Leisure Agility

Note: I am not going to be sharing training information on how to train competition agility dogs. This is just for people who want to do it leisurely without buying a lot of equipment.

INDEX

  • LEISURE AGILITY
  • NO EQUIPMENT
  • INDOOR AGILITY
  • URBAN AGILITY
  • RURAL AGILITY
  • JUMPING
  • WEAVING
  • RAMPS
  • TUNNELS
  • PAUSE BOX
  • INCORPORATING AGILITY
LEISURE AGILITY

Since there are so many different terms for "backyard agility" (urban agility, rural agility, indoor agility, etc.) I'm just going to use the word leisure. Leisure means "use of free time for enjoyment." Meaning, this is the type of agility that isn't done for competition, it's done for just your and your dog's own enjoyment.

NO EQUIPMENT

Obviously, you will need some equipment. I'm just speaking of things you can find in your home, yard, or garage. Things like broomsticks, sticks, blankets, or rocks. You will not need to buy any real agility equipment to do this. You can, but agility equipment can be expensive. To buy a set of jumps, a set of poles, a single ramp, a single tunnel, and a single pause box can be more than $1,000. And if you aren't planning to compete, there is really no reason to spend that much money on equipment, when you can find some around the city, in the woods, or in your own home.

Just use what you have, if you're just doing this for fun. I will give an example list of supplies too that you can use.

INDOOR AGILITY

Indoor agility are things you can use inside. A simple agility set can be using a table as a tunnel, a broom stacked on top of cans (just cans of food can work) as a jump, and a couch as your pause box or ramp. Real simple. Perfect for exercising a dog during rainy or snowy days.

URBAN AGILITY

You can use benches as pause boxes or ramps or even have your dog go underneath as a tunnel. You can use those poles you can find outside some stores to have your dog weave. As for a jump, you can use a walking stick/cane and stick it outward. You can also use your own leg. 

RURAL AGILITY

For jumps and ramps you can use fallen trees or logs. You can have your dog weave through trees. A pause table can be a boulder or large rock. I'm not too sure about what you could use as a tunnel, though.

JUMPING

The "Pole"
  • A broomstick
  • A cane or hiking stick
  • A mop
  • A stick you can find outside
  • A log or fallen tree
  • Your own leg
  • A horse whip
To Support the "Pole"
  • Two stacks of books
  • Two food cans
  • Two paint cans
  • Two cones
  • Two chairs
  • Two boxes
  • Holding your "pole" up with your hand
How to Train the Jump:
  1. Start with the jump real low. Less than an inch off the ground. Lure the dog over it. As the dog goes over it, mark, and give the reward after the dog already crossed the jump. Increase height gradually. 
  2. Introduce a cue. A lot of people use "jump" or "over" or "hopp." Use whatever cue you like. Before you lure the dog over, say your cue. Then lure. Eventually the dog will begin to go over the jump on verbal cue only.
  3. If you have trouble sending a dog over a jump, toss treats or toys over the jumps after you say your verbal cue.
WEAVING

Weave Poles
  • Find some sticks in the woods that are pretty long. At least a foot or more. Dig a hole in the ground and put one part of the stick in, and pack the dirt in. If the stick isn't real steady, surround the stick with rocks to keep it in place.
  • Use a set of cones. You may have to go out and buy these, but they aren't as expensive as real poles.
  • PVC pipes. There are many tutorials online on how to make DIY weave poles using these.
  • Trees. Just teach your dog to weave through trees.
  • Buckets or cans.
  • Stacked books. 
  • Your own legs. Again, many tutorials on YouTube to train the dog how to weave through your legs.
  • Those poles you can find in the city outside of some stores, as I linked in a video above. 
How to Train the Weave:
  1. Start by luring your dog through one pole. As your dog goes through it, mark, and then feed once the dog is out of the pole. Continue marking each time the dog goes through a pole and then rewarding.
  2. After your dog is understanding, add a cue. I like to use "Weave" but you can also use "Through." Say, "Weave!" as you lure the dog through the poles. Continue to reward the dog after each successful weave. The dog doesn't have to go through all the poles before he gets the reward at this point.
  3. Begin increasing criteria. Instead of getting a treat for going through one pole, have the dog weave through two poles before he gets the reward. Then three, then four, then five, and then finally, six. Eventually just reward the dog after he's already weaved through all the poles.
  4. Fade the lure. Instead of keeping the food in your hand, just use your hand to point as if you're luring the dog. Eventually, begin moving your hand further and further away from the poles until you only have to point once and then your dog does the poles on his own.
RAMPS

Your Ramps
  • Boards stacked up
  • A couch
  • A bench
  • A coffee table
  • Sturdy boxes lined up (I wouldn't use cardboard)
How to Train the Ramp
  1. Use a food reward or preferably a target stick. Lure the dog so only two feet are on the ramp. Mark and reward.
  2. Once the dog can put two feet on the ramp, try to get him to completely get on the ramp, with all four feet on it. Mark and reward when he's fully on the ramp.
  3. Get him to walk a few steps on the ramp. A lot of dogs will jump off of it at this point, but keep persisting. Even if you only get a single step forward out of the dog, mark and reward that and build up from that point.
  4. Introduce a cue. I like to use "Across." Say the cue before luring the dog. Eventually the dog will begin to anticipate going across the ramp when you say your new cue.
  5. Fade the lure. This time don't use food and just lure with a point. Eventually you will move the hand further away until the dog is no longer following your finger. 
TUNNELS

Your Tunnels
  • Underneath a table
  • A blanket draped across several chairs
  • A tent with two openings
How to Train the Tunnel
  1. This depends on what type of tunnel you're doing. If you are training the tunnel with a blanket draped across chairs, have your dog on a leash and have him in a sit-stay. Go to the other side of the tunnel and call your dog. Mark as he goes through it, and reward. The leash is on the dog initially so he doesn't try to go around the tunnel. Use the same method with the tent.
  2. If you are training the tunnel with a table, you can just lure the dog underneath the table using food or a target stick.
  3. Introduce a cue. I use "Under." Once the dog knows the cue well enough, stop with the luring and see if your dog will go through the tunnel just by you pointing at it and saying your cue. If your dog does so, jackpot. If he doesn't, go back to just luring and working on the verbal cue some more.
PAUSE BOX

Your Pause Box
  • A boulder or large rock
  • A sturdy box
  • A couch or chair
  • A coffee table
  • A bench
  • A picnic table
  • A bed (dog or human bed)
  • A rug
  • A wide and large wood board or pallet
How to Train the Pause Box:
  • Lure your dog onto the pause box. Once he's on it, mark and reward. Repeat. Introduce a verbal cue. I like to use "Place."
  • Once he's pretty familiar with the cue, stop luring. Have your dog in a sit right in front of the pause box. Then, use your verbal cue and then point to it. If your dog gets onto it, great, mark and reward. If he doesn't, lure and work on your verbal cue some more. 
  • Once your dog has grasped the concept of jumping onto the pause box (if it's elevated, such as a box or boulder) or walking onto the pause box (if it's flat, such as a rug), then teach the dog to stay on it. Use your stay command as the dog is on the box so he doesn't jump off. 
INCORPORATING AGILITY

Once the dog knows how to jump, weave, go over ramps, go through tunnels, and use a pause box, you don't even have to do real sessions. You can do these on your walks. During walks in the woods, randomly cue your dog to climb onto large rocks, jump over logs, or weave through trees. During walks in the city, have your dog weave through the city poles or through your legs, jump over your leg or cane, and climb onto benches. In your house, you can practice having your dog jump over your legs, weave through your legs, use a table as a tunnel, and the couch as a pause box or ramp.

Basically, you can just incorporate the agility into your everyday life routines without having to plan specific sessions to work on these things. The benefits are great because it increases the dog's obedience as well as providing extra exercise. Your dog will get much more exercise during walks by doing agility exercises rather than just heeling. 

This is fun and a great way to give your dog extra exercise during walks. Walks alone, especially heeling walks, don't give a dog much exercise. I once did a 3 hour hike with my dog and he wasn't even tired. But after incorporating lots of agility into his walks, he'll get tired after a 15-30 minute walk with lots of agility worked into it. Every minute or two I'll have him weave through my legs, jump over my cane, or climb on a bench or rock. This gives him great exercise during a walk. It's a great way also to keep the dog real engaged with you and focused. 

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