Interviewer: Welcome to our canine evening show. In today’s programme, we’re talking to Molly, who has a dog named Barky. She’s in the studio, together with her dog, to answer some questions about dog training. Hello, Molly and Barky!
Molly: Hello! Thanks for inviting me… and Barky. I thought we wouldn’t be able to come to the studio because we had a very busy morning, and then Barky had a vet appointment at 12:00 and he usually takes a nap at 8 p.m. But, we’ve made it and he’s not tired at all!
Interviewer: So Molly, we’ve undoubtedly seen agility on TV or maybe even been to a local agility course in person. It looks like a pleasant pastime for you and your dog to do. Is that true?
Molly: Yes, definitely. I would say dog agility is exciting, hard, and a lot of fun and it’s one of the fastest‑growing canine sports in the United States.
Interviewer: So, do you have to train your dog only to take part in various competitions?
Molly: No. Your dog doesn’t have to take part in tournaments only. If your dog is still a puppy, there are a variety of things you can do at home to prepare your dog for agility obstacles and measure its interest in the sport. You can start simple training when your puppy is about 8 weeks old. 12‑18 months is the age when your dog should be able to complete an agility course. At the beginning, training is all about gaining confidence, reducing anxiety, increasing trust, and introducing him/her to new situations.
Interviewer: So, what can you do to start training your dog?
Molly: There's no need to be concerned about how quickly your dog picks up new skills. Start small with your expectations for your dog and gradually increase them. Some dogs may be ready to progress beyond the basics in a few weeks, while others will require more time. Remember, however, to praise your dog whenever it does something well.
Interviewer: Is agility an individual sport?
Molly: No, it isn’t. Agility is a team sport. A dog going around the course without supervision from his handler has no idea which obstacle to do next. You need to teach your dog to focus on you despite distractions from the audience, for example.
Interviewer: So, what tricks can you teach your dog to do?
Molly: For instance, you can teach your dog to touch your hand with his nose, or a target. You can also try teaching your dog to walk backwards, or jump through obstacles. All these techniques improve your dog’s flexibility and body awareness.
Interviewer: What was the first trick that you taught Barky?
Molly: Hmmm, let me think. Was it walking on the seesaw, Barky? No, I don’t think it was. I wanted to teach him to run on a ramp, but he was scared at first. I’m sure it was walking through the tunnel. I bought it in a pet shop, but you can also make it from chairs and blankets, or you can use a large cardboard box. At first, Barky didn’t want to go in it. I didn’t know why. Later, I learnt that some dogs are intimidated by dark spaces and they need some time to get used to them.
Interviewer: Hmm, interesting. So, I can imagine it takes a lot of patience to train your dog.
Molly: Definitely! But you shouldn’t be discouraged if your pet doesn’t want to do something to start with. You shouldn’t force your dog to do some tricks either. With the tunnel for example, you can encourage your dog by putting your head on the other side of the tunnel, and ask it to follow you in. But it’s worth the effort because in the end even if your dog doesn’t take part in competitions, you will have a stronger bond with your pet and you will understand each other better.
Interviewer: And now a question that a lot of listeners might be asking right now. Can all dog breeds do agility?
Molly: I would say that any dog can do agility to some extent. Of course, there are breeds that are better than others. Small dogs, for example, are usually faster because of their low weight and they don’t suffer from many injuries, so they can do really well in competitions.
Interviewer: Thank you Molly for this interesting talk. Good luck to Barky at his next competition in Turkey. Our next programme is the local 125 FM news. Stay tuned!
