Agility with your dog: how to get started

A dog that still has energy to burn after the walk is a dog looking for something to do, and boredom quickly turns into a chewed-up remote control. Agility doesn’t just give the body a workout, it gives the mind one too: jumping, steering, listening for commands, all of it in partnership with you. For many owners, it soon becomes the best hour of the week.

What exactly is agility?

In agility, your dog runs a course of obstacles: a hoop to jump through, a tunnel to run through, weave poles to zigzag between, a plank to walk across. You run alongside and steer with voice and body language, your dog does the work, but you do it together, for real. Most dog training schools offer it as a standalone discipline or as part of a puppy or obedience course.

Is it something for your dog?

Most healthy dogs can take part at a recreational level, from small terrier to border collie. A few things to keep in mind:

• Age: for growing puppies, jumping and turning puts strain on joints that haven’t fully developed yet. Ask your vet when your dog is ready for it.
• Build and health: dogs with sensitive hips, backs or joints are best given a health check first.
• Temperament: a shy or sound-sensitive dog may need more time to get used to the course, that’s fine, it’s not a race.

How to get started

• Find a dog training school with agility classes nearby. An experienced instructor builds things up gradually and keeps an eye on your dog’s safety. What else to look for in a school like that is covered in choosing a dog training school: group, private or puppy.
• Basic obedience first. If “sit”, “come” and “wait” are already solid, everything else goes a lot more smoothly.
• Ask for a trial class. That way you immediately get a feel for whether the atmosphere and approach suit you both.

Getting started without any equipment

You don’t have to wait for a course to begin. You can already practise on your daily walk: let your dog step over a fallen branch, zigzag between two trees, or “wait” for a moment before getting their ball. Small and playful, just enough to put their mind to work.

Other active sports with your dog

Have more of a runner than a steerer on your hands? Take a look at jogging and obstacle training with your dog, or, once your dog is fully grown, canicross, bikejoring and scooterjoring, sports where your dog actively pulls while you run, cycle or scoot. Not sure from what age that’s allowed? Our guide on cycling and running with your dog explains the age and safety guidelines.

Find a dog training school on GoPuppy

On GoPuppy we list dog-friendly services in Belgium and the Netherlands, from dog training schools to vets. Know a school with good agility classes? Add it and help other owners find the right place.