As dog owners we often focus, rightfully so, on keeping our dogs physically fit. What we sometimes forget is that mental stimulation can be equally as important. Dog agility training is an excellent means by which to give your dog both mental and physical stimulation at the same time.

There are some basic rules around dog agility training that an owner should be aware of before starting. While it is suitable for dogs of all ages, there are some cautions to be aware of.

Younger Dogs:

Dogs under a year old should refrain from agility that involves jumps, as their joints are not yet developed enough to withstand the pressures of the jumps. They can still participate in the other training components, such as tunnels, and weave poles and as they mature they can be introduced to very low level jumps.

Younger dogs do tend to have shorter attention spans and you should keep this in mind when introducing them to any physically demanding or mentally complex training. Initial training should only be done in short spurts and include lots of praise and reward. The mental stimulation that agility training provides will help in the growth and development of your young dog and improve their ability to focus and concentrate as they mature.

Older Dogs:

Agility training is not just for young or younger dogs. It is not restricted to sporting breeds or dogs that are extremely fit. Any dog can participate in this type of activity within their individual scope of ability. Agility courses can easily be adapted to accommodate the ageing dog or dog who is working to achieve an improved level of fitness. The primary concern is around dogs who suffer from arthritis. If your dog has arthritis, but is still able to go on regular walks and master stairs then they will still be able to do agility training with some adaptations. Jumps can be lowered or removed from the course.

Recent studies show the benefits of mental stimulation on the ageing human brain and this can be parallelled to the ageing canine brain. Agility is one means of providing much needed beneficial mental stimulation to your dog.

How to get started:

A quick Internet search or call to a local pet store should provide information on dog agility training in your area. If you're uncertain as to how your dog will manage, another option is to set up a mini agility course in your own backyard.

I'm a Canadian dog lover, dog blogger, and dog enthusiast, living life to the fullest on Canada's west coast.

http://www.westcoastdogs.com