There is no doubt I have enjoyed getting into agility with Karma. While at first glance he is an unlikely breed to be hurling himself over obstacles, he is actually quite athletic and fast – proof that you can’t judge athleticism by the breed!
If you are interested in giving your dog another challenge, agility could be a fun way to go. If you have a puppy or a dog who isn’t full grown, please check with your vet before asking your dog to jump, climb or weave since stress on growing bones can be damaging.
Also, I strongly encourage enrolling in a class or two to learn the basics about introducing your dog to obstacles. Of course I am partial to Karma’s “school,” A Click Above, but there are many who are qualified to give you the basics. Who knows, you may get bitten by the agility bug as we have been and work towards trialing.
For gear, there are LOTS of choices! I have chosen to include just a few including a basics starter kit that may be just right for your backyard. As with anything, you can spend as much as you want and quality will vary so be sure to get the right gear for your purpose!
Clean Run – This is such a go-to for serious enthusiasts!
J&J Dog Supplies – Great for all types of supplies!
Doctors Fosters & Smith – Lower-end agility products, but a great all-around site!
Julie,
Not sure Cannon could control his excitement off leash with other dogs around. Are there other basic obedience classes that are required before you begin agility?
– Katina
That’s a great point. We did have some basic obedience first and so Karma got used to working in a group of other dogs and people.
At ACA, the foundation classes are on-leash mostly. When you get into the “handling” classes where you start to learn to do sequences, your dog is off leash while others are on leash.
Yes, we had a few episodes where Karma decided to ignore the jumps in favor of other dogs! I was mortified, he was in heaven! The trick to this and everything else is convincing your dog that you are in fact the coolest. I did that by having a squeeky toy at the ready whenever he would get the urge – it worked!
- Julie