Dog agility can be great fun, whether training for competitions or just looking for a new activity to do with your dog. Dog agility provides structured training activities and exercise for both dogs and human companions alike. In agility trials, dogs compete off-leash with their handlers on timed courses.

Dog agility is based roughly on equestrian stadium jumping competitions, and was first introduced at the Crufts Dog Show in England in 1979. Dog agility was originally intended purely as entertainment for spectators at the show, but interest in competitive dog agility quickly grew.

Dog agility equipment includes obstacles such as jumps, tunnels, and closed tunnels, weave poles, pause tables, A-frames, dog walks, see-saws and tire jumps. Dog agility equipment is made from a variety of materials and can be intended for short-term use (for example, backyard fun or if you are just starting out and unsure agility training is right for you and your dog) or competition-caliber equipment. Resources abound to purchase ready-made equipment, or you can find instructions to build some obstacles on your own using common materials such as PVC pipe. Since dog agility equipment is used in competition, most equipment and instructions to build your own equipment are standard.

In dog agility competitions, the obstacles are arranged in a different order and different configurations for each competition. The dogs and handlers have a set amount of time prior to the competition to familiarize themselves with the course. Handlers may give any verbal or hand signal to their dogs, but cannot touch the dogs or the equipment in any way. The difficulty of the course varies depending on the level of the competition. Dogs are divided into classes based on height; these classes determine the height of various obstacles on the course.

Whether you want to train your dog to compete or just have fun, agility training can provide hours of fun and good exercise for you and your dog. Training a dog to use agility equipment takes time and patience. Be sure your dog is in good physical health before beginning training. Always monitor your dog carefully and take care not to push too hard in training. You will want to be sure you have plenty of treats or non-food rewards to praise your dog for a job well done. Many dogs, when rewarded with praise or treats, perform very well on agility equipment