Agility Classes!

[Ford Girl]

Hi, Dazy and I start beginner agility classes on October 1st, just wondering for those of you who have done this, with a sometimes hyper dog, how do they get them to focus on the task? The classes we took already were obedience classes mainly on leash, she had no issues. Here's the class description, I am so pumped!!!


Beginner - In Beginner agility, handlers and their dogs will be introduced to many of the agility obstacles at a slow and gradual pace. At the end of the seven weeks most dogs will be confident in executing all obstacles to the level they've been trained. Handlers will also learn additional skills to lay the foundation for a strong competition dog, should they choose to pursue that path. Whether competition or fun is your focus, this course will give you the background and skills to move forward. No previous training is necessary; however, handlers should have control of their dog off leash as this course is taught off leash. This class has a mandatory orientation session for all new students. Beginner agility is open to any dog 12 months of age or older; no experience is required!

Is it at all a work out for us humans? Can I skip the gym that night?

[Longblades]

Since I was beginner along with my dog when we started it was a bit of a work out for me, running from obstacle to obstacle around the ring. However I noticed the more experienced owners and dogs were much more efficient in their movement so it's a thing you learn as you go along.

In our classes food or toy rewards helped focus all the dogs and the ones that went on to be most successful seemed to be the more hyper types. With the exception of my Lab girl, who is quite laid back but very motivated to do what I ask her to. She was never going to be the fastest dog on the course though.

You are going to have so much fun. Only two dogs in our class seemed to not have fun, the rest seemed to love it.

[Ford Girl]

We start this class tonight!!! I am so excited!!

[TMac]

Have fun!!!! Should be a great way to redirect some of her energy. Toby and I tried an intro to agility course once. It was great for his confidence and he loved to be learning. The only down side was when we all had to sit around and listen to the instructor talk, because he'd get distracted by the other dogs. But once he was in motion, it was great! We didn't continue this particular course since it was outdoors and I ended up suffering miserably with my pollen allergies!! We'll be going back to do some advanced obedience later this fall/winter after baby arrives...once I feel like I can escape from the house for an hour or so! I think it will be good for him to get some one-on-one attention from me, and gets us away from the house!

Have fun tonight and let us know how it goes!!

[Ford Girl]

They are suppose to be off leash for this class, I'm hoping Dazy can focus, my trainer called me this am to remind me to take her for a walk before class to help with the attention span. I picked up some chicken weiners - her favorite training treat!!

[JanM]

Can't wait to hear how things went!

[allymack]

that sounds awesome!, have fun!!!, i am hoping to do agility or flyball with enzo once he is old enough and once he can be handled off leash, but anyways, let us know how it goes!

[wdawson]

Originally Posted by Ford Girl

Hi, Dazy and I start beginner agility classes on October 1st, just wondering for those of you who have done this, with a sometimes hyper dog, how do they get them to focus on the task? The classes we took already were obedience classes mainly on leash, she had no issues. Here's the class description, I am so pumped!!!


Beginner - In Beginner agility, handlers and their dogs will be introduced to many of the agility obstacles at a slow and gradual pace. At the end of the seven weeks most dogs will be confident in executing all obstacles to the level they've been trained. Handlers will also learn additional skills to lay the foundation for a strong competition dog, should they choose to pursue that path. Whether competition or fun is your focus, this course will give you the background and skills to move forward. No previous training is necessary; however, handlers should have control of their dog off leash as this course is taught off leash. This class has a mandatory orientation session for all new students. Beginner agility is open to any dog 12 months of age or older; no experience is required!

Is it at all a work out for us humans? Can I skip the gym that night?

pm byrd....she does agility...she has posted competition pics here.

[Longblades]

Isn't agility FUN? Just to add, many of the handlers in our class wore soccer shoes. We trained in a grassy field and it was darn slippy on the grass for us humans and the cleat thingies on soccer shoes really helped. DON'T STEP ON THE DOG BY MISTAKE.

Rather contradictorily, most of us were told first thing that our dogs' toenails were too long.

[Ford Girl]

Last night went really well!!! The class had 6 dogs, a very large rhodesian ridgeback, a hyper bull terrier, a hairy mixed mutter, an elk hound, a tiny timid mixed border collie/sheppard and Miss Dazy! All new to agiltiy. As soon as we walked in the drool started to flow, my trainer jokes that we have to stay after class to mop the floors!!

We worked on a plank, a small tunnel, one low jump and a latter laid on the floor to help with foot placement, Dazy did well, she aims to please and is very enthusiastic about it, took her a bit on the plank cuz she looked at me like...um, why are we doing this?? ha!! No issues on the tunnel or jump.

I really enjoyed it too! She was so tired afterwards, and is still sleeping as I type this! LOL!!!

[JanM]

Sounds like you may have found a terrific outlet for Dazy! I'll be looking forward to updates from the other classes...

[downloader]

Ashley loves her classes, great outless for blowing off energy. They do pay off. She has earned 7 titles this year.
http://www.bluewhippet.net/blog/

[mafiaprincess]

Cider does agility. She's gotten one agility title since we started in May, and is one Q from another one.
http://s4.photobucket.com/albums/y13...ncess/Agility/

I found in beginner she didn't focus at all, and it wasn't as fun as it could have been. We stopped for a few months after that to work on our own for focus and teamwork.

[Freyja]

Fordgirl, where are you taking these classes??? I am in Calgary too. We need basic obedience for the puppy. Although we are working on sit, quiet, stay, leave it, quick quick (my word for "go pee", came from standing at the door in -30 degree weather yelling at Lindy to hurry up and pee already!).

[allymack]

how are the agility classes going ford girl, havent had an update in a while

[Ford Girl]

Hi there....

The classes are going really well, altho last night she wasn't on her game at all, she wasn't focused enough to complete each one more then once or twice. Not sure why, she had exercised before hand, like we always do...just not her night I guess!! She has mastered the pause table, the shoot and the tunnel, the jumps are no problem either, they are still low, but 2 in a row now...This week we introduced them to the A frame, it was up a few feet, she had no problem at all with it, wasn't scared or anything...

Last week she whipped thru it all, showing off actually, they sed her as the example, last we we showed themt he pause table, doesn't she jump up, do a down stay and when I released her she did a rool over on the table, cracks me up - she pulls out all her tricks if shes inthe mood!! last night, she could have cared less.

I find it exhausting and so does she, it's a good way to tire her out!!!

Freyja - I take classes at Pet Planet, we took the Celebrating Puppies when we first brought Dazy home, then we took Manners Matters Obedience Level 2, and now agility with them. I go to the one neat Blackfoot Motor Sports, on Blackfoot Trail. I take her to day care there too. I also go to the one near the Deerfoot Casino, on 140th SE, she goes to the day care there and stays at the resort if needed. I like the staff, I trust them, and she loves them too!! They have webcams at the resort so you can watch your critters if you want to, and a pool for the dogs to swim in. It really is a resort, unreal. Raised bed, purified water in their suites, and they give you a daily journal when you pick up your doggie, group play, one on one, night time cookie turn down service, and it's not that expensive at all, I was surprised!! ha! I get her food, bones, treats and toys from Pet Planet as well, they have a great rewards program and they are involved in rescue work and support local shelters AND they provide people with tones of info on BB and Puppymills. Can you tell I like them? LOL!

[Jim Hall]

she goes to the day care there and stays at the resort if needed. I like the staff, I trust them, and she loves them too!! They have webcams at the resort so you can watch your critters if you want to, and a pool for the dogs to swim in. It really is a resort, unreal. Raised bed, purified water in their suites, and they give you a daily journal when you pick up your doggie, group play, one on one, night time cookie turn down service, and it's not that expensive at all, I was surprised!! ha! I get her food, bones, treats and toys from Pet Planet as well, they have a great rewards program and they are involved in rescue work and support local shelters AND they provide people with tones of info on BB and Puppymills.

wow they take humans too?

[Ford Girl]

I dont think so Jim! But you could always call and find out!

I thought the same thing, it has all the goodies but isn't posh, it is built for doggies.

[Freyja]

Thanks!! I will check it out. Just found out my new guy is actually older than I thought. He is more like 5-6 mos old rather than the 3-4 I had thought.

[Brokn_Arrow]

Originally Posted by Ford Girl

Freyja - I take classes at Pet Planet, we took the Celebrating Puppies when we first brought Dazy home, then we took Manners Matters Obedience Level 2, and now agility with them. I go to the one neat Blackfoot Motor Sports, on Blackfoot Trail. I take her to day care there too. I also go to the one near the Deerfoot Casino, on 140th SE, she goes to the day care there and stays at the resort if needed. I like the staff, I trust them, and she loves them too!! They have webcams at the resort so you can watch your critters if you want to, and a pool for the dogs to swim in. It really is a resort, unreal. Raised bed, purified water in their suites, and they give you a daily journal when you pick up your doggie, group play, one on one, night time cookie turn down service, and it's not that expensive at all, I was surprised!! ha! I get her food, bones, treats and toys from Pet Planet as well, they have a great rewards program and they are involved in rescue work and support local shelters AND they provide people with tones of info on BB and Puppymills. Can you tell I like them? LOL!

yeah... I can attest to that. I take Diogee there as well, and he loves it. Day care I mean, and he's gone swimming also. The girls over there at the one on 140th are excellent. Trust them with almost everything!! They are very knowledgeable about wholesome foods, and other topics.