Agility anyone??

NicksBuddy · 06-13-2004, 02:58 PM

Just wondering if anyone out there is doing Agility with their dogs. We started taking classes about 8 months ago, so we're very new to the sport.

Taz · 06-13-2004, 08:12 PM

I was thinking about getting Princess involved in Agility, but many people have told me it's hard on their hips. Duke has Hip Dysplasia, so I'm always worried about the puppies hips.

Is their anyone out there who has been doing it for years? Have you had any hip problems, as a result of Agility? PLease fill me in, I think Princess would be great at it, am I just an over protective "mommy"?

His masters voice · 06-14-2004, 01:06 AM

I used to do Agility a lot, I wouldn't recommend enrolling if the dog is under 10 months because of bone development. If you are worried about the possibility of HD you can always give the jumps a miss and concentrate on the ground objects such as, tunnels, fly ball, and weave poles etc. I think that dog sports not only keep the dogs in trim, but also provide an excellent method of socialization.

I am currently into a thing called schutzdienst. This is a sport mainly for dogs such as the GSD, Doberman, Rottie & Boxers' etc. It is a 3 part sport consisting of: Tracking, Obedience and Protection. It is really good fun, and from what I have read on the Internet it is starting to take off in the US now.

Matt

NicksBuddy · 06-15-2004, 05:05 PM

How/where did you train/practice when you were doing Agility?

bunnymom3 · 06-16-2004, 01:46 PM

My daughters dog Lupo did agility for 2 years and loved it. I think he really misses it now but we do not have any clubs around here for her age and her old club fell apart. I'd love to see him get back into it.

Nykki

Mellie · 06-17-2004, 12:41 AM

I'll have to keep my eyes on this thread.
Peanut is 6 1/2 months old (too young for any classes except obedience). But I know thaht once she's old enough, it would be beneficial to get her started in something. She needs to think and move. She loves it.
But considering she's a giant breed (Saint Bernard), therefore prone to giant breed problems, I don't want to do anything detrimental to her physical health. But, in my opinion, agility and the like would be great fo rher mental health.
So... I'll keep watching this....

Lilly'smom · 06-17-2004, 10:56 AM

I haven't done a lot of Agility, I did do some with a 7 month old puppy, we just made the jumps very low for her. She loved it, I think the obstacles are a great confidence builder for a young dog.
As for the hips, I am overly paranoid when it comes to my dogs health. We do Weightpull and I have all my dogs x-rayed before we start working with them.
AB's have a high percentage of HD, that way I know what the future holds for us, and I can supplement accordingly.

NicksBuddy · 06-18-2004, 08:05 PM

I started with a book called "Introduction to Dog Agility" by Margaret H. Bonham. It has a lot of things that you can work on with puppies that build the basic skills that are required for Agility, but don't involve jumping.

There is also a website and magazine called "CleanRun" that is devoted to Agility. Two issues ago, the entire magazine was all about working with puppies - wished I had had that a year ago as well!!

Mellie · 06-18-2004, 10:23 PM

Great info, NicksBuddy! Thanks!!!

Ruby~Eyes · 06-20-2004, 03:43 PM

I have been training Cloey. We have not training facilities here, but we do have a club. I am thinking of having her compete

I am not totally sure though. I purchased all the stuff that I used to train Cloey. Jumps, chuts, tunnels, tire jumps, and weaves

I found this internet site that offers them for cheap prices. Here is a link if anyone wants to browse or purcahse...

Agility Stuff

Rip's Girl · 06-21-2004, 08:53 AM

Tonight is Ripley's first attempt at an agility training class. He's 8 months old, but his frame stopped growing when he was about 6mos, and with him being so small we're going to keep him away from the a-frame the first few tries. He's as agile as a cat, so I hope he'll like agility.

NicksBuddy · 06-21-2004, 09:13 PM

At our training center, they lower the heights on all the obstacles for the beginner dogs, including the A-frame and teeter. It was a great way to get started, no matter what the size or age of the dog.

Rip's Girl · 06-22-2004, 12:03 AM

Yep, they actually didn't lower the height, he conquered it quite well, but he just wasn't motivated during the class. He doesn't like ANYTHING (not even my praise) when he wants to sniff. I loved the agility work when he was actually DOING something besides sniffing around and being a brat.

Hope I can make some changes and find a motivator for him.

Taz · 06-22-2004, 04:42 AM

This was Ripley's 1st time there right? After a few times there he should get used to all the different doggie smells.

Rip's Girl · 06-23-2004, 01:39 AM

Yeah, we're going to keep going, see if he improves... Who knows, agility might not be his "thing".

06-13-2004, 02:58 PM	#1 (permalink)
NicksBuddy Australian Shepherd Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: MI Posts: 120 Rep Power: 84	Agility anyone?? Just wondering if anyone out there is doing Agility with their dogs. We started taking classes about 8 months ago, so we're very new to the sport.

06-17-2004, 12:41 AM	#6 (permalink)
Mellie Springer/Saint Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Vermont Posts: 449 Rep Power: 98	I'll have to keep my eyes on this thread. Peanut is 6 1/2 months old (too young for any classes except obedience). But I know thaht once she's old enough, it would be beneficial to get her started in something. She needs to think and move. She loves it. But considering she's a giant breed (Saint Bernard), therefore prone to giant breed problems, I don't want to do anything detrimental to her physical health. But, in my opinion, agility and the like would be great fo rher mental health. So... I'll keep watching this....
	__________________ "One dog barks at something, the rest bark at him." -- Chinese Proverb

06-17-2004, 10:56 AM	#7 (permalink)
Lilly'smom Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 99 Rep Power: 83	I haven't done a lot of Agility, I did do some with a 7 month old puppy, we just made the jumps very low for her. She loved it, I think the obstacles are a great confidence builder for a young dog. As for the hips, I am overly paranoid when it comes to my dogs health. We do Weightpull and I have all my dogs x-rayed before we start working with them. AB's have a high percentage of HD, that way I know what the future holds for us, and I can supplement accordingly.
Lilly'smom Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 99 Rep Power: 83

06-18-2004, 10:23 PM	#9 (permalink)
Mellie Springer/Saint Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Vermont Posts: 449 Rep Power: 98	Great info, NicksBuddy! Thanks!!!
	__________________ "One dog barks at something, the rest bark at him." -- Chinese Proverb

06-21-2004, 08:53 AM	#11 (permalink)
Rip's Girl Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Arizona Posts: 2,580 Rep Power: 141	Tonight is Ripley's first attempt at an agility training class. He's 8 months old, but his frame stopped growing when he was about 6mos, and with him being so small we're going to keep him away from the a-frame the first few tries. He's as agile as a cat, so I hope he'll like agility.
	__________________

06-13-2004, 08:12 PM	#2 (permalink)
Taz Join Date: May 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 611 Rep Power: 95	I was thinking about getting Princess involved in Agility, but many people have told me it's hard on their hips. Duke has Hip Dysplasia, so I'm always worried about the puppies hips. Is their anyone out there who has been doing it for years? Have you had any hip problems, as a result of Agility? PLease fill me in, I think Princess would be great at it, am I just an over protective "mommy"?

06-14-2004, 01:06 AM	#3 (permalink)
His masters voice German Shepherd Dog Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: In the dogs kennel avoiding the wife and kids. Posts: 199 Rep Power: 88	I used to do Agility a lot, I wouldn't recommend enrolling if the dog is under 10 months because of bone development. If you are worried about the possibility of HD you can always give the jumps a miss and concentrate on the ground objects such as, tunnels, fly ball, and weave poles etc. I think that dog sports not only keep the dogs in trim, but also provide an excellent method of socialization. I am currently into a thing called schutzdienst. This is a sport mainly for dogs such as the GSD, Doberman, Rottie & Boxers' etc. It is a 3 part sport consisting of: Tracking, Obedience and Protection. It is really good fun, and from what I have read on the Internet it is starting to take off in the US now. Matt

06-15-2004, 05:05 PM	#4 (permalink)
NicksBuddy Australian Shepherd Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: MI Posts: 120 Rep Power: 84	How/where did you train/practice when you were doing Agility?

06-16-2004, 01:46 PM	#5 (permalink)
bunnymom3 Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: South Jersey Posts: 16 Rep Power: 82	My daughters dog Lupo did agility for 2 years and loved it. I think he really misses it now but we do not have any clubs around here for her age and her old club fell apart. I'd love to see him get back into it. Nykki

06-18-2004, 08:05 PM	#8 (permalink)
NicksBuddy Australian Shepherd Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: MI Posts: 120 Rep Power: 84	I started with a book called "Introduction to Dog Agility" by Margaret H. Bonham. It has a lot of things that you can work on with puppies that build the basic skills that are required for Agility, but don't involve jumping. There is also a website and magazine called "CleanRun" that is devoted to Agility. Two issues ago, the entire magazine was all about working with puppies - wished I had had that a year ago as well!!

06-20-2004, 03:43 PM	#10 (permalink)
Ruby~Eyes Maltese Lover Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: In Dog Land :P Posts: 23 Rep Power: 82	I have been training Cloey. We have not training facilities here, but we do have a club. I am thinking of having her compete I am not totally sure though. I purchased all the stuff that I used to train Cloey. Jumps, chuts, tunnels, tire jumps, and weaves I found this internet site that offers them for cheap prices. Here is a link if anyone wants to browse or purcahse... Agility Stuff

06-21-2004, 09:13 PM	#12 (permalink)
NicksBuddy Australian Shepherd Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: MI Posts: 120 Rep Power: 84	At our training center, they lower the heights on all the obstacles for the beginner dogs, including the A-frame and teeter. It was a great way to get started, no matter what the size or age of the dog.

06-22-2004, 12:03 AM	#13 (permalink)
Rip's Girl Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Arizona Posts: 2,580 Rep Power: 141	Yep, they actually didn't lower the height, he conquered it quite well, but he just wasn't motivated during the class. He doesn't like ANYTHING (not even my praise) when he wants to sniff. I loved the agility work when he was actually DOING something besides sniffing around and being a brat. Hope I can make some changes and find a motivator for him.
	__________________

06-22-2004, 04:42 AM	#14 (permalink)
Taz Join Date: May 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 611 Rep Power: 95	This was Ripley's 1st time there right? After a few times there he should get used to all the different doggie smells.
	__________________ Money will buy a pretty good dog but it won't buy the wag of his tail. - Josh Billings

06-23-2004, 01:39 AM	#15 (permalink)
Rip's Girl Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Arizona Posts: 2,580 Rep Power: 141	Yeah, we're going to keep going, see if he improves... Who knows, agility might not be his "thing".
	__________________

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