A Pre-Run Routine Helps Agility Competitors Stay Focused

The 2024 Cynosport® World Games Presented by Purina Pro Plan promises to be exciting.

Handling the excitement at the most prestigious United States Dog Agility Association® championship starts with having a pre-run routine to help you and your dog stay focused, say agility competitors.

“There is no right or wrong pre-run routine,” says Heather Venkat, DVM, of Surprise, Arizona, who will be competing at Cynosport with her 4-year-old female Borderpap, “Lyla” (MACH MeNMy Shades Of Magic RI FDC MXB MJB MXF T2B BCAT ACT1 ACT2J SWN RATN CGCA CGCU TKA VHMP VSWI FITG FTI MAD).

“Your routine should be built around the needs of your dog,” Heather says. “Mostly, it should help you focus on what’s important. Every dog is different, and you know your dog best.”

Roger Ly, of San Jose, California, includes practice jumps with bars in his pre-run routine with his 6-year-old male Belgian Tervuren, “Firefly” (ADCH IWAC Haute Volée’s Can’t Take The Sky From Me).

“Firefly has always struggled to not drop the bars in the jumps, partly because Belgians tend to brush up against things,” Roger says. “I take him to the warm-up area, and I set the bar as high as I can to remind him that the bar exists. We might do four or five jumps on that bar.”

“A pre-run routine should provide mental and physical benefits to you and your dog,” says Kate Moureaux, of Simi Valley, California, who is competing with her female Border Collies, 7-year-old “Prize” (MACH ADCH IWAC WCSS Excel Eye On The Prize MXS MJS XF TKP) and 4-year-old “Lightsaber” (Excel Light On Her Feet AX MXJ OF IND SSN).

“It should help you focus and make sure everyone’s head is in the game before you enter the ring,” Kate says. “It should boost your confidence going into your run.”

Here are suggestions from Heather, Roger and Kate to consider as you put together a pre-run routine for your dog. They recommend using your pre-run routine whether you are at a local or regional agility event or a national championship.

Start with a Warm-Up

“We start with small stretching exercises like down to stand, leg raises, backing up, bending her nose to her hip side to side, and light walking,” Heather says. “Because Lyla has been sitting in her crate, running her without a warm-up is neither fun nor safe.”

Sports medicine and rehabilitation veterinary specialists recommend taking 10 to 15 minutes to warm up a dog’s muscles before exercise. An activity such as trotting, jogging up a hill or doing small jumps helps to warm up the tissues and actively stretch a dog’s muscles. Ultimately, this prepares a dog for work and reduces the risk of injury.

“I walk Firefly around for starters,” Roger says. “Then, we hit the warm-up area to practice jumps.”

“It is so important to make sure a dog’s body is warmed up and ready to run,” says Kate, an agility trainer and owner of DrivenDogs Agility. “You want to activate the muscles.”

Take Time to Air Out Your Dog

Making time to air out a dog before an agility run is essential. Things can get hectic at an agility trial, especially when you are running multiple dogs; however, a dog is not likely to perform optimally if he needs to eliminate. “I always make sure to give Lyla the opportunity to go potty before she runs,” Heather says.

Move Close to the Ring

“About 10 minutes before our run, so it doesn’t feel like I am rushing, we walk to the ring,” Heather says. “I watch a few dogs to remind me of the course.

“A lot of times, especially at Cynosport, you walk the course, but you may not run until a few hours later, so you may have forgotten parts of it. I close my eyes and visualize running with Lyla how I would like to run it.” Kate agrees about the course refresher.

“I take a pop-up kennel by the ring, so they can hang out while I look at the course again and visualize what I need to do,” she says. “When we are just a few dogs away from our run, I take Firefly to the ring and toss a toy to get his focus on me,” Roger says.

“I want to keep Lyla calm with just a few dogs to go,” Heather says. “I do this by giving her attention.”

Get in the Ring

“When we get the okay to go into the ring, Firefly jumps into my arms,” Roger says. “I give him a hug. He lines up between my legs, and then he waits to hear me say, ‘Go!’”

“I usually have my girls tugging as I enter the ring,” Kate says. “This helps them to stay focused on me and our connection. “At the start line, I remove their harness and get them seated in their starting position. I make sure that they are focused and settled before I begin my lead out.” “When I am at the start line, I take a deep breath,” Heather says. “I don’t want Lyla to feel my nervousness. It also helps to calm my nerves.”

End on a High Note

Technically, once the agility run is finished, the pre-run routine is over. However, having a routine at the end is also important.

“When we get through a run, that really is my favorite part,” Heather says. “I always say, ‘Yea!’ Lyla gets an enthusiastic tugging session and treats, because I just want to have fun out there with her. If we do well or get a placement, that’s a bonus.”

“If there is anything Firefly loves, it is tugging and biting the toy at the end of the run,” Roger says. “He will grab the leash, then the toy and tug. Every time, this is part of what we do.”

“We always end our runs with a fun behavior,” Kate says. “Sometimes it is a hand target, sometimes it is jumping into my arms and sometimes I send them to get their leash for a game of tug. All these behaviors are super fun and reinforcing for my girls. It is important that we end our run having fun and enjoying our relationship.”

Taking time to put together a pre-run routine can help you and your dog. Start out with a warm-up, air out your dog as you get closer to the run and give yourself time to get settled close to the ring. Once you are in the ring, always do the same setup, and ultimately, finish the run every time in the same celebratory way.