Alternative Dog Breeds for Agility?

[blackcob]

one of the top dogs in the UK is a full brother to a dog which has won several IGP championship titles.

I blame this dog for my current situation

 

[KEK]

Yes I have seen the WUSV agility world cup in person a couple of times and as I said to BC at the time, it's a bit like watching the town service bus going around all the stops although there are some smashing dogs competing in all breeds, one of the top dogs in the UK is a full brother to a dog which has won several IGP championship titles.

WUSV agility world Cup? I don't think I've heard of this What does it stand for?
FCI world champs, WAO, EO, IFCS (not sure this one is still going (?) but not sure what you mean by that one and curious.

 

[Pippity]

Hopping onto this thread to ask a possibly daft agility question. When I was a kid and watching the agility at Crufts, the dogs would have to stay in a down on a table for a certain length of time in the middle of the course. Watching agility now, that seems to have been removed. How come? I always thought it must be one of the hardest things to train, so is that why?

 

[blackcob]

It’s too hard/inconsistent to time it - dogs are a lot faster now compared to the early days of agility, classes are won by hundredths of a second.

It was only removed from the equipment list in 2019 but hadn’t been used for many years previously, none of my dogs ever saw one and that’s been 10+ years. They did see sand and paint wooden contacts and cloth tunnels though Things have moved on a lot in a relatively short time.

 

[CorvusCorax]

Sorry KEK can't quote on phone but WUSV is the world union of German Shepherd clubs and they have held their own world cup both as a standalone event and as part of the same weekend as the IGP world championships, which is where I was able to watch it.

 

[ArklePig]

I know someone that has a brilliant GSP who flies like a machine, I was amazed when I saw him cause he's so solid and I had assumed that BCs and other more lithe breeds were what was needed. We took my springer x English pointer to one intro class and she was a natural, but then found out after she has hip dysplasia so we decided against continuing. Not that I would recommend anyone breeds one of those on purpose tbf lol.

 

[sarah.oxford]

I compete in Agility with Staffords. My oldest is 12 and she is still competing in Anysize.
My youngest is not yet 3. He's been competing since January and has won into Grade 2. He's also qualified for the UK Agility Grand Finals in the Dogeria Performance Challenge, the inspire finals and the Agility Club Starters Challenge. Very pleased with how it is going but it's a steep learning curve as he's so much faster than what I've had before.

 

[MissTyc]

My rando mutt farm terrier X super posh mini poodle (not an intentional breeding!) is very awesome at agility and generally awesome at "being a dog". She's very good at "dog things", agility, scentwork, cani-cross, retrieving, swimming, being around horses ....

 

[Nasicus]

I know a lady that does agility with her Tibetan Spaniels. Frankly the woman deserves a medal for managing that, wilful little buggers that they are!
Mine will jump up onto something if I tell her to 'Hup-up-pup', usually into the car, but if I asked her to weave through some agility poles I think I'd get some serious sideeye from her!

My Grandma used to do agility with her Jack Russels, until the group had to disband after the field they used was sold. They seemed to really enjoy it!

 

[Pippity]

It’s too hard/inconsistent to time it - dogs are a lot faster now compared to the early days of agility, classes are won by hundredths of a second.

It was only removed from the equipment list in 2019 but hadn’t been used for many years previously, none of my dogs ever saw one and that’s been 10+ years. They did see sand and paint wooden contacts and cloth tunnels though Things have moved on a lot in a relatively short time.

That makes sense, thanks! I didn't realise cloth tunnels had gone - I used to love seeing the dogs shooting through them.

 

[Errin Paddywack]

That makes sense, thanks! I didn't realise cloth tunnels had gone - I used to love seeing the dogs shooting through them.

Cloth tunnels could be a nightmare, I have seen many dogs get tangled up in them and even injured. That was why they were banned.

 

[blackcob]

Yup, saw many a dog get rolled up in one or come out on their side. They were also inconsistent - the heavier canvas went because dogs were grazing their noses on it and it got heavier in the wet, but the lighter material would catch in the wind and fly open halfway through a run.

Thinking about it my youngest has never seen a wishing well, a water jump or a brush fence either and I think they're still in the regs.

 

[Errin Paddywack]

Our club has a wishing well and a wall but we don't often get them out.

 

[MurphysMinder]

Hopping onto this thread to ask a possibly daft agility question. When I was a kid and watching the agility at Crufts, the dogs would have to stay in a down on a table for a certain length of time in the middle of the course. Watching agility now, that seems to have been removed. How come? I always thought it must be one of the hardest things to train, so is that why?

I competed at Crufts with my Gsd in the late 80s and a table was used then . The count was someone counting down 5,4,3,2,1 so not really very accurate . Not hugely hard to train though bigger dogs had to learn to slow down so they didn’t fly off other side .

 

[CorvusCorax]

We had a very fancy one at the club and that's exactly why we stopped using it; the dogs would just slide off....

 

[Janique]

anyone knowing about Basset Hounds doing agility ?

 

[BlackadderUK]

anyone knowing about Basset Hounds doing agility ?

Funnily enough....

 

[Tiddlypom]

Fabulous! His/her concentration getting that looong body through the bending poles!

 

[BlackadderUK]

Fabulous! His/her concentration getting that looong body through the bending poles!

Yep, I have nothing but admiration for the dogs that compete, especially those not really suited, & the trainers who must put so much time into the training. Not something I could do!