Is your doggy timid around people or other doggys? Is your puppy sensitive to sounds? activity training can provide the surroundings and structure to build confidence in your doggy. Agility classes are a great place for people to learn about the sport and learn how to train, but the timid doggy may take a long time before he is ready to venture from under your chair or off your lap.

A timid or shy puppy can only learn inside their comfort region. So, training must begin where they feel free from harm and behaviors must be taught in very small increments. Home will probably be the best place to train and have learning take place for your pup.

So, how do you train at home? You will need guidelines and apparatus. There is a multitude of websites that can give you information on agility training. There are also books and videos that will give details and visual aids and lesson plans for beginners thru expert levels.

There is a variety of facilities that is useful and helpful to have at home. Facilities recommendations are based on your available space and location of training. Do you have a large garden that will hold 10 obstacles? Do you have a small courtyard where you will need setup apparatus and then tear down before you can setup again? Will you be training in your garage or basement, or as some activity addicts, in your living room.

For the timid dogs make sure your equipment is safe and sturdy. The pause table is a good place to begin your activity training. A 12" high pause table, with adjustable legs for later use, is a good starting place for all size puppys. Bear in mind with your shy doggy, setup your table in an area that is very recognized to your puppy. If your puppy barks at anything new, just leave your pause table in your house or terrace for several days, let your doggy inspect and smell it on his own or with a little coaxing, but don’t push to fast, keep in mind baby steps with the insecure puppy. With treats in a dish or his favorite toy placed on the table encourage your pup to get up on the table. This may take more than one lesson, be patient. If your timid doggy looses interest in food or toys when you attempt something new, trying holding him and you sit on the table. If your pup is too big to hold, have him on leash and you sit on the table. If he backs away coax him, only treat or reward him when he comes to you, never when he’s pulling back away from you or the table.

Eventually, you want your puppy to be able to jump on the table with your cue word, "Table", "Box", "Kennel", whatever word you use, Stay on the table as you back away and then Come when you call. Build your distance bit by bit so that your doggy is not pushed to soon.

From Pause Table to Contact Trainer is a nice transition for shy puppy. A Contact Trainer comes in different designs. We recommend a 3-Piece Contact Trainer that has one mini A-frame side, a Pause Table, and then a mini Puppy-walk side. Your puppy can Sit on the table and then be coaxed down the A-frame side or the Dog-walk side. Just keep in mind with the shy doggy, training is done in increments, bit by bit and comfortably, with a little push to stretch him, but not enough to overwhelm him to cause a shutdown.

You can follow the above techniques introducing new obstacles as your puppy is able to succeed. As your pup succeeds on each new piece of apparatus you will see his assurance grow.