Although, once your dog has achieved a basic level of obedience, you can train your dog in your own back garden; the cost of even home made equipment precludes this option for the majority of people. The best way, by far, to train your dog for Agility is to join a dog training club with an Agility section.

However, before you enroll, ensure you first attend one or two of their training sessions as an observer. This achieves two objectives: it allows you to decide if Agility is really 'your thing' and also, by watching the training of other dogs, if you are happy with the training methods used by that group.

If at all possible join a club where at least one of the trainers is an Agility Club Approved Instructor.

To successfully begin Agility training your dog should, at the very least, sit or lay down on command, come to you when called and, although accurate heelwork is not necessary, it must remain with you when required.

Finally, Agility training is not an alternative to Obedience training but, like Field trials or Working Trials, is an extention of Obedience training.