Charlie and Agility?

[keyodie]

I was wondering if maybe Charlie could do Agility. He jumped out of our garage window once, and he likes to jump all of the time...lol...he'll jump up and down when he's really excited.

But what do I need to do first if Charlie was to do agility? I was just wondering if anyone had any information...

thanks!!

-Keyo

[Zoom]

First you need to find a good trainer, one that you like. There's a really big, really well-known Agility trainer around here, but she's very harsh in her correction so I didn't go to her. The trainer I'm working with now is all about praise, treats and "do it again" if they didn't get it right the first time.

All Charlie needs is a reliable "come" recall so when you send him over/through an obstacle you don't spend the next five minutes trying to catch him again and have him end up getting his butt kicked by another dog (like Sawyer had happen. He doesn't run out anymore). The trainers should teach you the rest.

[keyodie]

o ok then. So the first step is to get a trainer. Do I just look through the telephone book? :confused: Sry, I know nothing when it comes to this...

[Zoom]

Personally I'd go through word of mouth. That way you can ask what sort of training they use, and things like that. Ask around at the petstore, the dog park...I got my trainer's name through Aussie Rescue; the lady who hooked me up with Sawyer goes to the same trainer.

[Tamrick]

Definitely ask around - there are a number of places you can try - your veterinarian, pet stores, other people you know who train dogs, animal magazines, various breeders (esp Border collie breeders as a number of dogs doing agility of of that breed), if you know of an obedience club you could ask them, go to agility shows if you know where they are... the options are endless. Try to watch a class before deciding to join so you can see if the classes will suit you and if you agree with the training methods. Good luck.