Pets

When can I start teaching my dog agility?

Building the Foundation: Preparing Your Dog for Agility

Hi, I'm Liz Randall. I am a professional behavior specialist and dog sport trainer. The question is, when can I start teaching my dog agility? I love this question because I love agility and it's awesome for you and for your dog. So, when can you start? We recommend that you don't actually start teaching obstacles or putting your dog over obstacles until they're at minimum a year old because we want to make sure their growth plates are closed and that physically they are strong enough to withstand the jumping and the impact of going on the different equipment. But, that said, there are many, many, many things that you can do much earlier than a year old to prepare your dog for agility. So, those are some basic skills like recall, like stay at my side, stays, also body awareness, can you climb over things, under things, through things, toy skills, all kinds of lots and lots and lots of fun things you can do before the dog is a year old. So, look for a local foundations agility class in your area and they can get you prepped to get going with your puppy even well before they're a year old. Have fun. Agility is amazing. It's so much fun. It's a great way to build a bond with your dog and I hope you get out there and try it.

We recommend waiting until your dog is at least a year old before starting to teach them agility. But there are many basic skills you can work on with your pup before then, such as recall, stay, body awareness, and toy skills. Look for a local foundational agility class in your area to get prepped and have fun with your pup.

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As a professional behavior specialist and dog sport trainer, I love the question of when to start teaching a dog agility. While you should wait until your dog is at least a year old before introducing them to obstacles to ensure their growth plates are closed and they are physically ready, there are plenty of things you can do earlier to prepare them. Focus on building basic skills like recall, staying by your side, stays, body awareness (climbing over, under, and through things), and toy skills. These activities will lay a strong foundation for agility training. Look for local foundations agility classes in your area that can guide you in preparing your puppy well before they turn one. Agility is an amazing way to bond with your dog and have fun together. So get out there and give it a try!

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Professional, certified trainer and dog sport competitor for 12+ years. I help clients across the US with agility skills and behavior challenges. 