Where are the Agility Enthusiasts?

[TheDahliMamma]

Just wondering if anyone is active in agility and if so, do we have any titled dogs among us? Or dogs working on titles? Or dogs just having fun with agility? Which organization to you particpate with? NADAC or AKC, USDAA?

I have a rescued GSD - Hattie - who has 2 legs on her AKC NAP (Novice Agility Preferred) title. We are going to go to Utah in February to finish that title. Hats will be 8 by then. I wish I had known she loved agility and was so good at it when she was 3! She could probably have earned more titles!



Tell us YOUR story!

Fran

[Adkins]

Hello, I compete in agility. Well...taking a break for now but will start up soon. Though my title holders are not GSDs, they are two Pembroke Welsh Corgis. My one Corgi only has 1 more leg to get his Excellent Std. title. My other Corgi has her Novice Std. title. Am also doing jumpers and will do the preferred classes as well.
Thanks for starting an agility topic. It's a great sport once you set aside the competitiveness in people along with it's growing popularity when trying to get in to a trial.
Brandi

[Nicole]

Freya and I are active in agility, but I'm pretty gun shy to compete. We do it *just for fun* and although we hold monthly trials at the place where I work and train, I really have no interest in being part of the crowd that I see come in and compete. It amazes me to see the people pulling into the parking lot in their $100,000 RVs bought specifically for agility trials, and how they set up their little camps for the weekend while they're using the building. There are cliques and politics, and complaints about how the trails are being run, and how clean the bathroom (that I slaved to make perfect the day before ) isn't - and that isn't what running my dog should involve to me. As soon as I start to become involved in that, it changes what agility is to me.

I got into it because Freya and I have a TON of fun doing it, and I don't want to ever make it about anything else. She's fast, she's clean, and usually its me who makes all the mistakes , and I'm sure that if we ever enter a trial or two for fun, we'll do fairly well and enjoy ourselves. There are a ton of people who are good about ignorning all that side stuff, and just running their dog, but I don't know if I could do it. The stress would wear on me.

If I ever find a way to block all that out and just run my dog, we'll see how we do in some CPE trials, maybe try for a title.

You didn't mention CPE in your list, do they not have a lot of events out that way, Fran?

[TheDahliMamma]

Nicole: No, we don't have CPE events around here...that I am aware of. What is CPE?

I have found similar "attitudes" at agility trials...and obedience trials, and AKC conformation shows.... <sigh>

I have several priorities. I want to trial my dogs (more than show them) because those titles give me credibility in my profession. But, I am a dog trainer because it is my passion in life. I left a safe secure government job to do my dog training business. I put everything on the line to follow my passion.

HOWEVER, I refuse to let bad attitude interfere with my passion. I am doing what I do because I love it and because I really like people. I hope I never become so competitive that I have to demean others to make myself feel better.

So, when I go to a competition, it is my profession, but also something I love. And I try very hard to insulate myself from the bad attitudes of others. I just go and focus on MY dog and having fun with them. And I try to surround myself with others that feel the same.

I admit, sometimes I get plenty nervous! And sometimes, I need a friend or two to kick me in the butt and remind me to relax and have fun!

The bottom line for me is that I am not going to let others dictate to me whether I title/show my dogs or not by their attitudes! And I hope that I never find myself wearing one of those attitudes.

So, Nicole, I would encourage you to not let others get in the way if you want to have fun! Go on out there and let them envy your fun and relationship with your dog! You don't have to make them your friends!

Fran

[Shew]

I just purchased a GSD puppy and am interested in doing agility. Any tips on getting started?

[TheDahliMamma]

Hi, Shew! Welcome to the board! How old is your puppy? Male or female? (Just so we know who we are talking about ;D )

There are several things that I would consider when starting a puppy in agility. Be sure to do tons of socialization ~ taking him/her all kinds of places and seeing all kinds of people with positive experiences.

Agility is about confidence. It is an excellent expression for dogs who are confident, but also good for dogs who need confidence. But, if you have any thought about competing sometime, work hard to teach your dog confidence now by exposing him/her to all kinds of situations that have positive results.

Put you dog in high places ~ setting her/him on tables, etc and show him/her how fun that can be by giving treats. Play peek with a sheet over the top of him/her. Let him/her learn how to get out from under the sheet. Go for walks in the woods (if you have any near you) on a leash and let him/her learn how to get themselves over and under small logs, through little streams, etc. Find natural tunnels and put treats inside. I put a ramp from my backyard up to my deck and taught my puppies how to climb the ramp. If you have a ladder, put it down on the ground and let the pup navagate through it. Most of all, BIG praise and fun when the pup tries. Always positive without pressure.

I offer a puppy agility class. Many places do. I create my curriculum to be easy on the joints (no jumping), but big on tunnels, going up and down a small A frame, the tunnel and chute, and table.

I also highly encourage a puppy obedience class. Many people take agility classes without any obedience and frankly, the dogs who have some obedience usually excel faster. They already have a "working relationship" with their owner. Using positive reinforcement techniques (I use clicker training), puppies can begin obedience as early as 9 weeks without pressure.

A puppy who goes into agility with a confident foundation of obedience - knowing how to "watch", "come/here", and some basic heeling, stay/wait, and "touch" will fare very well in agility.

Those are just a FEW things. There are excellent books out there and excellent people to help. Find someone near you to mentor with. Actually doing it is by far the best way to learn.

Good luck! ;D
Fran

[Shew]

Fran,

Thanks so much for the tips, I know they will be very useful.

I purchased a male GSD and unofficailly named him Liam Artaxerxes von Oramhaus, or Xerxes. I'm going to pick him up tomorrow from the breeder (Jan. 1) and will make a final decision on his name. He is my second German Shepherd. My other one is a nine year old female named Kino who I rescued from an animal shelter. She was diagnosed with cancer in November and is currently going through chemo therapy. (She has a hemangiosarcoma and was only given a few months ). I'm enjoying every moment with her!! I also have a brindle Dane named Zooey (also a rescue), a lab/Rottweiler mix named Manna (rescue too!), and a black and white spaniel named Holstein (not a rescue ). They are my babies! This will be my first experience with any kind of dog competition and I'm really looking forward to it.

I'm reading a book on agility training and have gotten the names of a few good trainers who teach agility from a lady that I met through the Houston German Shepherd Rescue. I'm very anxious to get started and want to make sure I'm doing everything right! I've always been interested in the sport, but unfortunately have not had the time to do it. Hopefully my new puppy will enjoy it!

Just out of curiosity, I've heard both arguments on this topic, and am curious what the opinions are out here. What do you guys think of nutritiional supplements for dogs/puppies doing agility? I've read both sides of the coin- supplements not being good for a growing puppy, that a quality large breed puppy food is best; or that a more "active" dog/puppy needs the extra nutrition so supplements are a good idea. What do you think?

Thanks again for your help!
Shew

[freundhund]

Hi Fran

Sorry to do this but I have a question about your training of puppies.

Over here in Australia we start puppies with tunnels, chutes, standing on tables (lifted on and off), weaving, walking on a low catwalk being lifted on and off. On veterinary advice we do not jump our dogs and they are not allowed to scramble up or down the A-frame or the ramps up and down the cat walk as puppies. We have been taught here that the jumping can damage or affect the hips and that the landing or the bearing of weight on the way down on the A-frame or catramp can affect elbows in dogs under 12 mths of age. Some vet go so far as to advise that some of the heavier and bigger boned dogs should be held back until 18mths of age.

Once a dog has reached 12 mths a lot of the clubs will only allow your dog to jump if it has had it's hip and elbows scored and passed. I believe that this is also to avoid legal liability.

So I was interested that young puppies were allowed on the A-frame.

Regards

Freundhund

[TheDahliMamma]

Hi, Freundhund

In puppy agility we really focus on control issues like returns/come back, directionals, sit/waits, etc. We also introduce lots of equipment. We do not do jumps but do teach poles so the pups learn to find where their feet are. We also teach poles between 2 the standards so the pups get used to going between them where the jumps will eventually be. The table at 8 inches is okay, too along with tunnels and the chute.

I use a mini A Frame that is only 4 feet on each side. When it is low, it is very low so the pups can go up and over but without much pressure on the joints by coming down. Its really more of a ramp then an A Frame.

I also am not a proponent of weave poles for the pups under a year...depending on the breed. Now there is some evidence that that bending around the poles may have some damaging effects.

I think it is very important to introduce puppies who are expected to compete, to the agility course atmosphere and some of the easier pieces of equipment.

The biggest problem is people asking too much of their puppies, too fast. They want to raise the A Frame or jumps. So, I put lots of energy into control and obedience with the young ones. Those skills seem to help with manners around the house as well.

Fran

[freundhund]

Thanks Fran

It's nice to talk to others who do different things with their dogs and gain different perpectives.

It definately seems to depend on where you are as to what you train with in the way of equipment and how you use it. There seems to be different thoughts on how equipment effects the dogs as well. What is nice also that we all seem to have the best interests of the dogs health at heart.

Regards

Freundhund

[DKiah]

Hi everyone,
I'm new to this group... and although I am a Schutzhund person, my husband does agility with his dog Rio who is the 2nd AKC MACH male in the universe. Rio was the #1 GSD for 2002 in AKC agility and they are working on their MACH2 while Jerry is getting 2 new dogs ready... my little retired SchH3 and her daughter.

There are plenty of things that yong puppies can learn - we have started with learning to wrap jump standards with no bars, learning left and right, the new weave pole channels are super because you keep them open as long as you need to while still teaching the dog that the forward motion is important. You can start on weave pole entries with just 3 poles stuck in the ground... from both sides and you can work on contacts contacts contacts...... so many things
I hope to visit this site frequently.....