Is Distance for Agility a Teachable Skill?

Written by Lorrie Reynolds

Lorrie has been an agility enthusiast since 2002 and has taught tricks, family obedience, agility, and canine conditioning since 2005. When she's not writing articles, developing courses, or training dogs, you can find her curled up with a book in her hands and a dog warming her feet.

Nov 25, 2022 | Dog Agility Distance Handling and Advanced Skills

Table of Contents
2
3

Distance for agility is one of the main areas I help students with. My book, Agility FUNdamentals for Distance, the seminars I’ve taught in person since 2005 and my online membership (The Agility Playground) all revolve around helping students increase their dog’s confidence, independence, and distance on the agility course. But is distance for agility a teachable skill?

Well yes…and no.

I always say that any team, of any size and physical ability can achieve the distance required for an Elite Chances or Masters FAST course. That is the truth. If you take my online courses or come to a seminar, you can definitely learn how to get your dog out the 20’ or 30’ required for those courses.

But am I really teaching “distance”? The answer to that is…no.

Agility dog being sent 25 feet to a tunnel

Distance in Agility is a “Side-Effect”

Before you get up in arms and decide I’ve been lying all these years, hear me out.

You know that saying that “Life is what happens when you are making other plans”? Well, distance for agility is kind of like that.

Agility distance is what happens when you have clear communication, consistent cues, independent obstacle performance skills, connection, and a confident dog. It’s a “magical” side-effect of putting a handling system and training program together that helps your dog understand exactly what you are asking for.

Agility dog being sent to a jump

Clear Communication

Clear communication means using the Hierarchy of Cues to develop a system that tells your dog exactly what you want him to do. When you combine your motion, body language and position, and the other elements, you end up with a handling system that is crystal clear to your dog.

Consistency

Consistency instills confidence in your dog that says he can count on you to give him the right cues at the right time to navigate a course. He can trust that you mean what you “say” with your body and the same cue means the same thing every single time.

Independent Obstacle Performance

Independent obstacle performance is essential for every agility venue, and as you are working on independence using the CLAWS method, you incorporate distance to encourage your dog to work independently. Distance isn’t the main goal, but if your dog can confidently perform obstacles independently, as you improve those skills, and work on exercises to encourage independence, you are also increasing your distance.

Dog being rewarded for distance in an agility training session
Dog on agility course with handler on crutches

Connection

When you and your dog are working as a team, following the same plan through the course, that is connection. Connection is built by creating a good working relationship, being clear and consistent, trusting that each half of the team will perform their job, and enhancing your dog’s confidence through training. A connected team with the right communication and skills is a team that can work at a distance.

Confidence

Before you can work apart, your dog has to have confidence in his abilities to find the line, complete the obstacles independently, and read your cues. He has to have confidence in you so he trusts your cues and knows you won’t make him do things over if you are the one who made the mistake. As your dog gains confidence, he also naturally gains distance.

So Is Distance a Teachable Skill?

Distance as a separate skill, unrelated to the rest of your agility training is not a skill you can easily teach. Sending a dog to a baited target 30 feet away will not translate into completing weave poles at 30 feet. However…you can absolutely teach your dog to work away from you if you give him all of the tools and incorporate it into every aspect of your training for agility.

You Might Also Like…

Get tips, stories, discounts, and early notification of events and new courses delivered straight to your inbox! Join the community!

Cover photo: Courtesy of Dog Agility Photos for Fun