Does agility send dogs crazy?!

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MagicMelon

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Having done weekly obedience classes with our 7 month old puppy, we decided we weren't really achieving much (the only class remotely near us is very popular so loads of dogs in it mean you dont achieve much and we seemed to be just doing the same things over and over).

So we figured we'd give agility a go! We're getting private training 2 hours once a week at the moment until she's good enough to go in with a class (right now, I know she'd find the other dogs too exciting!). Of course, things are kept very gentle due to her age so the jumps are like an inch off the floor etc. She absolutely loves it, however I have noticed that she has become a bit more bouncy at home. She's a labradoodle so naturally very active, but we've always dealt with her in a very calm manner to keep her as chilled out as possible and we don't overdo the excitment aspect at the agility class. Its not a problem, I just wonder if its possible to have a dog which only "turns it on" when at agility and the rest of the time can be pretty calm?! Or does agility generally teach the dog to become more high energy all the time?
 
Some dogs have an on and an off switch, some don't, some load off excitement/self-load/self-reward, some load off their handlers.
Keep very calm and neutral in your movements, if you get 'high' so will she, most likely!!

The bounciness at home might just be an age/maturity thing. You can introduce cues, IE we're going to do agility now (a certain collar or harness) and we're going to chill out now (take the collar or harness off, put her in a certain place or bed or mat).
Between 6-24 months is when you are likely to see the teenage/more hyper behaviour.

Bear in mind obedience/control/focus is a large part of agility and you can't have one without the other :)
 
I've been doing agility for about 2 years now with my gsp. We started when he was 18 months. Only recently weekly, before then fortnightly. Certainly hasn't made him more bouncy. In fact now we go weekly I can see how much more focused he is on me all the time (although age may also be a factor)

I find whenever I take him out for exercise he can be ott for a good 15 mins when he gets home. He finds a toy and bounces around playing. He doesn't do any harm so I let him get on with it (unless he's wet when he has to lay in his bed which he will). After that he sparks out ;)
 
I would be questioning any club that let you start before 12 months. I know you said jumps are small but the changing of stride and climbing equipment etc do cause a fair bit of wear and tear and on growing joints I just wouldn't risk it, sorry.

But, to answer the question, I have 2 border collies that I do agility with. The first is reasonably fast (nothing like some though) and does well but is very calm at home and when waiting. The other is generally nuts anyway, and this shows when she is there.

So, really, it depends on the individual.
 
All the dogs I have done agility with have switched on and off without a problem. However as Sam says I wouldn't be doing anything other than tunnels with a 7 month old, particularly a cross of 3 breeds known to have hd problems. If I were you I would just concentrate on control work until at least 12 months old.
 
7 months old is too young for agility - it's also too young for sanity in a dog. You need to keep on working on control and self-discipline (whether in a class or out) so you will be ready to make a good start on agility when she gets to a year old and is mature enough to do agility without hurting herself.
 
Please keep taking her to some kind of class, if only to keep her socialising and learning to focus on you. Socialising needs to be kept up on a regular basis, a young dog can easily go backwards and go through a fearful stage even after initial socialising. Agree with all the posts about seven months being too young for most of the equipment used in agility, especially with a largeish dog.
 
MagicMelon said:
We're getting private training 2 hours once a week at the moment until she's good enough
Click to expand...

Is that in 1 session? If so that would be mental overload! When I did 1 2 1 it was for half an hour and he was knackered from the thinking as well as the exercise for the rest of the day. Now we are in a group, usually 4/5 of us, but occasionally only 2/3 and he is SO tired by the end of the hour and it's not from the exercise.

Agility does not teach them to be high energy it is about self control and focus.
 
OP I've just had a 1-2-1 session with a trainer (not agility) with 2 dogs (training was separate but the hour was for them both) it was really good and was on basics, heal, stay, sit (for the new one who is like a yoyo) and for my new re-home we just concentrated on calming her down and how I need to be and act with her to create this. I found this far better than the classes I did and cost effective as I can work on certain things and then have him back to work on the next steps so it's not every week. I agree with the need to continue socialising but you can possibly create this yourself if you have friends with dogs or get to know those who go to your local park each day (depends where you are, I don't have a local park but my friend who is city based exercises that way).
I really feel I have something to work on :)
 
I have a rucksack with agility shizz in (water, bowl, toys, treat bag etc.) and mine knows that when I pick that up it's agility time and she goes absolutely nuts while I clip her lead on. Apart from that there's no negative effect on her behaviour at all and if anything she's a lot calmer at home for having regular training. She may be going hell for leather around the course but it's focused and under (almost :p) complete control, not just random whizziness.

Agree with others that seven months is too young to start and especially not for two hour sessions. Our club will start from ten months - I know this doesn't sound a great deal different to seven but a huge amount happens developmentally in those few months - and it's a one hour group session so short exercises with rests in between.

There is plenty of foundation work you can put in towards agility without actually sending them over obstacles which will make everything a lot more straightforward as you progress. The Control Unleashed books by Leslie McDevitt are excellent and there's a specific puppy one. Most usefully of all now is the time to instill a drive for a toy; a dog that will turn itself inside out for a tennis ball is exactly what you want for agility. :)
 
And for anyone following my long term ranting about the Dog Who Will Not Show Interest In Toys, just in the last few weeks I've cracked it and now have a dog that will do anything for a certain specific ball. It's unbelieveably useful. :D
 
sounds like your dog might be over tired - how long is she being exercised for - the reason i mention this is our young springer went through a phase where she got mentally tired and then as a consequence would become more and more hyper (bit like an over tired toddler) try dialling down the exercise for a couple of days and see how she behaves then - also on a personal note i wouldn't be doing agility with any dog under the age of a year due to the trauma you can do to growing bones and joints. Also 2.5hrs seems like a long time for any young dog to be working and thinking but maybe thats just me?
 
I've been doing agility for about 14 years and don't start my pups on equipment until they are at least 10 months old and they are small Border Collies and not the weaves until they are over 12 months old. For a large breed dog I wouldn't be doing anything more than poles on the floor and tunnels until at least 14 months old. There's still alot that can be taught without the equipment before this though (ie wait, directions, play drive). I actually find I get a better bond and more control with my dog when I start agility trianing. It may have more to do with your dogs age as they go through a teenage stage at about this age and can forget everything they have been taught. Even with my adult dogs I wouldn't be doing more than a half hour 1-2-1 session at agility, I would probably have an hour for my 2 dogs that compete if I booked a 1-2-1.
 
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