Calling all Agility Peeps...

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Taffyhorse

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Hi There,

I am looking at enrolling Freddie (and me!) in a local agility class.

However, I don't really know very much about it apart from seeing it at shows etc. Is there any pre-training I should do beforehand? Or anything else I should be aware of?

Any tips and hints on do's/don'ts/maybe's and definitely nots much appreciated :-)

FYI he's a 3 yr old BC - basic obedience is fine, sit, stay, heel, down and recall (most of the time anyway!)

Cheers,
 
Ooo that's exciting :D I compete with my JRT

There's loads of things, but they're mostly specific i.e. contacts, course walking etc, most of which will be explained when you start learning.

I'd recommend a favourite toy or treat and only use it when you go to classes as more motivation for training, although eventually you'll have to wean off of that as you can't compete with a toy or food in the ring.

Work on sending him away from you, working in front of you as opposed to heal and staying close as you'll need him ahead of you more often than not.

I bet there are more knowledgable people on here who can advise you :D
 
teach him out and away - dont focus on close too much as you need them working awy from you......

echo - erm echodomino though... :D


i competed with my springly thing and she won in her first comp - then sadly had to retire her age 3 with bad legs :(
 
I forgot the number 1 all important rule that must never ever ever never be forgotton....................................HAVE FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUN!!!!!!
 
Fabulous thanks guys :-)

He does do 'away' though responds to 'get on' (my folks have gundogs :-) but it has the same response I guess.

Won't forget the fun part :-)
 
You may have to find some way of practicing the collapsable tunnel, quite a few dogs don't like those because they can't see all the way through they have to push their way through. Mouse didn't like them and would go around them or need me to lift the end for ages, until my then instructor set a course up that went "A" frame, collapasable, and Mouse went that fast up and over the "A" she had no time to refuse the tunnel and ran straight through. Had no probs since :)
 
if your gardens big enough btw we have some poles we bought from a show a few years ago (we had 2 competing collies before the spaniel) and practise in the garden.

but robinsons have the poles in - and go take/steal some cones from the skip! (we did)!! lmao and then buy a tunnel from toys are us....

definately make it so much fun for your dog.... even when they get it wrong. and dont say"no" when they gt it wrong - we use the wordf "wrong" then "oh dear" (really light hearted)! :)
 
oooh have fun:D

i always say to people coming to me to train; dont bother unless you have a concrete stay. You see loads of dogs competing without one, the owners have to do a running start and it often goes t*** up by jump3. My motto is, if you dont have control at the start line;you wont have control round the course:cool:
 
Hmmm, I suspect our 'stay' won't be quite as concrete as it should be - at least until he gets used to the general bubub of things. He is generally very obedient - one problem is that I live in a wood and we hardly ever see anyone when we are out walking so its difficult to guage just how 'solid' everything is. Having said that, we've taken him out and about as much as possible - game fairs, the beach, the pub :-) etc and once he's got over his initial 'I'm the dude' bit, he's generally ok. I can still control him but have to use a firmer voice than normal as the attention isn't quite there to start with...

Don't have a massive garden but prob have enough room to set some basic things up.

I thought the point of the training sessions was that they would show you what to do and help you and your dog - is that not the case? Does it tend to be a bit 'in at the deep end'?

Sorry for the numpty questions, this is the first time we've considered anything like this.

Cheers and thanks again for all your help. I guess I could just go along and see how we get on :-) Nothing ventured, nothing gained and all that...
 
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