Dog agility is an excellent activity to exercise and have fun with your four-legged friend. So you shouldn’t be surprised if I tell you it’s one of the most popular canine sports in the US. But to compete in official events, there are many things you have to do.
First of all, training is essential for your dog to follow your directions through an obstacle course. Working on his obedience, introducing him to the equipment, and improving his agility skills can be very time-consuming.
Before getting started, you have the right to know how long it will take to prepare him for this sport?
In general, it can take between 1 and 2 years to train your dog for agility. If he’s smart and you are an experienced handler, he might be able to start competing after 6 to 12 months of training. On the other hand, a beginner can take over 2 years to train an agility dog for his first official trial.
Thus, you should be ready to put a lot of time into this sport before participating in events. I’ve also found some safe ways to make your dog learn faster in agility training sessions.
Here’s everything you should know about how long it can take to teach him what he needs to compete.
Why It’s So Long To Train A Dog For Agility?
From obedience to focus, passing by obstacles on the course, there are many skills for your dog to master. Therefore, you can’t expect him to learn all the stuff in a few weeks or even months.
Too much or intensive training can also be harmful to your dog. So please respect his limits and let him time to improve his performance on the course. Otherwise, you might hurt him or take the fun out of this activity.
Agility training isn’t a sprint. It’s a marathon. People that are here for the long run will thrive and progress gradually but surely. It’s also an excellent way to not focus on the finish line and enjoy the whole process more.
What Can Influence How Long Training An Agility Dog Takes?
Since all dogs are unique, it’s normal for them to have different learning paces. But it’s not the only factor that comes into play. Thus, here are 4 things that will give you a better idea of how long it can take to train your dog for agility.
Your Handling Skills.
The more experience you have training dogs or with the sport of agility, the faster it will be. If you’re just getting started, you have to learn many skills at the same time before putting them into practice.
That’s why it can take much more time to prepare your dog than if you were an expert trainer. People with a handling background have a good head start.
Your Dog’s Trainability.
Some breeds are less difficult to condition for agility than others, and it’s not all about intelligence. Their ability to focus, eagerness to please, and many other elements can influence their trainability.
If your dog can work cooperatively with humans, it will be quick and easy to teach him new skills. On the other hand, he might be very independent and stubborn.
With a student of this type, it will take more time to prepare him for his first agility trial.
The Training Method You Choose.
Everyone has a unique way to teach new things to his dog, and some techniques are more effective than others. If you’re able to keep him focused and engaged during your training sessions, it can speed up the process.
Without prior experience in preparation for dog agility, you might not even know where to start. That’s where taking an introduction class can become an excellent idea. Learning from professionals will help you train your dog more efficiently.
The Time You Have To Train Your Dog.
Your pet is probably not the only responsibility you have in your busy life. With work, school, family, personal projects, and all the other stuff you need to care for, it’s not always easy to find time for agility training.
But some people can devote more of their free time to this activity. As for anything else, practice is the key to success. The more you (or your dog) do something, the better you (or he) will become at it.
Let’s say you only have 3 or 4 hours per week available for agility training. Someone that has 6 to 8 hours can progress twice as fast as you do.
Nonetheless, it’s not a universal rule because too much training can be as harmful or ineffective as not enough. Therefore, it’s essential to find a good balance that respects your dog’s conditions and limits.
Is Your Dog Ready For His First Agility Trial?
Now you may wonder when your dog will be ready to compete. With all the factors that can impact how long it takes, time isn’t an accurate indicator.
You must base your decision on reliable criteria to make sure everyone is ready. The time will come to participate in an agility event once you meet specific conditions.
Obedience Training. (Control)
To participate in events, your dog must be well-trained. You need to have control over him on the course and in public not to disturb other teams when they perform. Otherwise, your first experience won’t be fun for either of you.
That’s why your dog needs to be obedient before competing in agility. Don’t forget that you have to stay connected with him for around 2 minutes on the course without any leash, food, or toy. So don’t sign up for your first trial if you can’t keep your teammate under control.
Agility Performance. (Obstacles)
Your dog should master the whole course to participate in official events. From bar hurdles to tunnels passing by weave poles, he must understand clearly each obstacle.
No one is perfect on his first agility trial, but it’s not the right time for introducing your dog to new pieces of equipment. For example, contact obstacles (A-Frame, Dog Walk & See-Saw) are commonly on beginner courses. So don’t forget to train him for them too.
Handling Skills. (Communication)
If you’re not confident about your capacity to lead your dog on the agility course, you’re probably not ready yet. Without any effective means of communication, it’s not a good idea to participate in events.
Just make sure your dog is well trained and prepared for this sport. You also need to know what he’s capable of and which commands you will need on the course. Then, you should be able to know when your team ready to compete.
Focus On Course. (Socialization)
Another essential condition to meet for participating in public events is to be sure at 100% it’s safe to unleash your dog in an unfamiliar environment full of distractions. If you can’t keep his focus on you around other pets and people, he’s not ready for an agility trial.
That’s why joining a club might be helpful to prepare your dog for his first event. Running through an obstacle course in your backyard might be easy for him. But it’s nothing compared to doing it in a busy and noisy place.
Your dog also needs to be old enough before competing in agility. Otherwise, the AKC and most other organizations won’t let him sign up.
Besides the rules, it’s not safe for him to run and jump through an obstacle course. Here’s more information to help you understand at what age you should start training your dog for agility!
How To Make Your Dog Progress Faster In Agility Training?
There are many ways to speed up the process a little bit if you want to. You only need to play with the 4 criteria that influence how long it takes to train your agility dog.
For example, you can select an athletic and intelligent breed that excels at this sport, such as the Border Collie. If you already have a dog, taking a class or working with a professional can help you develop your handling skills faster.
Unfortunately, there’s no secret or shortcut to take. Agility training is all about consistency, patience, and determination. If you put in enough time and work, it will pay off!
Last Thoughts About How Long To Train An Agility Dog!
If you want to get into this dog sport, there’s a lot of preparation ahead of you. With all the training, equipment, and skills necessary, it can take a long time before you participate in agility events. But it will be worth all the fun you will have together on the course.
I hope my article helps you have a better idea of what to expect. Training your dog can take anywhere from 1 to 2 years. Now it’s time to take action because the more you wait, the longer you push the date of your first agility trial.
Good Training & Have Fun!
I’ve found a lot of information on this forum to help me write this article. Feel free to check it out.
You can also start training your dog for agility now!
