Bar knocking. Dropped bars. Whatever you call it, it’s one of the most frustrating dog agility problems—especially when it shows up out of nowhere, or only in competition. The good news? There’s always a reason behind it.
In this post, we’ll walk through four common causes of bar knocking in agility and offer clear, actionable solutions based on the OneMind Dogs method. Whether your dog knocks bars on turns, can’t seem to clear a jump cleanly, or only drops bars when the excitement ramps up, there’s something here for you.
Watch our free webinar on this topic for an even deeper insight into bar knocking in agility!
1. Your dog has a physical issue affecting their jumping
If your dog suddenly starts knocking bars, your first step should be to rule out physical causes. A dog that’s uncomfortable or unfit won’t be able to jump properly, no matter how strong your handling is.
Common physical causes of bar knocking:
- Overweight or out of shape: Dogs need solid fitness and core strength to handle jump heights. Don’t move to full-height jumps until your dog is in good physical condition.
- Lack of coordination or body awareness: Some dogs struggle with knowing how to shift their weight and collect their stride. Balance and coordination exercises can work wonders.
- Injury or discomfort: The issue might not be visible. A visit to a vet, canine physiotherapist, chiropractor, or osteopath can uncover hidden pain or restrictions.
- Vision problems: Yes, dogs can struggle with depth perception too. If you suspect this, book an appointment with an eye specialist.
💡 Solution: If you think your dog may be uncomfortable, pause agility training and get a professional assessment. Jumping is high-impact—don’t push through it if your dog might be in pain.
2. Your dog is getting late information about where to go next
One of the most common causes of dropped bars—especially on turns—is late handling.
At OneMind Dogs, we believe dogs should know where they’re going at least one stride before take-off. If they’re guessing mid-air whether to turn or go straight, they might knock the bar trying to adjust.
Imagine this:
You’re driving in a new city and your GPS tells you to “turn left” as you enter the intersection. You’re already committed to going straight, and trying to change last-minute would be dangerous—or at least chaotic. That’s exactly how your dog feels when you cue a turn too late.
💡 Solution: Practice giving early, clear cues before the jump—not while your dog is in the air. This includes using body position, motion, and silence to tell your dog what’s next.
✅ Try this:
- Use silent handling for a few sessions to remove the noise and focus on body language.
- Practice jump exercises where your dog needs to turn, and work on giving the turn cue before they reach the take-off point.
- Only add verbal cues between obstacles, not over them.
3. Your dog doesn’t fully understand the handling technique
Sometimes, the problem isn’t excitement or fitness—it’s confusion. If your dog doesn’t understand the meaning of a specific handling cue, often because your handling elements are out of sync, they may knock the bar while trying to figure it out.
This often happens when new techniques are introduced too quickly or at full jump height, skipping over the teaching stages, or without the handler working out the mechanics without the dog beforehand.
💡 Solution: Go back to basics.
- First learn the technique yourself, without the dog. Focus on the 7 elements and getting them correct even at a run
- Then bring in the dog and start by teaching the new handling technique step by step, following the teaching steps in our videos.
- Then add a low bar, around hock height, to help your dog learn the movement without worrying about the jump itself.
- Gradually increase difficulty and add more obstacles as your dog becomes more confident and consistent.
🏆 Tip: Jump training isn’t just about physical ability—it’s about mental clarity, too.
4. Your dog is too excited or reactive to your motion on course
High energy is great in agility… until it gets in the way of clean jumping. If your dog is so amped up they’re charging through jumps or crashing bars when you run ahead, it’s time to work on impulse control.
Signs this might be your dog:
- They drop bars more often when the pace increases.
- They knock bars when you get ahead of them.
- They’re so focused on you that they forget to look at the bar.
- They mostly knock bars in competition, not training.
💡 Solutions:
- Teach your dog to calm down before a run. Calmness = control.
- Practice rewarding your dog on their line in training, not from your hand. This helps shift focus away from chasing you and back to the obstacle.
- Try distraction training with intentional late cues or movement—this teaches your dog not to overreact to your actions.
- Work on impulse control games off the agility field, like wait-and-release games or slow treat delivery.
🔥 Pro Tip: If your dog only drops bars in competition, try replicating that excitement level in training. Turn up the energy—add cheering, toys, speed—and teach your dog to stay focused even when their adrenaline is high.
Bonus reasons your dog might be knocking bars:
Bar knocking can also happen for more subtle reasons. Here are a few more to consider:
- Lack of connection, if you don’t connect with your dog they won’t be able to focus on cleanly performing the jump. Even showing the side of your face and seeing your dog in your peripheral vision is often enough.
- They don’t understand the consequence of dropping a bar: Add distraction training to highlight the difference between clearing a jump and hitting it.
- They are distracted by too many verbal cues: Practice silent runs to develop better awareness of your body language.
Find the solution to bar knocking
Every agility dog is different—but the reasons for knocking bars tend to fall into a few key categories. Whether it’s timing, understanding, fitness, or focus, there’s always a way to help your dog become a cleaner jumper.
🏁 Want more help? Watch our free webinar: 4 reasons your dog is dropping bars in agility for practical tips, real-world examples, and OneMind Dogs techniques you can try today.
