You have probably seen dog agility training competitions on
TV. The type of competitions with dogs jumping through hoops and
walking up and down the ladders, or going between the poles. While every
dog without disabilities have the capability to train for those types
of events, there are many things he must learn.
First of all, you should have no problems with the basic obedience
training. If your dog cannot yet follow simple commands like sit, stay,
down, fetch, you should handle that kind of basics first. Your dog
should be well used to you and your commands.
Start with teaching him how to walk on an A frame first. He can do this easily because of the with, and still it is a bit unusual, paving the road to more complex movements. Then you can make him walk on a plank, which is harder. You can also teach him low jumps and going through tunnels. Dogs love going through tunnels, because of their hunter instincts.
Complete control of your dog is essential while you are teaching him new agility tricks. Otherwise you cannot get him from one obstacle to another. Also you need to teach him how to do right and left turns. You need to use the down and wait commands to teach him those.
Another important command to teach your dog is sending your dog away. You can accomplish this by placing his favorite treat or toy at the other end of the room, and sending the dog to get it. Then you increase the distance gradually, until the dog understands the go away command.
Make sure the training sessions are fun for both you and your dog. Give your dog lots of praise for his accomplishments and do not forget that it is a game for him. When you both enjoy your training time together, it becomes easier to practice regularly, and you can then teach him many new tricks in a short time. Besides, your relationship with your dog will also get deeper.