If you wish to be taught canine agility, you’ve come to the proper place! We’ll cowl 4 fundamental steps it’s essential contemplate whenever you begin coaching your canine (and your self) to play agility. There’s no want for fancy tools to get began, all you want is your canine and your self!
Agility is a enjoyable exercise that brings pleasure to canines of all breeds and sizes. And the OneMind Canine method makes it even higher for canines and their homeowners by displaying them the best way to practice from the canine’s perspective.
How we train agility
OneMind Canine believes that each one canines converse the identical language, and it’s our job to show people the best way to “converse” it, too. Once you perceive what cues your canine instinctively understands, you can begin coaching them in a manner that’s not solely more practical however intrinsically extra rewarding.
We developed our framework from our founder’s deaf canine, Tekla, who misplaced her listening to. OneMind Canine founder and coach Janita Leinonen realized that she wanted to discover a higher technique to talk together with her canine — one which didn’t require fixed speaking and verbal cues. Watch a video about Tekla here!
Over time, Janita got here to appreciate that each one canines perceive the identical innate behaviors and mannerisms. So, she categorized this type of instinctive communication into seven essential elements. At the moment, she shares her findings with college students all around the globe, and helps them construct extra rewarding, magical connections with their canines by OneMind Canine.
Now that extra about our method, let’s speak about the best way to be taught canine agility as a newbie!
Understanding How Canine Be taught
Why doesn’t my canine hearken to me? It’s a standard query we get on a regular basis. Homeowners are following all of the directions they learn on-line, however they nonetheless can’t get their canine to reply to them on command.
You must perceive why canines hearken to us. They do it as a result of they get one thing they worth out of it, not as a result of they suppose they need to. With the intention to make coaching more practical, it’s a must to uncover what motivates your canine, and pair that together with your coaching classes.
What motivates your canine?
Some canines are extremely food-motivated, however others reply rather more to taking part in with a favourite toy or getting verbal reward. Take into consideration what will get your canine excited in on a regular basis life and that gives you a touch as to what kind of rewards they may get pleasure from (and sure, we do have college students rewarding with a hose or a fake chook on a string to make it “fly”).
When you’ve discovered what your canine really values, you’ve found the important thing to simply coaching them to do nearly something, together with agility.
Optimistic reinforcement is the way in which to go
It’s most necessary to appreciate that canines turn into extra assured by optimistic reinforcement. Coaching ought to all the time add one thing good to their lives, studying agility isn’t any totally different. Utilizing forceful strategies to attain what you need won’t ship the outcomes you’re hoping for and is a fast technique to break your canine’s belief.
As a substitute of relying closely on correction, take into consideration how one can reward your canine for the proper actions. The extra they notice, “Hey, doing this implies I get one thing superior!” the extra possible they’re to repeat fascinating behaviors.
One more reason to concentrate on optimistic reinforcement is that it builds belief. Canine won’t ever hearken to somebody they don’t belief. They received’t even be open to studying new behaviors if they’re apprehensive about being scolded or concern your response to any actions they provide.
So, success is about the way you construction coaching, not what your canine does or doesn’t do. Concentrate on how and whenever you ship rewards, the objectives you set, and the way you’re adjusting to your canine’s wants alongside the way in which.
With that in thoughts, let’s take a look at 4 methods you can begin to be taught canine agility in the present day!
1. Be taught agility by Your self or Be a part of a Group
You possibly can join an online dog agility training program like ours if you wish to begin educating your canine agility from dwelling, there’s no want for fancy tools and even to go away your yard or lounge!
You’ll get entry to over 70 brief, straightforward movies that let you know what to do and the best way to do it. They’re extraordinarily straightforward to comply with alongside, and so they’re designed to assist trainers of all ranges train their canines fundamental agility — no expertise required!
Although our program is designed to be self-guided, you’re by no means actually alone. By becoming a member of OneMind Canine, you’ll get private assist from skilled coaches alongside the way in which. You possibly can even ship in movies for suggestions to fine-tune your coaching.
Video suggestions is so useful as a result of it helps you’re all the time heading in the right direction. There’s no must second-guess your coaching. The coach can simply see what you’re doing nicely, and let you know the best way to enhance any abilities that will want work.
Right here’s a video type one in all our on-line college students:
Seize our FREE dog agility Starter Kit in the event you’re eager to be taught extra about coaching agility on-line!
For individuals who desire face-to-face coaching, you possibly can search for native agility coaching golf equipment close to you. There are various courses out there for canines of all ages and ranges. Nationwide organizations (such because the American Kennel Club in the event you’re within the USA) are additionally an important place to get info on native golf equipment.
These courses are the proper manner to your canine to fulfill new pups and so that you can join with different homeowners. Group courses additionally assist your canine learn to focus extra and ignore distractions throughout coaching.
Or, you will get better of each worlds by attending dwell courses and utilizing on-line studying to assist your progress. This manner you’ll guarantee you’re doing the most effective factor to your canine and dealing at your crew’s tempo, with assist from specialists in agility!
2. Discover a Technique that Fits You Each
Each time and wherever you practice, be sure that it feels best for you. In the event you’re not assured and pleased, your canine wont’ be both.
It’s finest to start out in a quiet, acquainted atmosphere with little to no distractions. Your lounge and yard are nice examples. Right here, your canine already is aware of what to anticipate, in order that they’ll have a a lot simpler time conserving their consideration on you.
It’s additionally a good suggestion to work from the canine’s perspective, so you possibly can create agility coaching programs which can be enjoyable and thrilling for them. OneMind Canine is concentrated on serving to you’ve got enjoyable together with your canine and strengthening your connection above all else.
In the event you discover a native membership or coach, be certain that their strategies align together with your values. Most significantly, be certain that they’re centered on constructing strong foundations and making each session enjoyable for each you and your canine!
3. Concentrate on Foundations
Agility foundations are important to assist any canine succeed. And earlier than they will begin agility outdoors of them dwelling, they should grasp some fundamental abilities. Particularly, they need to have a powerful recall (come when known as), and know the best way to concentrate on you and keep nonetheless when requested. Fortunately, you too can construct these abilities whereas studying agility foundations from dwelling, with our Foundation for Agility program.
As people, we are likely to have good visions in our thoughts, and we leap proper into issues anticipating a tremendous finish consequence. That’s not how coaching canines works.
As a substitute, begin the place your canine is, not the place you want they had been. This takes off a lot strain and stress on the each of you. As a substitute of feeling annoyed when your canine runs off or ignores a cue, you possibly can backtrack and begin at some extent they are tuning in and construct from there.
Keep in mind, agility isn’t concerning the obstacles. It’s concerning the relationship between you and your canine. Each motion you are taking as a handler needs to be performed together with your canine’s profit in thoughts.
What’s going to make them the happiest? What is going to encourage them to maintain working with me on this second?
Once you see agility handlers at competitions, they work so nicely with their canines as a result of they’ve spent a whole lot of hours working collectively. And even then, it’s not too unusual for a canine to run off observe or determine to take issues into its personal paws!
Whether or not you aspire to compete or simply wish to be taught canine agility for enjoyable, nothing is extra necessary than basis. Ensure you develop mindset from day one, so you possibly can all the time method coaching with a optimistic mindset that makes the exercise enjoyable for you and your pup.
4. Don’t Overlook Your Canine’s Perspective when studying agility
Everytime you’re planning a coaching session, take into consideration how your canine will understand the train. It’s essential perceive issues like how they interpret your physique language, and how one can train them your objectives in a manner they perceive and care about.
Quite a lot of homeowners suppose that their canine is making “errors,” however in actuality, they’re simply being canines and so they’re educating your one thing about how canines suppose and be taught. They do no matter comes naturally to them. And lots of the “errors” handlers see on an agility course are literally attributable to misdirection or miscommunication.
By refocusing in your canine’s viewpoint, you possibly can make clear duties and assist your canine keep linked to you on and off the course.
In our Agility Foundations course, we dive deeper into this idea to know the whole lot out of your canine’s eyes. Doing so helps you put together for any surprises and reply in a manner that helps your canine’s happiness. Once you be taught canine agility, it’s essential to maintain classes brief and enjoyable, watch your canine and reply to their habits. If they’re beginning to tune out, cease the session earlier than they lose motivation.
Get Began With Our Final Agility Starter Equipment in the present day!
Able to be taught agility? We’re prepared to show! Join OneMind Dogs Agility Foundations and immediately entry 70+ on-demand movies that stroll you thru coaching step-by-step.
Our program will lead you thru all of the agility fundamentals utilizing our distinctive philosophy, taught completely by knowledgeable instructors. Being a member additionally provides you entry to our coaches, who love listening to about your experiences and serving to you and your canine take advantage of out of our coaching!
Do you wish to be taught extra about agility? Fill out the shape beneath to seize our Final Agility Starter Equipment (it’s free!)
