Pet Agility Training

Dogs excel at agility training, but cats and rabbits have agility competitions as well.

Agility is a timed team sport that involves one pet, one person and various obstacles on a set course. The most popular and common type of agility accessible to most pet owners is dog agility; however agility is not just for dogs. Agility organizations exist for cats, rabbits, rats, mice and ferrets. Training for these smaller animals is done by luring them through a course using scaled down versions of dog agility equipment.

Dog Agility

Dog agility is for all breeds of dogs.

Started in 1978 as an exhibition event, dog agility is now the most common of the agility training sports. Borrowed originally from hunter jumper equestrian sports and police dog training, dog agility offers various experience levels of training and competition. The sport provides the dog and owner the opportunity to run a course featuring different types of obstacles that the team must complete in a designated amount of time. Training for dog agility is available in most areas of the country. Since this sport is trained without benefit of a leash, it is best to begin with positive obedience training for your dog. The Association of Pet Dog Trainers lists reputable trainers in most areas of the country.

Once basic skills are learned, the dog and handler have to be taught how to negotiate each obstacle. Agility training is available nationwide through private trainers, agility clubs, dog clubs and dog training schools. There is a difference in training techniques between agility just for fun and competitive agility, so be certain to choose your trainer wisely.

Agility training rules and competition regulations are determined by individual agility associations. The American Kennel Club, United States Dog Agility Association, National American Dog Agility Council and Teacup Dogs Agility Association all offer agility competitions in the United States.

Cat Agility

The independent nature of cats makes for challenging agility training.

Borrowed from dog agility, cat agility is becoming a popular event for cat owners. Cat agility as an organized sport is still in the foundation stage, so most training is done in your own home, on equipment of the appropriate size for your cat. In cat agility, the owner guides the cat through a contained course by using a toy lure. Each course completion, better known in agility lingo as a "run," is timed and as in dog agility, the fastest and cleanest runs win.

Training can take place in a room of your home once you have acquired appropriate equipment. Training techniques vary, but most training is accomplished by the use of positive reinforcement. Specifics of training information can be found through International Cat Agility Tournaments. That association is the front runner for course and equipment standards, rules and regulations and the administering party of most events. Cat agility events take place at cat shows and other cat-related events.

Rat and Mouse Agility

Are these rats practicing for agility?

Both mice and rats have long been favored as small companion pets that were easily able to learn tricks. The process of teaching a mouse or rodent to complete an obstacle course seems to have roots that are older than the organized sport of dog agility. Once dog agility became well known, the rodent community downsized the dog agility equipment and added a few of their own touches for the purpose of worldwide animal enrichment and competition. Rats and mice run on contained courses, and of course due to the size of the equipment, they run alone and are dependent on training that includes course memorization.

The websites "Agile Rat" and "Mouse Agility" are the best resources for information about rat- and mouse-specific equipment, training and competition.

Rabbit Agility

A large part of rabbit agility focuses on jumping skills.

Rabbit agility, like many other agility sports, began as a result of dog agility. Rabbit agility uses scaled-down agility equipment and shorter courses are usually located in contained areas. Rabbits can compete in jumping events called rabbit hopping or in full-out agility events. Some competitions offer both events, though rules and regulations do differ. Like some other small companion animals, agility rabbits are taught to negotiate each obstacle without their human partner actually running along.

The website "Rabbit Agility" is the leading resource for the sport and lists training information, rules and regulations for equipment and competitions. Most events are held in conjunction with rabbit shows and events.

Ferret Agility

Ferrets may excel on tunnel-type agility obstacles.

Ferret agility is an exhibition event. While training is similar to that of agility training for other small companion animals and takes place on a contained obstacle course using scaled-down equipment borrowed from dog agility, the activity has yet to catch on as a fully competitive sport. Keeping in mind that ferret ownership is illegal in some states, those interested in the sport can train on homemade equipment as an enrichment activity for their ferret. Online communities and local clubs should be your resource for ferret agility training.

References

• Association of Pet Dog Trainers - Dog Training Resources
• American Kennel Club - Agility
• Welcome to USDAA
• North American Dog Agility Council, Inc. (NADAC)
• TEACUP DOGS AGILITY ASSOCIATION

Resources

• ICAT - International Cat Agility Tournaments
• The Agile Rat - What is Rat Agility?
• Mouse Agility - The Official Site
• Rabbit Agility - Front Page
• Ferret Care, Feeding, Health, Information, Supplies - Ferret Cafe