Beginners agility and basic training

[poiuytrewq]

Having been to this dog training centre recently with Bertie I have been watching the agility.
I’d always thought of taking Cecil after he had a few plays as a puppy, he was way too young so didn’t do it properly but I thought he seemed to enjoy it.
What level of basic training would be required to book a beginners course?
He’s pretty good with no distractions (rodents)
I *think in a fenced arena like they have he would focus on me. He learnt a touch recall as a puppy which needs sharpening up on a bit but he remembers and can still do it (believe that’s used in agility?)
I think I’d probably need to refresh his training a little before booking but what would be expected?

 

[lizziebell]

A good experienced agility trainer will have you starting with basic handling on the lead, so I wouldn’t worry too much. When I started agility with my whippet, his sit/ wait/ recall was pretty ropey having spectacularly failed our KC bronze award the week before - 5 years later and he’s still as disobedient , but he loves his agility.

 

[blackcob]

A sit stay, a recall and a strong enthusiasm for food and/or a toy will do you for beginners. It's also useful that they not want to eat other dogs (but not insurmountable!). I wouldn't expect to do much if any work on a lead.

 

[poiuytrewq]

He’s not great at stay. He will do it in certain situations ie- I’m going out and he’s not. I’m
Unsure if it’s a real stay or if he just understands I’m leaving to work or ride and that’s not something he comes with me for, if that makes sense.
If I said stay in the middle of a park and walked away he would definitely follow.
He won’t eat another dog, unless it’s black but it’s private sessions anyway so I don’t think I need to worry about that

 

[CorvusCorax]

Food or toy drive, focus on the handler and an understanding to remain in one place and/or commute from one fixed point to another are helpful.

 

[Clodagh]

Slightly jumping in this thread…(sorry). My next pup, in the spring, I think I will future proof against a possible ban on game shooting by doing other things. Having watched Spottherisk at agility it’s not at all what I expected and can see it could be done with a working dog.
But… I don’t tug of war with my dogs, which I know some trainers say you can but it makes me a bit agog! Can you get the same enthusiasm for primula?
Sorry OP!

 

[ihatework]

Hands up, complete novice here ....
My puppy started at 5/6 months, initially privately then joined a group.
Things we did privately were:
Blockwork - standing on 'on it', moving/twisting round 'twist', sitting whilst front feet on block then shifting sit-stand-sit, shifting forwards from front feet onto back feet 'feet'. All of these fun training things in their own right, but the 'on it' and 'feet' in time have translated into the agility. It's also good core work to help prepare them for sport.
Games to focus on the hand. All help with directional cues for agility. Started with 'touch' reward. Then turning circles clockwise and counter-clockwise to a left and right command.
Learning a sit and wait (not our finest ) and then recall at increasing distance between wings on a straight line. Then sending through wings and building drive using either a toy, initially single wing then progressing to sets of wings on a circle.

 

[MurphysMinder]

Slightly jumping in this thread…(sorry). My next pup, in the spring, I think I will future proof against a possible ban on game shooting by doing other things. Having watched Spottherisk at agility it’s not at all what I expected and can see it could be done with a working dog.
But… I don’t tug of war with my dogs, which I know some trainers say you can but it makes me a bit agog! Can you get the same enthusiasm for primula?
Sorry OP!

My little ones aren’t that toy motivated, they work purely for food , and are very enthusiastic

 

[ihatework]

Clodagh you could get you own very special toy for foodies ....

Funniest dog toy ever

Well Loki is rocking junior agility. He is a natural. He started some very low jumping this week and as he is more food motivated than tuggy motivated, the trainer bought out a training toy from his car ….. Wait for it ….. I did my very best adulting and swallowed my sniggers ….. I introduce...

forums.horseandhound.co.uk

 

[Jenko109]

You don't need much really. A sit and a stay would be useful. That alongside. knowing what your dog's motivation is.

I have a few credits with my local dog club that I need to use up, so I'm taking my whippet to a few beginners agility classes. Starting today actually.

I fully expect it to be a shit show. He is a very independent thinker and is the type that if he doesnt understand something straight away, he will just remove himself from the situation and stop trying, rather than try and understand.

 

[Marnie]

I do agility for fun with Bunny, she had basic puppy training - her stay is shaky to say the least but the rest is reasonable. We do some bits on lead but mainly now we are off lead and I keep her attention with a squeaky toy as that keeps her focused much more than food or anything else. Others use a variety of food - primula, liver paste or something they find in the fridge! We both enjoy it - I have met a new group of people and she gets to have a bit of a play with her dog friends at the end of the session.

 

[Annette4]

Slightly jumping in this thread…(sorry). My next pup, in the spring, I think I will future proof against a possible ban on game shooting by doing other things. Having watched Spottherisk at agility it’s not at all what I expected and can see it could be done with a working dog.
But… I don’t tug of war with my dogs, which I know some trainers say you can but it makes me a bit agog! Can you get the same enthusiasm for primula?
Sorry OP!

My girls (granted flyball as opposed to agility) are not toy motivated, they only work for food so I have a toy with a clam on the end which holds food. I get the same enthusiasm without the risk of dropping the food. They don't tug, just pounce on the clam and open it to get their prize.

 

[Ditchjumper2]

Mine are not toy motivated but will do anything for a cocktail sausage . There is so much basic stuff you can do even on walks. Just saying left and right as you turn for starters. If they absolutely don't wait your start can be a wing wrap. One of mine would wait for the ever the other is shaky. Obviously mine are small must be harder if you have a faster bigger dog lol

 

[poiuytrewq]

Mine are not toy motivated but will do anything for a cocktail sausage . There is so much basic stuff you can do even on walks. Just saying left and right as you turn for starters. If they absolutely don't wait your start can be a wing wrap. One of mine would wait for the ever the other is shaky. Obviously mine are small must be harder if you have a faster bigger dog lol

I’m not so sure Cecil would even see a jump or obstacle in front of him with a cocktail sausage around

 

[blackcob]

Food is fine (I trained 2.5 dogs on food, one started on tugs but ultimately had more desire for cocktail sausages) but you will need a method of rewarding with it independently of you like a clam (snurk!), velcro pouch on a handle, Manners Minder etc.