It’s not that people deliberately start with speed. It’s that they often introduce it too soon, long before the dog has clarity about what accurate performance actually looks like. If we want dogs to move fast and accurately, research tells us we need to start by training for accuracy first, then gradually increase speed while preserving that form.

In classic motor learning studies, groups trained for either speed or accuracy were later asked to switch goals. The accuracy-trained group was able to increase their speed over time while maintaining precision. But the speed-trained group struggled to regain accuracy—even with extended practice. This asymmetry tells us something critical: when we prioritize precision early on, we build motor patterns that are stable and adaptable. Speed can be layered in later. But when we chase speed too soon, we risk reinforcing inconsistent or imprecise patterns that are harder to refine down the road.

A Note on Spatial and Temporal Accuracy

In movement science, accuracy is often divided into two categories:

• Spatial accuracy: Where the movement lands. Did your dog’s feet hit the target zone?
• Temporal accuracy: When the movement happens. Was the cue timed well? Did the movement occur at the right moment relative to the rest of the sequence?

Both forms of accuracy matter in agility. But research tells us that speed tends to interfere more with spatial accuracy than temporal accuracy. When arousal is high and motion is fast, landing in the right place becomes more difficult than simply staying in rhythm.

In my training, I account for this by building a higher standard of performance accuracy early in the process. I assume that speed (and spatial and temporal interference) will degrade performance to some degree. So, I design our early reps to create stability and clarity, giving the dog a solid foundation to return to, even when the picture becomes more complex.

Applying the Trade-off to Contacts

When it comes to contact performance, trainers have developed a range of strategies (e.g., stride regulators, contact mats, visual targets, etc.) to help dogs consistently meet contact performance standards. One widely used convention is to encourage rear foot hits low in the yellow zone with visible separation between feet. While this pattern aligns well with natural running strides and is relatively easy for judges to see and call accurately, it’s not the only pattern dogs may use.

Front foot hits can also be successful, but they can be harder to spot, and sometimes less stable when dogs are under speed and stress. If we could just say, “So Spot, your job is to touch the yellow zone,” training contacts would be a lot simpler. But unlike humans, dogs can’t just be told what the goal is… they have to figure it out through experience and reinforcement. That makes understanding in the early stages essential. Before we add speed, we need to be sure they truly understand the task. Our job is to help them develop movement strategies that are both reliable and flexible, that hold up under pressure, even when the picture changes.

How I’ve Used These Concepts in My Own Contact Training

In my own training, I’ve experimented with ways to give dogs a clearer picture of what success looks and feels like, before introducing speed. One early tool? A mousepad. It became my first contact mat; a small, tactile, and consistent visual target placed low in the contact zone on the a-frame or dogwalk.

I didn’t focus on which foot hit. I wanted my dogs to confidently self-organize, regardless of approach angle, lead leg, or exit path. Instead of training a specific stride pattern, I focused on building adaptable motor programs that could hold up under the varied conditions dogs actually face in sport.

I also don’t ask my dogs to perform the full obstacle early in training. This isn’t just about the speed–accuracy trade-off (which is important). It’s also about the changing forces and balance demands involved in different phases of the obstacle. On the a-frame, the dog ascends, clears the apex, and begins descent. On the dogwalk, they transition from incline to flat top to decline. These shifts challenge postural control and dynamic stability, especially at speed or when cueing complexity is introduced too early.

These postural changes increase the physical challenge, and when paired with an incompletely learned skill, the risks aren’t limited to missed contacts. Accuracy can suffer, but so can safety.