Dog agility training is a separate endeavor from basic dog obedience training, but it is a lot of fun for dog and owner. If you have not heard of it until now it is more of a sport then anything else. It is becoming more and more popular in the U.S. right now and its origins are in the Britain where it is extremely popular.

A dog agility event consists of a number of different agility courses which your dog must navigate successfully. Each course has a set number of obstacles, normally around 26 per course. There are two criteria that must be accomplished when it comes to placing during a dog agility event. Time and faults. Your dog is timed as he makes his way through the various obstacles. Any faults count against the time takenTo finish the course and the dog with the fastest time and fewest faults wins.

While a dog agility competition is a lot of fun training your dog to compete can take some time. There are two different types of obstacles and courses that you dog must be proficient in in order to compete. When doing your dog agility training with your dog you will concentrate on these two types of courses which include jumping courses and agility courses. The jumping courses are pure dog athleticism in action. The competing dogs must jump over obstacles without knocking them down and interspersed between the jumps are the weaves, which are a straight line of poles your dog must weave through, much like a slalom course for skiers. If your dog does not weave through all the poles there will be a fault given. The agility course also consists of obstacles that your dog must negotiate but there are contact points on these obstacles that your dog must recognize and then touch with his paws. Getting to the level of even competing does take time.

To enter an official dog agility competition or show your dog must be registered with either the AKC (American Kennel Club) or if in the U.K. the SKC (Scottish Kennel Club). It also helps to belong to a dog agility club where the members can meet and train their dogs together. The nice thing about a club is that you can get a lot of help with not only running whole courses but also with individual obstacles your dog may have trouble with.

Most dog agility clubs won’t allow a dog less than one year of age to participate in their activities. This does not mean you can’t start training a new puppy, but it is best to take it slow and simple while they grow through that first year. You can find plenty of dog agility training equipment at your local pet store or on the internet.

While dog agility training is a rigorous undertaking it is also a lot of fun for both dog and owner. Once your dog gets to the point where he can compete then all the hard work in is well worth the effort.

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I have found that repetition and patience work the best for a stay command. First, The dog has got to learn the ‘sit’ or ‘lay down’ commands.

I’m a large fan of using hand signals with dogs. A finger held up as sit, a hand held palm forward like a crossing guard for stay. I’ve actually gone as far as to train my dog to roll over, come, “give a hug”, jump through a hoop, bark, and shake without saying a word.

But I digress. To teach a dog to stay, it’s important to NOT have a treat in your hand. Put the treat on a counter by the dog, and have the dog sit or lay down, and repeat ‘stay’ with a hand signal as you walk away. If the dog starts to move or follow you, slowly and patiently take the dog back to the original location and repeat the process. When the dog does stay, walk back to the dog, take the treat and reward it. Do this only a few times with the dog obeying and then ‘release’ the dog. NEVER hit your dog with your hand, a rolled up newspaper smacking the counter loudly is enough to get the point across. NEVER give up in a training session, NEVER get mad at the dog. If you give up, the dog is only learning that it can walk all over you, and that it can frustrate you, and the dog is probably frustrated too because it doesn’t understand.

I make the dog sit and stay before going in or out doors, or going up or down stairs, and when I answer the door. This will keep the dog from charging out the door, and will keep the dog for toppling you down the stairs. It’s also useful for when strange people come to your door. (Think about it, having a dog patiently watching you like it’s just waiting for you to do something wrong- pretty intimidating) This needs to remain pretty consistant during the training phase, though I’ll admit, the dog knows my sister doesn’t care, just as she knows my grandfather will have a staring contest through the door until she sits before he will let her in.

Also, this should be one of the first commands you cover- try not to do too many at once. I do it in phases- sit, down, stay, come; then fetch and drop (if it hasn’t been already done); then the fun commands one at a time- shake, roll over, and jump through hoops.

Don’t be a bad dog owner- no one thinks your bad dog isentertainingbut you.

It’s all about quality of life.

Dogs are so much more adaptable than we are. They accept their situations and get on with life. A bit of a limp, aHugescar or a missing eye – even losing a limb, sight or hearing altogether – will not phase them in the slightest. They are happy as long as they get the good things in life; food, love, entertainment, play and/or a lap to sit on.

So even if a dog is “crippled”, they can still have a very high quality of life, more so than most humans would in a similar situation.

But there are three other issues that the humans responsible for their dogs must take into consideration.

- Pain and Suffering

If an animal is in pain, and isapt to be in pain for the rest of its life, or even moderate discomfort, is it fair to keep them alive? Dogs have a higher tolerance for pain than most humans, but long-term pain is draining. If your dog has a chronic limp, it’s one thing – if they cry every time they move, it’s another.

And remember, medications may only buy you weeks or months and can have perilous or unpleasant side effects – is it worth putting your dog through any more suffering?

- Financial Cost

The cost of surgery, medication, office calls and/or modifications to your home may make it impossible to treat your dogs injury or disease, even if they’ve a good chance of recovery. There are organizations that can help if you are unable to foot the bill, so don’t let cost be the ONLY deciding factor. However, if the choice is between caring for your pet and paying for a vacation, perhaps you should reevaluate your priorities.

- Emotional Strain

It’s difficult caring for anyone (dog or human) who has special needs to make their lives complete. If you’ve a dog that needs to be carried everywhere, it will be inconvenient if they weigh 10 pounds. But what if they weigh 50, or 100 pounds?

Sometimes your physical limitations will make the decision for you. But again, there may be options. Dogs with hip problems can get around with carts. Dog unsteady on their feet may just need a bit of carpeting on a slippery floor. Do your research before you make your decision.

But what if the injury is causing other problems that need to be addressed – bladder control, seizures or behavioral problems? Some of these things can be controlled or managed, sometimes they may pose a risk to your health.

Before you make your decision,Think about the following:

- Have you and your vet exhausted all the options?

- Are you making a decision out of frustration?

- Do you define “crippled” as less than perfect or attractive?

- Can you honestly state your dog is happy, despite their injury?

- In a month or a year, do you think you may regret your decision?

Making the decision to end a life is never, and should never be easy. Don’t keep a suffering animal alive because you cannot bear to let them go, but don’t put a happy dog to sleep just because their care has become inconvenient or because they’ve lost their looks.

Most pet owners know, it is not an simple decision to make – ever. But remember, whatever decision you make, right or wrong, your dog understands and accepts.

While of course you would not hesitate when it came to getting your dog treatment, you can make life quicker by taking out dog insurance which can offset some of the veterinary costs involved.

Recently, Sainsbury’s has advised pet cover customers to assess whether the duration of their pet insurance cover product matches their needs. According to the pet insurance cover provider, many such deals are only valid for short periods of time, possibly leaving owners without an sufficient policy after 12 months.

Their research found that 37% of dog insurance deals and 35 per cent of cat cover policies Did notprovide cover for health conditions lasting longer than a year.

The report pointed out that as 30 per cent of claims may last longer than one year, a sizable proportion of pet owners could be facing financial difficulty if their insurance cover product is unsuitable

According to the RSPCA, just 17 per cent of dogs and 11 per cent of cats are covered with pet cover – so a Largeproportion of animal lovers could find themselves out of pocket in the event of an accident of illness.

“Even basic health checks and things like that – they all cost money,” the spokesperson said. “We think it’s really imperative that people do take out cover.”

While dog insurance would cover any treated for illness and accident it also covers a lot more, for instance if your dog were to be the cause of an accident, for instance if a automobile swerved to avoid hitting your dog and the vehicle was damaged the cover would product the cost of repairs. Dog insurance cover would also provide any legal costs and liability for damage caused by your pet dog.

What is actually covered in the cover can vary and so it is necessary to not only researchon the internet for the cheapest premiums for the insurance cover but also for the ideal possible deal. Using a specialist website will allow you to get several different quotes from some of the top UK Insurers and all quotes should come with the key facts of the cover attached.

There are many extras which you should look out for that can be included in an insurance product and some of the ideal quotes for dog cover will payout for such things as boarding fees, rewards to get your pet back if they are lost or stolen and some policies can even payout a death benefit.

When looking for dog insurance the quickest way to get access to the marketplace and so find low cost deal is to goon the internet with a specialist website. A specialist website will be able to find you some of the most competitive quotes which you can then look over at your leisure and they should include the key facts.

The down command can be taught at any stage in your dog’s training. This command is also called the drop command. Some trainers prefer to use the term drop as it is lessprone tobe used in general conversation and cause confusion for your dog. The word youselect doesn’t matter as long as you remain consistent.

The down exercise doesn’t require a lot of room or time. You could even do it during ad breaks on television. There are a number of methods that can be used and all will work equally well with a puppy or adult dog.

It is easiest to instruct your dog from the “sit position as his rear end is already on the ground. Get down on your knees beside your dog and pat the ground directly under his nose as you command him to “Drop”. Many dogs will lie down simply to see what you are doing because they are curious.

If your dog does not lie down in response to you patting the ground, place your left hand on his shoulders and take his front legs in your right hand. Say “Drop” and lift both front legs as you gently push his shoulders down.

As soon as he’s lying down praise him. Keep him there for about five seconds by restingyour left hand gently on his shoulders then state “Go free,” and release him.

This method is simple to use on all puppies no matter what their size but for aBigbreed adult dog you may need to pass your arm under their front legs to lift as you give the drop command.

Some trainers will state “Drop” every time they see their dog about to lie down naturally. To get the ideal results from this method the command needs to be spoken at least nine out of every ten times your dog lies down.

If you have a lot of time to spend with your dog this method works well. The more consistent you are the less time it will take for the dog to make a connection between the word and the action.

Other trainers maysuggestbowling your dog over or stamping they’re unpleasant for the dog and obtain the response through fear. A dog who obeys because he wants to please you is always more reliable than one who responds because he is afraid.

The drop command is useful if you want your dog to remain in one place for an extended period of time. It is more comfortable for him than the sit position and will grant you both to relax while you chat with friends or stop at an outdoor cafe for a break.

As with all training the key to success is quiet persistence combined with praise to reinforce the behaviour you require.