Agility - two questions for the experts

S

SadKen

Well-Known Member
Joined
3 September 2012
Messages
2,915
Location
North East Wales
Visit site
So my young GSD is very athletic and pretty obedient, and tonight he thoroughly enjoyed watching the agility at Olympia which I've shamelessly posted on another thread:

attachment.php


I was considering taking him to an agility course but a couple of questions for anyone who does it:

1. Does it negatively impact their joints etc? He's 3, but I'd rather have a dog that isn't injured and can walk long distances until he's old than one that does agility for a while now.
2. I doubt I'll have time to commit to a club or anything like that and would probably be on my own - there's a place locally that lets you hire their course. Leaving the stuff that's high up aside, is it feasible to just get him weaving and going over jumps/through tunnels etc myself? Thanks muchly!
 
If you haven't done agility before I wouldn't recommend trying to go alone, you need to be able to do the equipment safely etc, but you can practise in between on your own. Just be warned, its very addictive!
 
We're starting 'properly' next year (she's too young at the moment).

We've done a few low impact things in dog training - tunnel, hoop and a low jump - and can't wait.

I too have thought about the impact on joints etc. But I figure that we're never going to be competitive, so once a week at class will be huge fun for both of us. I also think the benefits to her training will be massive.
 
You could start tunnels and low jumps yourself, but other than that I would recommend joining a club with helpers who know what they are doing. You don't have to commit to going regularly, though as sam-b says it can become addictive. It shouldn't do any harm to his joints as you are starting him fully mature, although I have always had hips x rayed and scored before starting jumping. I competed at quite a high level of agility with one of my GSDs many years ago and it never had any affect on her soundness in old age, but that is why it is worth starting with someone who can show you how to negotitiate the obstacles without risking your dog.
 
Not an expert but I've been competing for a while now.

1. My agility dog is only five so can't really comment on the long term but no two ways about it, it is a high impact sport and injuries are not uncommon. Mine did a cruciate and has a couple of inches of titanium in her leg as a result (though has since returned to competition!) On the flip side the regular exercise, weight control, mental health benefits of regular training etc. have to count for something.

2. I taught my first dog to weave without really knowing what I was doing and have spent the last two years painstakingly trying to retrain. See also: contacts. There's various specific methods for training these for a consistent outcome, they would be hard to replicate without the guidance of a good trainer/club/investing in DVDs or books. Just jumps and tunnels and purely for fun, sure. :)
 
I think it would benefit you joining a club with a good trainer who will keep it very low key for starters, there are lots of people who go just for the fun and some who want to compete. Its a very social thing as well and you will make lots of friends and its good for keeping up your dogs social skills, your dog has to very fairly obedient too but you do start off on a lead and build it up. I did it with my Dobermann Darcy who was brilliant but was handicapped massively by me, she could have competed easily but would have been held up by me not being able to keep up with her.
 
All very good points I hadn't considered!

The place I was thinking of do one to one sessions if you want them - perhaps I should start there. I'd love to commit to once a week but it's unlikely to be honest, and whenever I've been in clubs of any kind before they (understandably!) get a bit sniffy when you don't come to every meet. I might give the one to one session a whirl. He's very obedient and picks things up really quickly, plus he's very sociable (I'm not!) so this might be a good intro to see if we like it. MM and BC thanks for your thoughts on the injury side, I think it's unlikely that I'd let him do everything or do any competing as I'd rather him be safe, but I really want to see him do the tunnel, I reckon he'd love it!
 
I would recommend you join a club to learn how to teach your dog the equipment correctly and safely.

I've done agility with 4 dogs from 1 year of age. Bertie competed until he was 9 years of age, then did allsorts for a year before retiring completely, I lost him a year ago at 15 years old and it was only in his last year he had a bit of arthritis. Teagan competed until she was 8 year old because of eyesight problems, she's now 13 years old and has a bit of arthritis, but still goes on the same walks as the other 2 dogs. Skye will be 9 years old in January and showing no signs of retiring anytime soon, she's also done flyball for the last 4.5 years. And Star is 4.5 years old and going from strength to strength at agility and flyball. Whereas I've seen quite a few pet Border Collies that don't do any sports that are crippled by arthritis by the age of 9 years and look older than my 15 year old did when I lost him.
 
Last edited:
Initially I found it quite difficult to get into, possibly because I'd been successful sj so I found starting at the bottom difficult. Plus my bc only just measures large so took her a while before she consistently clicked she should go over and not under! My coordination was a complete nightmare and I found even front crosses so difficult! Now we are grade 2 with other placings to our name, I have made some wonderful friends and really embrace the challenge. I have also been training my mini jet, who is absolutely brilliant and I actually enjoy running him more than the BC! Our club is competitive, but there are plenty there who have no desire to compete, and they are just as welcome and supported as well as being supportive! I love it. I do think the right club helps massively x
 
Would defo recommend some proper lessons most clubs will do a block of 6 to introduce the dog to agility equipment for about £50. Any good club won't judge if you can't make lessons every week, I work shifts and unfortunately the first 2-3yrs of me doing agility I might only go to lessons 3-4weekly although you should still expect to pay for your space (some clubs allow fortnightly spaces)

As a larger dog they work on building him up to full height, that being said if you want to do it just for fun you don't have to jump the height required for competition (which is based on the dogs height) a girl I train with has an older dog who started agility a couple of years ago and she only jumps UKA midi size which is 400mm but only does fun in house shows so it doesn't matter.

As for injuries, they can happen but the same could be said for dogs playing at the park!! My JRT is 7.5yrs and has been doing agility since 1yr old and competed for the last 3yrs, she has gotten slower when doing more complex courses as she has gone up the levels but if managed right warm up, cool down the risk of injury can be reduced. I also have them seen by a canine massage therapist/ physio 1-2 times a year depending on how they are going
 
Echo what others have said, much better to be taught, you will probably find it quite difficult to teach your dog on your own and there is a 'correct' way of doing things so if you do eventually decide to even do little unaff competitions its much better to teach them properly first of all.

I cant speak for other clubs but we work around those who work shifts etc quite well, and there are plenty of people who are privates only.

Edit - sorry forgot to mention about injuries. There are very few uncompetitive dogs that get injured, in fact I don't know of any dogs that have been injured due to agility that aren't hyper crazy dogs anyway. We have many dogs that are over the age of 10 at our club, and they are all still sound and happy.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top