ARE YOU READY?

Agility is a fun, exciting and rewarding activity.  It is also demanding both physically and mentally and requires time, dedication and commitment.  It is a long journey from the first class you take to the first step you take into the ring and it is our goal to prepare you fully for that first step.  However, we can only do that if you are aware of what is required from you and if you are able to make that commitment.

We would like you to read over the information below and answer some questions to determine if this is the right activity for you and your dog.  We believe in dogs and handlers being fully trained for the demands of the sport and are also very aware of what it requires from you, your dog and us to get you there. 

We ask you to consider theses questions not to discourage you from participating in the wonderful sport but to help you decide to do so armed with as much information as possible. 

    Why have you chosen the sport of agility as your hobby?

·       Agility is a highly rewarding but also a highly demanding dog sport.  It requires space for training, some amount of mandatory equipment and a lot of time and energy!

    How much time do you have to devote to training your dog?

·       Class is a place you come to each week to learn the “how” of agility and dog training; the rest of the week is when that training gets accomplished.  This means traveling to the park with your jumps and weave poles!

    How much time do you have to devote to conditioning your dog and yourself?

·       Agility is a physical game.  Proper conditioning and exercise are essential for you and your dog to participate in the sport and to continue to stay healthy and have a long and successful career!

    Are you self-disciplined and self-motivated?

·       There is an amazing amount of skill development required to prepare you and your dog for agility trials.  Training must be a priority in your life and it often requires saying no to other activities, facing incremental weather and dragging your jumps to the park.  Are you self-motivated?  Dog training, like exercise, requires that you are!

    What are your goals?  Are they realistic?

·       We have a saying we live by at DSNW; “Let your expectations match your efforts”.  Not everyone has a goal to earn a MACH5 or make it on to the World Agility Team.  It is essential to be realistic about how much time you are able to devote to training.  As we mentioned before, and will again, there are an incredible number of skills which need to be developed in order for you and your dog to be prepared to participate confidently and happily in agility trials.  Is this a realistic goal in your life?