Train obstacles by handling your dog from both sides and from every angle, especially the weave poles. It’s best to start from day one, as you will face trickier challenges as you progress from the novice/starter level.

Never take any skill for granted. You don’t want to be walking the course and thinking that a particular cross will work well in that jump sequence, but then decide not to use it because of not trusting your dog’s understanding of the skill. Often review what your dog knows during practice sessions.

Send in your trial entries early to avoid disappointment. Some trials have limited entry.

Get a rulebook for the organization you are trialing under (Agility Association of Canada, United States Dog Agility Association, etc) and read it. You will learn what you are faulted for, how to play the games (ie: Snooker), etc.

Create a checklist of what to bring. Go through it before every trial to make sure you have packed everything you will need.

Plan to be at the trial all day. Your runs are often spread out over the course of the day. Put your dog in the x-pen or crate so they can relax – some dogs can mentally and physically wear themselves out in the excitement of watching the action. Watch the other handlers and how the different classes are run, you may learn something.

Have your instructor or another more experienced handler watch your runs. They can tell you what parts you handled well, what needs improvement or why your dog did what it did. Better yet, bring a camcorder and have someone tape your run. That way you can see your run for yourself. It’s a good idea to tape your practice sessions as well. It can be enlightening to see how your handling differs in competition from in practice.

Volunteer to help out at the trial, especially with ring crewing. Being part of the ring crew gives you a fantastic seat from which to view different handling techniques used by experienced handlers. By watching, you can learn a lot about what worked and what didn’t, and why.

Take advantage of the course walk and judge’s briefing. The judge will tell you the rules that pertain to the class and they are a valuable source of information should you have a question. During the course walk, determine what path your dog should take and what path you should take to keep your dog on their path. Take note of any challenging areas, like traps, and be prepared. Watching the other handlers walk the course may stimulate you to think about alternate approaches to sequences. Remember to keep your strengths and weaknesses in mind when deciding upon your final plan.

Give your dog plenty of room at the start line if possible so they are moving forward at towards the first obstacle. Lining your dog up so they can see a straight line to the second and maybe the third obstacle makes your run start off more smoothly. This means you might be taking the first jump on an angle, but your dog should already be comfortable with taking jumps on angles from practice sessions.

Don’t stop handling your dog after a fault occurs. Most faults are due to handler error. Keep it fun and positive.

If your dog runs by a jump and you have to call them back, don’t have the jump between you and them (in their line of sight). Your dog will take the jump backwards to get back to you and that will result in an ‘off-course’ fault.

Make sure you cross the finish line before touching and rewarding your dog’s performance. An otherwise clean run will have a ‘touching dog’ fault.

Remember why you are there. A trial should be a fun experience for both you and your dog. If you get so wrapped up in the competitive side that you forget the fun side, your dog will eventually shut down.