When is my dog ready to compete? In this 2-part blog post OneMind Dogs Coach Megan Foster shares her thoughts on the topic. Read the first part.
When determining if my dog is ready to compete, my decision is based on skill, and less on age and time spent training. Each dog is different and unique, and may require more training, or different training than another dog. There are certain things I would like to see in training, before entering a competition:
Confidence in performing all obstacles independently
For each individual team, this criteria might look a bit different. Personally, I run typically quite close to my dogs, and develop distance skills later in the dog’s career. However, I have students that are not the fastest runners and they require distance skills on all of the obstacles right from the start. So, independently may mean that the dog can complete the obstacles while the handler is racing ahead, or it may mean that the dog can complete the obstacles while the handler is far away or behind.
An understanding of the most common handling techniques
Common handling techniques might also differ from team to team. As you work through teaching the OneMind Dogs handling techniques, each handler finds the techniques that are easiest and most natural for themselves, but also for their individual dog. However, there are some critical techniques that all teams will likely use on any course, like the front cross, rear cross, and blind cross.
A solid start line stay
A solid start line stay is non-negotiable for many teams, and can be a difficult skill for dogs, depending on their response to the trial environment. Some dogs are easily over stimulated by the sight and sounds of agility, and have trouble holding their startline stay, while other dogs are concerned about the pressure of the environment and don’t want their handlers to be too far from them. Observing your dog in different/new environments when they are young, or just starting their training can provide valuable insight into how they will react in a competition environment. And, once again, each team will define how long of a leadout is necessary to train before entering a competition.
The ability to focus and have a good state of mind in a trial environment
A dog should be able to focus in the trial environment to be able to compete. Each dog has an optimal state of mind to be in to do their best on the agility course, just like human athletes. Observing your dog’s ability to respond to cues in different environments helps you learn more about what their optimal state of mind is, and how you can help your dog get to that point in any environment.
The ability to put together long sequences
And finally, the dog should be taught that the rewards (food and toys) will be delayed at a competition! Running longer sequences/courses in practice with the rewards off of your body and outside of the ring helps prepare the dog for that reality in competitions. Many handlers choose to train on courses with more difficult challenges than they will face in competition, so that the courses feel even easier to the team on the day of the competition.
It is important for handler’s to set their team up for success in competition. By having clear expectations and performance related goals, we can be certain to provide a good experience for our dogs. Dogs learning that competition is an enjoyable activity is incredibly important to having a long-term agility career!
Coaches / Instructors that contributed to Megan’s post:
Karen Holik, Laura Bussing, Stephen McKay, Anna Eifert, Jen Pinder, Ivette White
