Agility

[poiuytrewq]

Does anyone here do agility?
Today at puppy school (which Cecil is fairly crap at ?) we had the final few minutes on the agility equipment to build confidence and have fun.
We only got to do a few things due to time but Cecil seemed to really enjoy and get the hang of it.
Any ideas on easy home made stuff I can use at home?
I thought electric fence posts for weaving in and out.
I will google but don’t really know what there is to recreate it!
Any more ideas, especially photos would be great.

 

[SAujla]

You can get hoopers and tunnels for agility on amazon. Ground hoopers might be better at his age so he doesn't have to jump much, protect his bones and joints whilst he's growing. I've seen videos of people using ladders flat to the ground and the dogs got to walk through

 

[Karran]

We dabble although flyball is more our thing. Not sure how old Cecil is? But getting a great start line wait and perhaps teaching him left and right will be a good way to start? Depending on how old he is you could start with a pole on the floor (or small jump) and teach him to walk/hop over as well?
Agilitynet will have a list of local to you clubs.

 

[poiuytrewq]

Thanks, I shall look at Amazon. The jumping is a good point. I’ll avoid that as he’s only about 5 months.
The place we go to for puppy class actually do lots of further training including agility so we can carry on going there.
Hoopers, is that just hoops to go through?

 

[blackcob]

No jumping or weaving for a long time yet but this is a great time to work on a solid wait, a hand touch/target touch, driving on to a toy and finding value in you and a toy, and being able to do these things in an environment of hyped-up noisy dogs. This kind of stuff:

Equipment comes later ?

 

[SAujla]

Thanks, I shall look at Amazon. The jumping is a good point. I’ll avoid that as he’s only about 5 months.
The place we go to for puppy class actually do lots of further training including agility so we can carry on going there.
Hoopers, is that just hoops to go through?

I got some hoopers from ebay, couldn't find non-jumping ones from amazon

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/303080558449?hash=item4691024f71:g:2i4AAOSwsotamW0I

It can be fun when your dog clicks into what you want and goes through the hoop when you ask them too. I use these and other things like tunnels or cones, I won't go to jumping agility until my pup is over 2 years of age

 

[splashgirl45]

i had a go at a little agility test last weekend, my little terrier seemed to love it so i think i might try to do some when she is a bit older, i might get a set from amazon to make a start at home...she is just one year old..

 

[poiuytrewq]

So I think he’s too young isn’t he. I hadn’t even thought of that.
Maybe stuff like tunnels, walking along planks and through floor hoops just for interest?
He does a hand touch already, is that agility related?

 

[splashgirl45]

ive just ordered an agility set from amazon. i checked some dog training sites and it says you cant compete under 15 months. my little maniac is 1 yr 1 month and is currently dashing into the garden, jumping into the paddling pool and galloping back and jumping on to my lap, luckily i am prepared with a towel. i think it wont hurt her to do a bit of structured training over mini jumps and through weave poles....may just give her brain something to think about....

 

[poiuytrewq]

ive just ordered an agility set from amazon. i checked some dog training sites and it says you cant compete under 15 months. my little maniac is 1 yr 1 month and is currently dashing into the garden, jumping into the paddling pool and galloping back and jumping on to my lap, luckily i am prepared with a towel. i think it wont hurt her to do a bit of structured training over mini jumps and through weave poles....may just give her brain something to think about....

? brilliant!
I have no real desire to compete,again hadn’t thought of that really. It was just that he seemed to enjoy it. There was a bridge, in reality it was on the floor but he ran along it easily and later on when I walked past it to get my bag he got back up and ran along it without being asked… he then sits prettily after each thing asking for a treat so competitive we won’t be ?

 

[blackcob]

He does a hand touch already, is that agility related?

It's really useful for introducing some of the moves you see in the video - turns, wing wraps, moving the dog around your body and turning them away from you.

They have to be 18 months to compete at licensed shows. Honestly 90% of everything they need to know can be taught without jumping or weaving and with only basic equipment (couple of jump wings would do for months!) so don't rush a baby dog. Weaves in particular are an incredibly high impact behaviour and are not usually taught until 12 months plus or longer for a large dog.

 

[poiuytrewq]

It's really useful for introducing some of the moves you see in the video - turns, wing wraps, moving the dog around your body and turning them away from you,

Oh fab ok, I haven’t watched yet. Oh is watching something on TV avidly so will watch later!

 

[MurphysMinder]

As blackcob says , no jumping or weaving or high contact equipment until at least 12 months . Her little lad is a great example of how the right groundwork can help them be super by the time they start competing.