Agility dog

[ewarp]

So... Saboo and I have been in agility classes since April. I love my trainer, love the facility, love the methods, love my dog, etc. We have fun. That said, Saboo is a basenji. And no amount of training or practice will change that. To quote a friend, "I've only seen one other basenji run agility, and it wasn't pretty."

She and I are having fun. She does seem to enjoy it, but hates the getting dirty aspect of it- downs on the pause table, wet tunnels, etc. She's also an escape artist with zero recall when she's moving, so she's limited the class to indoor sessions only. I've been really frustrated with Saboo lately in class.

I've been toying with the idea of pulling Saboo out and starting Hippo. I don't have the money (or the time!) to have both in a class, otherwise I would, trust me. Saboo, while she enjoys class, wouldn't mind sleeping under her blankets all day. Hippo is in need of the mental and physical stimulation and certainly doesn't mind getting dirty. She's also far more willing to please.

I'm just... concerned. I really enjoy working with Saboo, but she's just been so frustrating lately and I realistically don't see her ever excelling or even really doing a decent job at it. Hippo neeeeds something to do. Is it terrible of me to switch? I'm really trying to look at this objectively, to not allow my frustration to get the best of me. Thoughts, anyone?

[sammy]

I think it makes perfect sense to switch. Not only breeds but also the age of the dogs most 8yr old dogs don't need nearly so much stim as an 11 month old. Have fun- don't feel guilty.

[TinyAlbinoDancer]

I agree. As long as Saboo is getting enough exerise and stimulation in daily activities, there is no need to feel guilty at all. Go for it, and all our best wishes! You'll have to let us know how it goes with Hippo.

[mulroony]

I would think Hippo would be much better suited for agility, and like everyone else said I do not think Saboo would really miss it all that much. If you want you can go make some cheap agility gear (toy stores have cheap tunnels, jumps are just pvc, and even a tire is simple to make) and setup a little agility course in your home so you can keep doing what Saboo enjoys in a safe environment without any of the stuff he hates.