When a dog is being trained for agility, he is most likely to face hurdles and other obstacles in a race against time. This type of training can be performed on isolated and unique obstacles, or a combination of several obstacles that compose a track. Most trainers prefer the obstacle course as opposed to training dog on single obstacles at a time. Additionally, it has become a custom for dog trainers to train only their own dogs for competition, given that they grow very attached to them, which later results in having a hard time letting go.

Training dogs for agility competition has made a niche of its own. It is likely that most handlers will have some experience with dog obedience and show type competitions, but not obstacle races. Much like the captain of a bobsled competition, the trainer must study the track and the challenges it holds, in order to better prepare his dog for the task. It is essential, that the dog is able to train, testing his skills on obstacle courses. Of course, the training course will need to resemble the challenges of the track in the competition, and even place some emphasis on hurdles where the dog needs to work on.

Clubs where these tracks are located often feature a head coach who calls the shots. This handler will usually have a keen eye when observing your dog, and provide some advice regarding his performance. The track at the club is separated in different sections, with each section concentrating on a certain ability, like speed, or jumps. The head handler on site will probably suggest the most appropriate section for you to work on. Your dogs experience is also a factor, as it is unlikely that the handler will allow a novice to stand in the way of the more experienced animals getting ready for competition.

In the past, dog competitions where limited to show, similar to a beauty contest and dog obedience. Any trainer could easily cover these areas when preparing a dog for such events. Today, dog competitions have developed, including more activities such as agility and Flyball, which has become very popular in the United Kingdom. Thus, the same dog trainer that could probably do a good job preparing a dog for obedience, could lack the experience necessary to train the dog for obstacle courses. Your pet could do wonders in the field, but to that he will not only need a good handler, but a course to train in.

Nobody can deny that the kind of show which broke ground in terms of dog competitions which attracted thousands to their events are the dog fashion shows. Thanks to them, people became more interested in training their pets and showing them off at these fashion shows. Furthermore, this same crowd’s interest continued to grow, and thus, made way for organizers to come up with agility competitions. The action ingredient added to these events appeal to a much larger audience, attracting even more people and complementing the dog fashion shows with a good dose of action and adventure.