To help celebrate October's Adopt-a-Shelter-Dog Month, the Montgomery County Humane Society is promoting various themes to encourage visitors to adopt a homeless pet. This Saturday, Oct. 15, will be "agility day". Demonstrations and agility training information will be available at the shelter.
For those of you that are not familiar with agility training, it is an organized competitive team activity for dogs and humans. It is also an effective way to bond with your pet; and provide an optimal opportunity for exercise, which should be an essential component of any dog's daily routine.
According to Sherry Mitchell of eHow, "Agility is as important to dogs as it is to people. With so much of a dog's life spent running, fetching, stretching and jumping, agility training can keep your dog in optimum shape and help him to age gracefully. Agility training also creates confidence in your dog each time he masters a new command."
The precursor to any type of agility training is obedience, or "controlled training". By learning simple commands, such as sit, stay, heel, and walking unleashed, the dog is also mastering the discipline he or she will need not only to excel in agility activities, but also in daily life.
Once a dog has mastered the basic commands, he or she is ready to begin training for the "obstacle course". An obstacle course usually consists of tunnels, planks, hurdles, jumps, and see-saws, among other basic obstacles which are regularly utilized in agility-based dog shows. Once you begin the obstacle course training, you will soon find the dog isn't the only one exercising! Agility training can become an enjoyable source of healthy exercise for both dog and owner.
Once you have adopted your "new best friend" and have chosen agility training as an activity you both can share, look for a training class through your local pet store, or private trainer. Some trainers offer the option of home-training if you feel your dog would benefit from starting out in a familiar setting rather than away from home. Even if you don't intend to compete with your dog, the life-long benefits of agility training will surely enhance the dog/owner relationship.
Please visit the shelter and interact with all the homeless dogs available for adoption. Each and every dog has a story to tell; and a life you could save if you choose to provide a shelter dog with a "forever home". Please, open your heart to a homeless dog. The rewards will go far beyond anything you could ever imagine.
County Animal Shelter - 240-773-5960
14645 Rothgeb Drive, Rockville, MD 20850
Hours to Visit With the Animals - Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri, Noon-7pm; Closed Wed; Sat and Sun - noon-5pm
Business Hours and Looking For Lost Pets - Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri, 10am-7pm; Closed Wed; Sat and Sun - 10am-5pm
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