Agility/Obedience

[Kim M]

I am either started obedience class next Wednesday morning or agility tonight, I can't decide! I already missed one of the agility classes and next Tuesday we have plans but I could make sure I'm home in time to get there.

The other thing is the intro letter said you have to create your dog or leave him in the car (weather permitting) while you set up the class. I am concerned that since Reno has not been there before this might stress him out then to try to get him to do the agility obstacles after that might be too much. So I guess it makes more sense to start with obedience, however you learn almost the same stuff in the agility 1 class so I don't really need to take obedience.

UGH, I hate making decisions!

 

[adojrts]

I am either started obedience class next Wednesday morning or agility tonight, I can't decide! I already missed one of the agility classes and next Tuesday we have plans but I could make sure I'm home in time to get there.

The other thing is the intro letter said you have to create your dog or leave him in the car (weather permitting) while you set up the class. I am concerned that since Reno has not been there before this might stress him out then to try to get him to do the agility obstacles after that might be too much. So I guess it makes more sense to start with obedience, however you learn almost the same stuff in the agility 1 class so I don't really need to take obedience.

UGH, I hate making decisions!

It is normal for dogs to have to crated or left in agility classes and the first one is while everyone works to set up. Later it is when you are learning behaviurs without your dog and walking sequences/ group disscussion about handling etc.


If you can for the first class or two, bring a friend to babysit him. And you shouldn't be doing much in the way of equipment the first night (or even the second) in agility. Lots of agility obedience, foundation skills and an intro to some of the equipment is generally what happens during that kind of a course.

Good luck and btw, agility is addicting

 

[johndecker]

I have never tried enrolling my pet to such

This is my second dog and I'm the only one training them. So far so good. But how much will it cost really and what would be the benifit from it.?

 

[adojrts]

This is my second dog and I'm the only one training them. So far so good. But how much will it cost really and what would be the benifit from it.?

The benefits of a class can be many, socializing your dog is one, working your dog with the distractions of a class/other dogs and learning by others mistakes and often seeing multiple methods because not all dogs/handlers can use the same methods etc. BUT classes only work if you are willing to do your homework. There is usually at least on person in a class, that has all the excuses for not attending most of the classes and for not working with their dog at home, in that case it is a waste of money but more importantly it is a waste to the fellow students (bc the instructor often has to spend more time with that dog/handler), wastes the time of the instructor for the same reason and that spot could have been filled by someone who truely wants/needs the help.................

 

[Beanie]

It will cost, quite frankly, a great deal and the benefit is up to you. Does your dog enjoy it? Is that a benefit? Do you have competition goals? Is that a benefit? Are you channeling drive and burning off energy during practice? Is that a benefit?
Kinda depends on the dog and what you want out of it.

 

[Kim M]

It is normal for dogs to have to crated or left in agility classes and the first one is while everyone works to set up. Later it is when you are learning behaviurs without your dog and walking sequences/ group disscussion about handling etc.


If you can for the first class or two, bring a friend to babysit him. And you shouldn't be doing much in the way of equipment the first night (or even the second) in agility. Lots of agility obedience, foundation skills and an intro to some of the equipment is generally what happens during that kind of a course.

Good luck and btw, agility is addicting

I know it is addicting I used to show in agility years ago. My first Poodle got his excellent title in agility. We started when he was 7 years old and he finished in about two years. We did not attend any shows that were further then two yours away. He was just very good and really didn't need much training. He had his Novice title his first three Novice trails.

I started with my second Poodle and by 5 months he could do the full course and was first in his Agility one class competion the last night. Then he broke his leg, my kids got older and I got busier, he's 10 now and I have just gotten back into it with Reno (hopefully).

I love agility!! Now I will admit... tonight was my first night with Reno and it is a LOT different then training the Poodles. He is a smart, easy to train dog too but not as easy as the Poodles were. They pretty much trained themselves. Tonight was a little stressful for me.

 

[adojrts]

Kim,

I think you will be very surprised at how much agility has changed and how it is trained now. I know it has changed a great deal since I first got involved and that was only 8 yrs ago. When I started in AAC, at the starters/novice level, you only had one change of side and usually at the table. Now it isn't unusual to see several changes which require FC's or RC's with far more difficult courses. For me it would have been better now, all those long straight lines back in the day, killed us lol, just gave him more chance to open up and be half way across the ring ahead of me Although I did get rather good at giving direction to his arse :rofl1:

Good luck and have fun.

 

[Kim M]

Kim,

I think you will be very surprised at how much agility has changed and how it is trained now. I know it has changed a great deal since I first got involved and that was only 8 yrs ago. When I started in AAC, at the starters/novice level, you only had one change of side and usually at the table. Now it isn't unusual to see several changes which require FC's or RC's with far more difficult courses. For me it would have been better now, all those long straight lines back in the day, killed us lol, just gave him more chance to open up and be half way across the ring ahead of me Although I did get rather good at giving direction to his arse :rofl1:

Good luck and have fun.

Yep! Tonight was rough because one she uses the clicker which I never used so that was hard to get used to. Two because it has been 10 years since I did anything with agility and how she starts training for agility is very different then I did back then. Three it is a huge adjustment going from a small dog to a large dog, esp when the small dogs pretty much trained themselves. Four both Poodles were already totally controllable off leash and my second Poodle was only 5 months when we went to the first agility class. So they were easier to control in the class. I am not used to having to keep so much of a watch on my dog and have to correct so much.

Also, keep in mind Reno is used to dog parks so when he got to this place with all these dogs what do you think he thought they were about to do?? LOL! Luckily I took him to the dog park, bathed, dryed and brushed him before we went so he was pretty worn out... actually, me too which probably contributed to my stress, esp after dealing with my five year old who was a handful today and one of my 16 year old's attitude!

It is fun though and I'm glad to be back into it (I think).

 

[adojrts]

Ah, you'll have a great time. The clicker is a great tool, but a verbal Yes to mark what you want also works.
You may want to also check out Clean Run, lots of great agility stuff (books/dvd's etc)there (if you don't already know about it

Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[Black Magic Dakota]

You should try training them with this! Click the link below!

 

[MafiaPrincess]

You should try training them with this! Click the link below!

And that teaches one agility how exactly... knock off the spam. eww. :spam:

 

[Kim M]

I am not sure if I am happy with the club I am working with now. I will need to join a club so I can get discount on the classes, you have use of the building and equipment when it is not being used (you get a key) and they have agility run throughs.

So I am going to research 3 other clubs near me. The one I really think would be best is just a little too far. I can't decide what to do but I am kind of put off by some things at the club I am working with. I used to belong to this club years ago.