What age can dogs start agility?

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Cedars

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Hey all....

Wondering what age I can start doing some agility with Chloe? She's a black lab, and 7 months old.

I want to do a few very small jumps, maybe the tunnels and the weave poles with her cos we're going to be amazing when she's old enough to compete
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lol! But seriously, she's my world and I wouldnt want to hurt her, so do we have to wait for a bit?

Hannah xxxx
 
With a bigger breed like a lab I wouldn't start jumping until she is at least 12 months (I always used to wait until I had my dogs hips x rayed but you may not be planning on doing that). Unless it has changed you aren't allowed tocompete until a dog is 18 months so there is no rush. Its good to do tunnels, again my personal choice was not to do proper weaves until over 12 months, but what you can do is start her going through a "channel" of poles. The most important part of agility is control so now is a good time to really work at her obedience, perfect her off lead work, sending on ahead etc, and also get her used to working on left and right sides.
 
Agree, I wouldn't and don't ever jump large dogs until at least a year old (their bones are like jelly when they are youngsters) and as mentioned, you can't compete until 18 months.
All dogs over 2 years at our club (which also incorporates obedience, ringcraft and protection work) must be hipscored but I doubt with a straight agility club it would be so stringent.

And, yes, repeating MM, heelwork and recall must be good so focus on that, work on both sides so she doesn't get used to doing the same thing over and over again (ie - we always come at a jump from the left, we always go in this order)

Try getting a plank on the ground (check the standard width of equipment for dogs of her size) and getting her to walk along it, placed on the ground, put a little line of tidbits if she is reluctant, to get her used to the catwalk and see-saw when eventually she comes to it.
 
Some clubs do baby agility classes, where the weaves are extra wide and they just have poles on the floor and that kind of thing
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Ditto what everyone said, but on the positive side if you can teach her sit/stay, come, left heal, right heal, turn right, turn left, you will have a huge advantage when you start with the equipment.
 
Oh poo, oh well I'll start saving now and then we can start from the beginning!

I really need to crack on with her obedience, but shes so strong willed she'll do it correctly for months and then she'll bugger off over the hill and no yelling or treat waving will do anything!

xxxx
 
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