Agility course training for malamutes

C

Cor

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Hi guys, on sunday I had my first session in agility course training for my lovely malamute! I am so impressed, it was so much fun, good quality time to spend with my dog, also good opportunity for my dog to socialize with other dogs.

I am so proud of my dog, as he got all jumps and parts of the course correctly, never hesitated to attempt one, he cooperated so well..

Ofcourse, as a first introduction, I had to use both the leash and some treats (second and third time, no treats).

I was just wondering if you could offer me any tips on how to do the course with out the dog being on leash. Would that be possible? Or does it take months of training to get that?

Thanks a lot....
 
misterjay said:
Wow! Another Mally nutter!

Don't know anything about agility, but I bet your mal loves it :D

We have two (at the moment lol) and work them in harness. Our first ever rally is fast approaching eeekkk!
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I love my mal so much, I am indeed a mally nutter!
He is such a nice character, his lovely nature never seizes to amaze me! So easygoing, so kind! Eager to please, always! Obedient, never stubborn! sociable but also shy at times! And a miracle of nature, just to be able to look at his beautiful face, his honest eyes.

I feel so lucky to have this dog, a true, loyal companionship, I am familiar with other dog breeds, the kind nature of this breed i have never seen in my life...

Ofcourse, I adopted him from a shelter, perhaps this has made him the lovely character he is now, If I had had him as a puppy, I am sure I would have spoiled him by now.....
 
We waste so much time just looking at ours - such gorgeous dogs and so loving. I've had samoyeds for years, and still have one now (will never be without a sam - love them), but the mals are so different. Samoyed's eyes are so dark, and the mals eyes are golden - you can see them smiling much easier.

We waited years for the right breeder to have a litter, and they are fabulous dogs.
 
My older dog was quite dog-aggressive so I had to keep him on a long line for quite a while as if another dog went too close we would have a 'handbags at dawn' situation.
Once he started knowing what to do and getting absorbed in it he no longer looked at the other dogs but I did have to be careful when waiting in the wings/finishing to get him back.

It depends on the dog, if he is happy to stick with you and your instructor is fine with it, you will know yourself when it is time for the lead to come off.
The sledding breeds, are known for tanking off and not being as velcroed to their handlers as some other breeds so your instructor is maybe erring on the side of caution.

Just one word of warning, they are big, heavy-set, weight bearing dogs so just be mindful of not over-doing things as they will suffer more wear and tear on landing than smaller-framed dogs, they are bred to pull, not jump but good for you for doing something different :) my dog, who is the size of a donkey, injured his back coming down very heavily off an A-frame, if he had been the same build as my younger dog I doubt it would have had such an impact on him.
 
I only have ever find 121 agility training, so group environment may be different but Harley was never on the lead for any of his training. My trainer started directional training off lead from the first lesson and encouraging forward drive over a fence. I have only ever done this with 1 dog so far from an expert but H is obsessed with tennis balls and this is what was used to teach the drive and directions.

To teach direction I had the ball in my outside hand and turned myself encouraging him to follow the ball. When he did I then threw the ball forward for him to get it as his reward. Eventually he learnt the hand and body signals without the ball which is what you use round a course. To teach drive forward over a fence you need a sit wait and then I placed the ball the other side of the fence, gave the release command for him to go forwards and over the jump. Once that was in place I then didn't put the ball there first and asked him to jump it and threw the ball forwards when he jumped. Hope that vaguely makes sense!

I'd suggest finding a good trainer. :)
 
To add my agility training is in an enclosed area so if you could find the same set up it should be ok for a mal?
 
It took around four months of weekly hour-long lessons before we were doing short sequences off lead and until probably eight months before she was spending the whole session off the lead and completing full courses. Almost two years on I'm dithering about competing, never thought we'd get that far! :)

She's a sibe rather than a moot but similar applies, we deliberately chose a venue with a securely fenced training area and will only be competing in winter indoor shows, narrows the field a bit but there's plenty that take place at equestrian centres and such that have indoor rings. While mid-course she's very focused but as with CC it's the in-between bits and the finish that are the problem, she'd quite likely do a course following my every instruction, get to the finish and disappear under the rope into the next ring (and then off into the distance, not to be caught for the next hour if ever).

We use treats for every exercise at every session, I've never managed to kindle the slightest toy drive in either of them but they do need something, these kind of dogs will always consider what's in it for them, nothing is done purely for the pleasure of the human. :o
 
Bc, when I took Harley to his first show away from the training centre I was so worried he'd sod off into another ring!!! Thankfully he didn't (the courses were all planned that the last fence pointed at the gate) but I was gobsmaked by the number of dogs that did!!!!! So you wouldn't be alone or tutted at! Lol! The worst offenders I saw we're Tollers! Lol!

We are not allowed to use food for training except for contacts as food is banned in the competition ring. But I remember the look if relief on my trainers face when I said he was obsessed with tennis balls! Makes life a lot easier!
 
Thanks to all for your very helpful comments. The course takes place in an enclosed field. which is really good for my mal....

Problem is this is a group lesson so the trainer is not always there to help us, perhaps 121 lessons would be more beneficial...

I think we will go for the remaining 5 group lessons, see how it goes, if my mal enjoys it, and if it does we take it to the next level with personal lessons.

Thanks again
 
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