Spring and Summer Agility Training
Staying Safe, Whatever the Weather
Spring agility training in the UK means longer evenings and the chance to get back outdoors. It also means mud, pollen, showers, 24°C when you booked in for 14°C, and a host of other things to plan around.
Here’s how to handle it – and how to keep your dog safe as the real heat of summer arrives.
Moving Outdoors After Winter
If you’ve spent winter training indoors, outdoor surfaces behave differently. Grass can be slippery when wet, uneven in places and harder on joints than indoor matting. Give your dog a few light sessions to adjust before pushing for speed or full-height obstacles.
I don’t train while it is raining. Neither dogs nor humans enjoy it and most crucially, the ground gets too slippery.
If you’re arriving after a shower, check the equipment. Contacts can be slick, tunnels might have collected water and metal bases can shift in soft ground.
If your dog’s had a winter layoff or reduced training, rebuild fitness gradually. Start with shorter, easier sessions and work back up over a few weeks.
Spring-Specific Challenges
Pollen affects some dogs just like humans, causing sneezing, watery eyes or itching. If your dog’s scratching more than usual or seems less focused during outdoor sessions, allergies might be why.
Wet grass from morning dew or a recent shower can create slippery contacts and landing zones. If so, lower speeds, reduce jump heights slightly and keep sequences straightforward until the ground dries out.
After muddy sessions, rinse your dog’s paws. Mud left between pads can cause irritation.
Managing Changeable Temperatures
You might book a session expecting 14°C and wake up to find it’s 24°C. That’s when you need to be prepared.
For yourself, dress in layers you can remove as you warm up. Bring sun protection for bright days and waterproofs for surprise showers.
For your dog, keep an eye on how they’re coping. If they’re panting more than usual or slowing down earlier than normal, shorten your sequences, add more breaks and consider stopping early.
I don’t train full courses when it’s over 21-22°C, and at 23-24°C or more we move indoors if it’s cooler.
When Summer Arrives: Training in the Heat
As temperatures rise, when you train starts to matter as much as how you train. Early mornings or late evenings are your best options. Midday sun heats both the air and the ground – by early afternoon, it’s often simply too hot.
Grass is usually your best surface in warmer weather. Artificial surfaces and darker materials absorb heat and can burn paws even when the air temperature feels OK.
Waiting areas need shade. Trees, gazebos or shade cloth over crates will keep dogs cooler between runs. If there’s no natural shade, bring a pop-up shelter or an umbrella.
Surface Safety
Before you start training, test the ground with your hand or bare foot for five to seven seconds. If it’s too hot for you, it’ll be too hot for your dog’s pads.
Pay particular attention to black rubber contacts and metal equipment, as these heat up fast on sunny days.
Hydration and Cooling
Offer cool, fresh water before, during and after training. Small amounts frequently work better than one big drink.
Between runs, use cooling aids to help your dog recover. Damp towels, cooling mats or a wet coat can bring their temperature down during rest periods.
On genuinely hot days – anything over 20°C – consider pre-cooling. Wet your dog’s chest, belly, groin and inner thighs with cool water before you start. This lowers their body temperature slightly before they begin working.
Training Structure for Warmer Days
On warmer days, keep warm-ups shorter and gentler to avoid tiring your dog before you’ve even started.
Break work into very short sequences with plenty of rest in between. Favour skills work that uses brain power over sprinting – contacts, targeting, directional cues – and reduce repetitions of high-impact obstacles like weaves and A-frames.
Watch for any drop in speed, focus or enthusiasm. These are early warning signs that your dog’s had enough. Don’t push through.
Recognising Heat Stress
Increased panting, a bright red tongue and gums, drooling, slowing down or reluctance to continue are all early signs of heat stress. If you see any of these, stop immediately. Move your dog to shade, offer cool water, and wet their chest, belly and inner thighs.
More serious signs include wobbliness, vomiting, very dark or pale gums, or collapse. If you see these, begin cooling with cool water and get to a vet urgently.
Never leave your dog in a car on a warm day, even for a few minutes.
A Simple Hot-Weather Session
Start with a five-minute shaded walk and a few low jumps or tunnels at an easy speed. Run a two-minute skills sequence, then give five to ten minutes of rest in a shaded crate with water and a cooling mat.
Repeat two to three times only, and only if your dog’s still bright and the ground’s cool enough. If either changes, stop.
Stay Flexible
Check surface temperatures before you start. Watch your dog for signs they’re struggling. Shorten sessions when needed. And don’t be stubborn about sticking to your training plan when the weather has other ideas.
Pack layers, bring plenty of water and accept that the British weather will always have the last word.
Photo by Connor Ellsworth on Unsplash