One way to enhance your dog's skills is to have him/her undergo dog agility training. Apart from helping develop a bond between the dog and his/her trainer, dog agility training also provides dog owners with a good opportunity to assess their dog's strength and level of self confidence.

When conducting dog agility training, it is important to get the basic foundation of training correctly. You must decide whether you want the training to be conducted by a skilled trainer or to do it yourself. If you choose the latter, you must ensure that you know the proper procedures and approaches. At the outset, clearly identify the purpose of your agility training. Do you plan to enter competitions, or do you just want to enjoy a sort of bonding activity between you and your dog?

If the purpose of the training is only for recreation, then it is practical to undertake it yourself. You need to ensure that you understand the basic steps of the training and have prepared any necessary equipment. If you have the required budget, it is better to enroll in a preparatory class so that you learn the correct way to use equipment and the proper application of the training methods themselves. Beginner classes in agility training will expose both you, and your pet, to agility equipment in common use. This can be very helpful as you begin the early training strategies with your dog.

There is a variety of equipment available for dog agility training. They are usually classified according to the level of complexity for every obstacle. The jump, weaves and tunnels are the most common obstacle types. Others such as teeter totter, are designed as contact equipment. Each of these products has its own target for level of skill enhancement.

Weaves in particular are used by trainers to assess the agility of their dog. Weaving, in which the dog runs in and out of a course marked out with poles, can be started by using only two poles, with more being added as the training progresses. It is carried by the trainer holding the dog by his collar and assisting him to move between the poles.

Tunnels are intended to help you assess your dog's fear of the unknown. Reluctant dogs are motivated to go through the tunnels by enticing them to run after a toy or by triggering their excitement by calling to them to meet you at the opposite end of the tunnel.

It is also important to train your dogs to respond to directional commands such as right or left, up or down. Training your dog with such commands early on, helps prepare them to react instinctively to those same commands in the future.

In addition to utilizing dog agility training methods and equipment, it is also necessary to consistently motivate your dog. Praise them for every correct execution that they do. Lastly, try to reduce the stress levels of your dog by maintaining a fun mood and always giving them rewards so they feel proud of themselves. Eventually, your dog will develop more confidence and become more comfortable as you progress your training to a more advance level.