Teaching your dog how to jump can be a lot of fun, but it can also be very challenging. If you have never been able to jump high before, you may be wondering what is the best method or training technique for your dog. Most dogs are naturally athletic and quick-thinkers, so teaching them how to jump can be a simple process once you get on the right track. Jumping dogs are a common occurrence at dog shows, competition dog agility trials, and obedience classes. People that own dogs know that their dog has a powerful athletic ability. Whether it is jumping to catch a ball, or simply playing fetch on the side, most dogs can perform many exciting tasks with the little motivation and encouragement.
If you have never been able to show off your dog’s athletic ability, you may want to try training your dog with jump hurdles before trying competition obstacles. Jumping hurdles can be a great way to develop your dog’s motor skills, as well as helping him build up his confidence. Here s some good news for you, it is surprisingly simple if you follow the 7-steps guide!
Get a good quality jumping bar. Your dog will need a sturdy, stable jumping bar to perform any training. You can purchase jump bars from pet stores or online, but make sure that they are of the highest quality. Jumping bars are designed to withstand a certain amount of jumping and activity, so purchase the best one that you can afford. There are many jumping bars on the market, so take some time to research the different ones and pick the one that suits your dog’s needs and level of training.
Start your dog training by attaching the jumping bar to his collar. Your dog will need to start practicing jumping at a very young age, so be patient. Use the same methods that you would when training a dog of any age. Find a quiet, safe place where your dog can practice his jumping skills. Avoid using public places, because their laws may prohibit the practice of jumping in them.
As your dog starts practicing on his jumping bar, work on attaching the leash to the end of it. It is important that you attach the leash so that it is easily attached onto the bar. Once your dog has developed the habit of walking on the leash when he jumps, start attaching more difficult obstacles to the jump bars. As your dog masters the simple hurdles jumping, you can work on building bigger hurdles to jump over, like wood blocks or ropes.
Once your dog has become accustomed to walking on the leash with the leash attached, begin building larger hurdles to jump over. You may want to have several sets of hurdles, so that each time your dog jumps over a different obstacle he has practiced walking over them. Start by building only a few hurdles, and slowly add more as your dog gets better at the training. Keep adding extra hurdles to the training, because your dog will not know that he is surpassing one obstacle, he may just keep going. Working in small steps is the key to training your dog to jump.
If you feel as if your dog has reached a plateau when it comes to jumping or does not learn quickly when training, then you may want to use an agility course. There are many agility courses for your dog, all you have to do is go online and search “Agility Course” to find one closest to you. Purchase the jump bars and other equipment for the course, and use the same training methods as you did with the jump bars. You and your dog will both enjoy the fun and excitement of this type of training.
Working with your dog as one of the family can make learning how to teach your dog to jump much easier. If you have a particularly stubborn dog, and they refuse to jump no matter how often you try, you may want to consider spaying or neutering your dog. This is an alternative method to using the “pit” method of training, which involves creating a large, deep hole, and filling it with dog litter or cork. The problem with this method is that it is ineffective for dogs that are only moderately resistant to change.
