who does agility?

josie · who does agility?

Does anyone else do agility here? Question

I've just started it & we've just finished our first 10 wk course. Smile

I'd love to know what other people get up to in their agility training sessions, what kind of "exercises" you do and how they're run, because I've nothing to compare ours to Very Happy

Allyson

I competed a bit a couple of years ago and have been placed in the top 10 several times in elementary and starters with my weimaraner.

I don't go to club any more because my job means that I can never tell when I will be "at home" to attend.

Although I went to a very very good club I personally do not feel that enough time is spent on the very basics of control and people want to rush into competing before they or their dogs have mastered certain principles.

But then again, realistically, there is never enough time at most clubs to get the depth of training which is ideal.

Fortunately for me, my dog was pretty well trained prior to going to agility and so I only had to teach specific things like weaves and contacts.

josie

I don't really understand anything yet of the competing side of it, like the different classes, how you move through them and the difference between KC shows and independent shows, I would like to know more about all that.

Our club meets on 2 different evenings - Tues evenings for beginners (which is split into a further 2 groups) and Weds evenings for people who are ready to compete. They have their own award scheme which is a bit like the KC Good Cits awards, but for agility - with increasingly hard agility exercises to go through.

Usually the instructor sets up a course - which for the beginners is really easy - 4 jumps and a tunnel for eg - and we just practise that in turn. Then he changes it round and puts the equipment in a different place and we practise the new layout in turn. I wish that he would break the exercises down further - like if your dog does 2 great jumps, and then leaps at you and leaves the course on the 3rd, you can't reward that then - but the dog did do 2 consecutive great jumps which have also not been rewarded either. I think we should spend more time going over 1 jump, rewarding every time, then 2, rewarding every time, then 3 and so on. I was just curious what other people's experience of agility has been?

Alkemist

Both Duncan and I have done competition agility - proof that really anyone can do it hehe. Amber and I even got a trophy for most improved handler and dog for the whole year with our club - we must have been bad hehe, and I think we came 5th in the first ever weim agility league - and I think Dunc was 6th or 7th, can't remember as it was 6 years ago ! We have both 'won out' of elementary - which means that we can only ever compete in starters classes or above in the future, but when Jensen got ill we gave up everything, agility showing the lot...

Word of warning though - ALWAYS watch your dog where other dogs are concerned, some dogs get so hyper with agility that even queuing to take your turn can be dodgy....

Hope you and your little girl enjoy it though

Nina

Vital K9

I compete in agility with my Vizslas! In the UK I used to train in agility, but never tried to compete. The trials were too big, the wait too long and the competition with those Collies too boring
Wink

However the Canadian system is great. Many different levels from beginner through to expert and different organisations hosting trials, even in a small place like Vancouver Island (OK, it's as big as England, but small in the grand scheme of things!). The trials are much friendlier and you have a titling system, so the only person you are really competing against is yourself. You can get all excited and enter all the trials and move on quickly (assuming you and your dog are good enough) or you can do it a bit here and a bit there and get there gradually.

We don't have the time nor money to enter every trial, but we do what we can do and have already attained our AGN (novice) titles on 2 dogs and nearly have their AGIs (intermediate) with the CKC. We also run in AAC trials, where lots of "games" are played (not just standard rounds) and my Cirrus is one leg off his Master Jumpers title!!

My dogs certainly LOVE agility and I get a big kick out of it too. Yes, a huge amount of discipline is involved and fitness (mine is often lacking!) and the atmosphere here at trials is informal, supportive and fun, fun, fun Very Happy

Could rattle on forever, but won't bore you unless you are interested in learning something specific.

May the course be with you Cool

Marjolein

I've just had the first agility lesson and it was great. For Mowgli, it wasn't the first time, I think we've already had like 8 lessons 3 years ago, but for Daan it was all new.
They did well. Mowgli is too fast and too hyper, I just cannot keep up with her. She really needs to become a bit calmer, or I have to be faster, LOL! Anyway, she likes it big time.
Daantje did well too. She did all the different jumps and see-saw and things like that! We had a great night out and maybe, one day, we will enter them in a trial... Fingers crossed it'll work out!

josie

Excellent, glad other people are doing agility - let's get the agility forum rocking like the gundog one now Very Happy

Chrissie - I have asked some specific questions on 2 other threads & would value your opinion Very Happy

Cindy

I've been doing agility with Hector my five year old Weimaraner on and off for nearly two years now. I say on and off as we have had issues along the way with health (both his and mine) and behaviour - he was attacked by a Black Labradour and I had to make sure he was sound to take into a highly charged enviroment such as agility.

He loves it and I have found it to be of more advantage that going to regular obedience classes. In Jersey they are a bit stuck as to how to direct such breeds as Weimaraners and tend to think the choke chain is the way to "train" them.

It took quite a few people to realise my dog was called Hector at first as I am so spatially and directionally challenged I kept shouting "bigger" everytime I ran the wrong way or into something that they thought his name was bugger Embarassed

There is nothing like picking up the jaws of the sceptics as you come out of your round Wink

Marjolein

We've had 6 lessons so far and we have improved big time. Besides the weaves, they do everything without a single problem. Mowgli is still really fast, but we've learned how to handle that now. Just make sure she keeps working in front of you and she does a great job.
I on the other hand still have difficulties with the courses I have to run. I keep confusing my dogs big time, but I'm sure I'll learn that in time, hehehe.

Cindy

Have faith Marjolein as I use to be very dispondent with my attempts and, like you, kept confusing Hector to the point he would just walk off the course and go and lay down whilst I decided on what I was actually doing Rolling Eyes

I found it was a case of one day the penny would drop and it would all come together and boy did it make you feel good Very Happy

Its becuase these dogs are so athleletic they make you feel like you are ten tons and have two left feet and a a memory problem Wink

Marjolein

Paz

Hi

Just wondered who is doing agility now?

Paz has just started doing baby stuff and she adores it. Hoping some of you are enthusiastic enough about it to give us some ideas and tips

Liz

Been doing it with Sherry for the past 3 years - more for fun than anything else - we tend to be the cabaret as she'll set out like a bat out of hell and you hope it's in the right direction Shocked

Started training a few weeks ago with Ozzy on an introductory course (just low poles as he's just a baby) but I'm definitely more hopeful with him as he is so much more responsive than she is Very Happy

We have a very good W/H viz in our club, also weis, and there's another w/h viz in Ozzy's group.

Paz

Hi Liz

thanks for replying. So hoping you won't get bored if I keep picking your brains.

We want to do it just for fun too. Part of her high quality R & R and a break from her job.

Lot's of questions .....................

How do ladies 'of a certain age' get fit enough to train them? No-way am I fast enough or agile enough to keep up with this pup Laughing

Am I right that she needs a rest between each round to calm her down and rest her bones and mind?

How can I calm her down when she is hyper? At her first session she was giving little barks to tell the others to hurry up so she could go round it again. And her little botty was jiggin' up and down on the floor. I just wrapped my arms around her so she looked like she was in a perfect sit-stay and gave her Tellington touch. (good manners are high on her agenda at all times Wink

)

Please don't leave the country ..... lots more questions will arise

Liz

Helen, don't forget I'm a pensioner and a grandmother, so don't worry about fitness! Looking round the average agility class (excluding the serious competition people) a lot of the handlers are overweight, greyhaired (unless like me it comes out of a bottle) and not at the peak of personal fitness. We're here to enjoy ourselves Very Happy

Start off by teaching Paz directions - go left, go right, go ahead, come in between 2 jumps, that sort of thing. Don't think about putting her over a full height or anything like it. Ozzy, like Sherry, will be jumping full height, but not yet. He goes over the jumps set for toy dogs, about 8 ins I think, and won't be going full height until he's well over a year. (They can't start competing till 18 months, so there's no need to put any strain on the joints until that age. I know he will be capable of jumping the height when the time comes.)

I find hyper-ness is a problem - Sherry barks her head off when waiting for her turn, something she's learnt from the collies Evil or Very Mad

plus she can jump round at the end of the lead like a total loonie, which doesn't do my shoulder any good Sad

I've started putting her back in the car between goes, we park round the edge of the field and she's in the cage with the back open so she can watch what's going on, and she's much calmer without me constantly having to tell her to behave and be quiet!

Paz

Liz

You are a bliddy godsend xxxxx

A BIG thank you for all of the above - luv'n'hugs - H xxx

p.s. would you consider joining the small elitist group of Paz' God-mothers?

p.p. s Will not be putting her over anything higher than a foot for at least another nine months. (can't risk her jumping over the baby-gate at the front door Laughing

)

Liz

Liz

This is what we're aiming for http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lj6CCH-CjPI Wink

guy

liz in action ?? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3LXPLrOOsE

Liz

Not me, but very similar errors Laughing

Munsti-Sue

We started training agility just over 12 months ago and started competing in May this year. Having a great time with it and Bodi enjoys herself. Most of our errors are down to me Laughing

This was us at Newbury in June having ago at Beginners Steeplechase and getting 5 faults Smile

.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBNvCbYPFKo

Paz

Hi

brill video - thanks for posting it

You ran so fast that I couldn't see any faults ...... just a blur in red Wink

Well done both of you Laughing

Now having serious thoughts about all of this agility milarky, cos I can't run that fast. So needing your views on the following please.......

How about I train Pazzie both at home and in class and concentrate on her doing it slowly and safely. Then train her in secret at home. So that as she gets faster I can direct her from my garden seat. Then in fun stuff at the class/club I can take my camping chair into the center and direct operations from there. Laughing

I feel that the above method would be fun for both of us. She could tear around like a robotic lunatic and I could sit and admire her speed and grace. She would come home tired but I would come home still fit enough to pour myself a reviving G & T.

In addition, I was wondering if I could put numbered cards up at each obstacle. Then I could perhaps sup a little wine inbetween shouting out the numbers for her. That would make her faster

Wot think you?

Yep! I deffo think the above variation on a theme is the way forward for Pazzie and me; and we will leave all the handler-tearing-about for those who enjoy running about as much as their dogs

We could call it AFGWFP (agility for geriatrics with fast puppies). It could even start a trend Laughing

Liz

A friend of mine was doing an agility demonstration at a country fair, including a "have a go" session for the kids.

He has his dogs so well trained that he could get the kids to run round the course supposedly telling the dogs what to do, while he stood in the middle controlling the dogs by hand signals.

Sorry mine will never be up to that standard!

Paz

Hi GM Liz

........ "Sorry mine will never be up to that standard!"

Man after my own heart Laughing

please give him my phone number. Pazzie could always do with a few god-fathers Wink

Pazzie will be at that standard ASAP. We are doing agility to keep her fit and active - not me

She is already sh*t hot at hand signals for, wait, left, right, over and through..... what have I missed - oh yes 'stop!'

Not that we are after any prizes, but do agility clubs give out prizes for the handler who makes the biggest idiot of herself laughing while she does it? and the happiest team of two? They are our goals - easily achieved I would have thought

Munsti-Sue

Well, our first agility season is over now. Since last posting we have done 3 shows and had top 20 placements at 2 of them....so definate improvement. The icing on the cake was the last run of the last show...we beat all those darn collies for 1st place in beginners agility at UKA Top Barn. Shocked

Was very shocked when the called the results Shocked

We also had a nice round in the steeplechase at this show, with a time of 22.1 seconds...but had 5 faults for clipping a pole...which was unfortunate Rolling Eyes

We got a nice little vase/trophy thing and a nice rosette.
Couple of pics below.

Taken at show in August - we placed 9th out of 100 dogs in Combined Grade 1-4 Jumping after a run off with a Groenendaal

Bodi with her rosette and trophy after UKA Top Barn - Placed 1st out of 62 dogs with a time of 34.232 seconds

Sue

BritAnnie

Well done Sue and Bodi.

Ghilliegumdrop

When I was competing with my GWP Jaffa, we met a lady who was in a wheelchair and she controlled her dog from the center of the ring. It was amazing to watch her dog go around the course.