on our advanced course that rises to over 40 cm when the dog places their front feet on one end.
Ladder
The ladder doesn't look too complex but it has a 15 cm rise at one end which poses a challenge for most dogs. The dogs are required to walk across it by placing one paw after another in between the rungs. They are not allowed to jump off at any point. Most try to hop off at the second last rung because the height is increasing and they are not sure what to do. With gentle guidance, the dogs are made to walk the entire length. It teaches them balance and that they have back legs!
Panel Jump
This is one of our newest jumps. It is a frame that holds up to four panels stacked one on top of the other. The height can be adjusted depending upon the size and the age of the dog. It is a very easy jump to train because the obstacle is solid. Other jumps that only have poles as jumps offer the opportunity for the dog to go under rather than over it.
How to avoid Problems
The best way to avoid most problems at Dog Agility is to begin your training slowly and carefully. Traditionally agility is done off leash so you would have to have reasonable control over your dog. We do it on leash so that you can control your dog at all times, especially in the early stages of training. This also means that any dog of any age can do agility regardless of any prior training.
Dogs are often hurt because they rush onto a piece of equipment and slip off. Correction collars are not allowed because if a dog does slip, the owners will instinctively pull and cause damage to the dog’s neck and throat.
If a dog does hurt itself it may become fearful and refuse to complete the course. All dogs can be re-trained to overcome this fear though depending upon the dog and its level of training.
Is Agility for You and Your Dog?
Yes, yes, yes!! If you and your dog are fit enough to walk quickly and enjoy spending time with each other and other people who love their dogs then Messy Pawz Dog Training is for you. If your dog has a reoccurring injury then speak to your vet beforehand. All dogs are welcome. Our dogs started their training at 8 and 10 weeks of age. There isn’t a dog that doesn’t enjoy the challenges that Dog Agility offers and confidence meeting those challenges brings
For more information go to: Messy Pawz Dog Agility
or email: messy_pawz1@bigpond.com
or text your name, contact number and a time that suits to 0421 582 067
Dog Agility Equipment
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Eddie flying through the big tyre jump
Elmo on the A-frame and it was only his second visit to our training centre.
...Through the dog cathcher's legs and... out the back of his van..
Cooper getting a helping hand out of the chute sock.
Luring is the best method to train your dog through the weave poles.
Charlie having a rest on the see saw!
Raphael getting being shown how to use the Kennel Jump.
Rocky goes around the pole.
Rocky seems to be laughing about having the hoops put over him.
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Alfie coming down from the dog walk; nice and gently big fella!
This is our larger double jump. It is designed to offer a challenge for the more experience dogs. We also have a smaller one for beginners and young dogs.
Alfie testing the ladder at home in the driveway.
Olive, the French Bulldog, successfully flys over the panel jump in her Santa coat!
