How to Train a Dog to Perform a Tire Jump

The tire jump is one of the simplest agility obstacles for your dog to learn. It can be performed quickly, and with very little risk of disqualification. Your dog can be performing the tire jump correctly in just a few brief training sessions.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Tire Jump
• Lead
• Collar
• Treats

How to Train a Dog to Perform a Tire Jump

1. Use a collar and lead. A lead provides better control and gives your dog a bit of confidence when training on unfamiliar obstacles.

2. Lower the jump to a height of just a few inches from the ground. You can eventually raise the jump back to competition height, but it is much simpler for the dog to learn the obstacle if it is close to the ground.

3. Sit your dog in front of the tire jump and feed your lead through the opening. Give your dog the command you will be using for the tire jump. “Tire” is popular because it is easy to say and clear to the dog. Call your dog through the opening of the tire and pull the lead tight to keep him coming. Reward your dog with a treat when he performs the exercise correctly.

4. Turn and walk your dog away from the tire after he has come all the way through. Walking away will teach the dog to keep moving and to look for the next obstacle.

5. Continue working your dog on lead through the lowered tire jump until he is performing it consistently every time. Encourage him to build speed and move through the jump faster because speed will be important when the jump is raised off the ground.

6. Walk with your dog to the tire jump and give the command for the tire without pulling the lead through the opening. Drop the lead and ask him to perform the jump on his own. He should get the idea that he can jump through the middle of the tire by himself.

7. Remove your dog’s lead after he is consistently going through the tire on his own. You can increase your speed approaching the tire jump so that he learns he can run up to the jump and go through the opening with speed. Be sure he is not avoiding the jump or running around the tire, which are both disqualifications.

8. Raise the tire jump off the ground in small increments, continuing to train the dog at each height. By increasing the jump slowly to competition height, your dog will learn that he can complete the jump confidently as it gets higher and higher.

Tips & Warnings

• Work your dog in short sessions. He will get bored quickly with long, drawn out training.
• Slow down if your dog makes a mistake. If he happens to miss the tire, back up to a step he has performed correctly in the past and start again.
• Build speed gradually with your dog. The tire jump is an obstacle that requires virtually no slow down and a dog that performs it quickly will have an advantage on the agility course.
• Do not jump your puppy before he is about a year old. Young dogs are still growing and developing and the strain of jumping can cause permanent damage.