News

Home >> News
Apr. 14

2021

Is Dog Agility Cruel?

Share:

Is Dog Agility Cruel?

Dog Agility Tunnels Supplier will share this article with you.

Have you seen dog agility on TV and are curious about this new sport? Have you ever wanted to try it on your own dog, but don’t want it to be hurt? Dog agility is cruel or beneficial?

The quick answer is that no-dog agility is not cruel at all. Of course, training should only do positive reinforcement, and the dog's natural ability and athletic ability need to be considered at every step of the training process. If Dog Agility Tunnel is too stressful for your dog, it will actually be "exhausted".

Is agility bad for dogs?

Generally speaking, agility is not a bad thing for dogs. Of course, in order to make the dog's agility better, the owner should follow a slow and deliberate process and don't force their dog to train too much.

When does agility become cruel for a dog?

Some owners have become very focused on taking their dogs to participate in competitions, allowing them to participate in different trials, and even qualifying for national competitions. This will quickly stop the dog from enjoying training.

Daily high-intensity training will exhaust him physically and mentally. If the owner starts to use punitive training methods, agility will become uncomfortable and eventually cruel.

Agility can also disgust dogs with existing health conditions, which makes it impossible for them to travel without discomfort or pain. If your dog has arthritis, in his old age, has any form of vision problems or musculoskeletal problems, agility is not the right exercise for him.

Agility training methods

Because agility is a sport based on speed and accuracy, most coaches realize that there is no point in using negative training methods. In order to have the dog run as fast as possible, the owner needs motivation and encouragement-this is impossible when punishing the dog.

Positive reinforcement

Ideally, you should use positive reinforcement to train your agility dog. Almost all owners who start dog agility actually reward their dogs in too few ways!

The most commonly used rewards in agility are rewards and toys. Verbal praise is not enough to motivate most dogs. Especially if you have a strong-willed dog, it may sometimes have its own ideas, and it is vital to use high-value rewards to encourage it to work with you. Just saying "good boy!" usually doesn't work—it uses tempting food or its favorite ball or drag toy.

Punitive training method

Unfortunately, some facilities still encourage the use of punitive agile training methods. If the dog makes a mistake, the owner may grab the dog by the collar and lift the dog up, or hit the dog in the nose. If you train agility like this, then yes it will be cruel for your dog. In any training situation, the owner's resort to physical or verbal punishment will be considered a very negative dog.

Find healthy flexibility and life balance

It is important that your dog has a life outside agility. Some competitors are very focused on obtaining specific titles or scores and may neglect to provide their dogs with a wealth of training, exercise, and socializing, except for agility settings.

If agility is the only thing your dog does, then it will become very cruel. Strive to achieve a healthy balance between agility training and life.

There is no harm in training your dog 5 days a week for 15 minutes each time. However, you should still interact with your dog outside the agility field. Provide him with enrichment and mental stimulation and cross-training.

Take him out for a walk, or let him play with other dogs if he likes it. Teach him a new (unrelated to agility) skill, or let him play a puzzle game. Provide him with enough chews, and provide him with food in a variety of rich ways.

Always remember that agility should not be a dog's entire life, but only a part of it!

Put your agility dog's best interests first

You should never put your competitive interests above the dog's happiness. Think about how he thinks about agility: Does he like agility? Does he have fun in training? Can his body withstand the athletic challenges that this sport brings?

It also means knowing when to retire your dog. Dogs should jump lower when they are around 10 years old and should stop all high-intensity activities after a few years.

Always ask yourself how your dog is doing with this sport, and whether it is a good activity for him to make him happy!

Bottom line

Agility is not cruel for dogs if done well. Owners should take care to only do agile movements for dogs that are healthy and in good shape. Puppies and older dogs should not be encouraged to jump.

Dog owners need to find a healthy balance between agility training, competitive desire, and daily life. If agility is all a dog can do, then it can become cruel. In addition to agility training, the dog also needs other interactions and activities with the owner.

Punitive training methods should not be used for agility (or any other dog sports). They will frighten and intimidate the dog, making training unpleasant for him. Your dog should not be afraid of you or feel stressed during training.

If your coach encourages you to use cruel training methods, look elsewhere for better training methods.

Dog Agility Tunnel

Contact Us
Follow Us

Keywords: Flexible Duct, Heat Resistant Duct, Heat Resistant Duct, Movable Ventilator...