The Journey of Training My First Agility Dog: Skittles
Starting an agility journey with your dog is both exciting and challenging. When I got Skittles, a spirited and intelligent pup, I had a vision of us running agility courses together. Little did I know how intricate and rewarding this journey would be.
The Beginning
Skittles joined my family during the COVID-19 pandemic. At that time, I had no idea that I could start preparing her for agility at home as a puppy (I wish I had known this and I will discuss this further in this blog). I always knew I wanted to do agility with her, so when she turned 2.5 years old and classes opened up again, we embarked on our agility training adventure.
The Reality Check
When I first read that it could take up to two years to train a dog for agility, I didn't fully grasp what that meant. Skittles is a smart dog, and she picks up on things quickly. I naively thought that within a few months, we'd be running full courses with ease. However, reality soon set in. I realized that the two years were more about my learning curve as an inexperienced handler than about Skittles’ training.
The Learning Curve
My understanding deepened after purchasing Lisa Selthofer's "Dog Agility Training Blueprint." This comprehensive guide made me realize that agility is as much about training the handler as it is about training the dog. Now, over a year into our training, I feel like I've only scratched the surface of what I need to know to compete and run full courses with Skittles.
Reading and understanding agility courses is not as intuitive as one might think. You need to grasp how courses are constructed and what skills are expected at your level.
Progress, Not Perfection
Training for agility is much like learning to drive a car—it takes time to become second nature. I've learned to have faith in the process and to keep pushing forward. Each training session, each small victory, brings us closer to our goal.
The challenges make the successes all the more rewarding. As Skittles and I continue our agility journey, I hold onto the belief that perseverance and patience will lead us to where we want to be.
Keep Going
For anyone starting their agility journey, my advice is simple: be patient with yourself and your dog. Focus on progress, not perfection. Learn to laugh at yourself because you will make mistakes, and that's how we learn. Understand that 99% of the time, they are YOUR mistakes, not your dogs, they are following YOUR cues (which is actually quite natural for a dog). Celebrate the small wins and learn from the setbacks. Remember that agility is a partnership, and building the 3 pillars (teamwork, handling, and obstacles) takes time.
Skittles and I are still on our journey, but I have no doubt that we will get there. The joy of seeing her happy and excited to run the courses makes every moment worthwhile. So, if you're on this path, keep going! The journey and bond you will build are more important and satisfying than the destination.
Comments