What Are The Benefits Of Agility Training For Your Rottweiler?
Dog agility is a relatively new competitive dog sport in which a handler has to direct their dog through an obstacle course. The dog and owner are tests for speed and accuracy.
In simple terms, the obstacles course is made up of different size obstacles, set out in an area of a specific size.
No leashes are allowed for control of the dog and toys and food for encouraging the dog. The handler is forbidden to touch the dog or any of the obstacles. The only option for directing the dog is that the handler must use only their voice, body movements and hand signals. This requires a lot of training to achieve for both dog and owner.
Let us take a look at how Agility Training is carried out with Rottweilers.
What is agility training?
Dog agility training is a very young competitive dog sport. Starting in the UK in the late ’70s, the competition took off around the world, especially places like Canada and the US.
The goal for any dog agility training is to be the fastest dog and handler team to complete the course without being disqualified.
Agility Training is both mentally and physically challenging for the dog and the handler, so peak physical fitness is needed in the dog/Handler and also excellent teamwork.
This sport is like the Olympics for dogs, so a lot of training is needed to get a strong bond between handler and dog. During the competition, the dog will have only the direction, and the signals from the handler, so practice in agility is a must. Teaching your Rottweiler to walk on a leash is key to training
The Obstacle course
The agility course is made up of a set of specific sizes of obstacles. This will be laid out by a judge in a design of their choosing, in an area of a particular size.
The surface may be grass, dirt, rubber matting. Specific competitions the obstacle course may be marked with numbers indicating the order in which it must be completed.
The course itself is designed to be complicated enough that a dog couldn’t do it alone. Firstly the handler must assess the course then decided how they will direct the dog through the obstacle course.
During the competition, they must guide the dog through the course with both precision and speed. Different strategies exist to compensate for the difference in the handler and dog team.
Health benefits for your Rottweiler
• It fulfills your dog’s instincts
Ancient wild dogs were natural hunters. Chasing and running were the norm. Often they would have to pursue rabbits or foxes through forests and navigate around specific barriers.
• It’s an excellent exercise for your dog
Agility training is a unique way to exercise your dog. Using the obstacle course will keep your dog in top condition and help improve his body and also challenge his mind.
• Agility will improve your fitness
As the handler, you will be directing your dog around and over obstacles. You’ll constantly be moving alongside your dog as fast as you both can. This will be an excellent work out for your heart, improve your overall fitness.
• Agility helps strengthen the bond between handler and dog
Agility courses are complicated enough so a dog couldn’t complete it on their own. The dog must rely on the voice and hand instructions from the handler so that he can complete the course correctly. This trust between dog and handler will be improved, as helping your dog pass through obstacles will reinforce basic obedience, improving overall communication with your dog. Rottweilers make great service dogs
When to start agility Training your Rottweiler
Your Rottweiler will need to have some basic obedience training first before she starts agility. She’ll have to know how to sit and stay, and to focus on you at the minimum. Puppy training can begin once she has had her puppy vaccinations. Look for agility for dog classes near me if you are looking for agility class to enroll your Rottweiler in.
The natural temperament of a Rottweiler makes them ideal at obedience work and agility training. But the first step in any discipline with the Rottweiler is to get the basic obedience down.
Some Rottweilers can learn new commands in less than five repetitive training sessions. This puts them in the top 10 most intelligent breeds, as ranked by professional dog experts.
Apart from that, you’re all ready to go. Rottweilers are one of the most natural breeds to train.
They’re very smart and willing to please their owners. If trained correctly, they tend to be calmer, patient and more focused than many other breeds, even as tiny puppies.
The benefits of going to agility training are high, and it’ll improve your owner-dog relationship significantly.
Conclusion
Agility training your Rottweiler is like training any other dog. Your Rottweiler won’t be the fastest dog, but if you teach him well, he might improve. Also, feeding your dog a good dog food is important
Dog sports overall are great for you and the dog. It’s like any other hobby, but you and your best friend get to improve your overall relationship and both improve your mind and body. It’s a fun and rewarding process to go through together.
If your Rottweiler is hyper all the time, then dog agility training could be a way to burn off all that excess energy. He will learn to improve his mental abilities as well as improving his overall health and fitness.
If you want to get in to this great sport, get in touch with your local dog training centre. Both AKC & CKC have great sports you can enter. Dog parks in MS or Dog parks in LA are great places to start.