we have been promoted at agility

[Owllady]

Which I am ridiculously pleased about as we have only done 3 classes at this stage due to illness etc
But apparently my changes are good and dog has good command recognition
Massive surprise as we are rubbish at obedience and I can see us in the beginner class for FOREVER

[moosemama]

Well done Owllady and pooch.

I could never manage agility, my lack of coordination would let the dog down.

[Owllady]

I think I am a bit dyspraxic moosemama and I don't mean that flippant, I can't do aerobics etc. I can dance drunkenly to music, swim,and run. But I think that's motor iykwim
Have you tried it?
And thanks lol

[moosemama]

I have tried it - many moons ago with my SCWT girl. We had fun, but I don't think we'd ever win any prizes!

I have joint hypermobility syndrome and we also have dyspraxia and similar issues in the family, so lets just say running fast, cornering and giving hand-signals at the same time - not exactly my strength.

We did do heelwork to music though and we both loved it - don't think 28" lanky Lurchers are built for it really though, so won't be doing that again for a good long while.

[Owllady]

Are you me? I have hypermobile joints too
As does my dd

[moosemama]

Don't think so.

My ds2 and dd both have jhs as well.

[Lonecatwithkitten]

We were rubbish at obedience I apparently have a cracking agility dog.

[Aked]

I was told we needed better obedience before trying agility! Do the two not go together then? Mine isnt quite old enough yet, but we have done some small jumps and tunnels at obedience and she loved it..... She is actually not bad at all at obedience I dont think, she just can get a little, erm, distracted!

[moosemama]

I was told my scwt could have excelled at obedience, agility or htm - she really was a dog in a million. Unfortunately for her, she had a cack-handed owner that was ring-shy, so never got the chance. Still, we had lots of fun practising (sp?) and in retrospect I'm glad we kept it all for fun, rather than making it competitive.

[TooOldForGlitter]

Well done you and pooch!

[moosemama]

I think basic obedience, rather than formal, is what's required for agility. So you don't need a perfectly executed left and right hand turn or finish, for example, but you do need a dog that has a strong bond with you and responds immediately to your instruction, both verbal and hand-signals.

[Owllady]

Oh I am not competitive really, just rather surprised :)
We haven't got bronze yet at obedience, she is under 2 and a very bright rescue collie

[Owllady]

She does apparently have Avery strong bond with me
Funny how you don't see it yourself !
The trainer Saud I started randomly saying a different prompt word and dog was looking at me as if to say WHAT? Say something I understand :)

[Aked]

I think Im thinking more general obedience then, rather than perhaps more formal? We only do "fun" obedience in an attempt to have a nicely trained dog:) No awards, just local classes. Currently doing "fun" gundog training to gain a bit more discipline:)

Not sure what mine is, but think there is flatcoat in there somewhere.

[Lonecatwithkitten]

I couldn't get any kind of stay before agility so never took Bronze. He will stay whilst waiting to be released to run an agility course, we could probably pass bronze now.

[Owllady]

I can't get stay at obedience either, but can get a long wait at agility
I am hoping she will mature a bit though as I am fat and she is fast

[Owllady]

Aked, have a go :)

[Aked]

We have an excellent stay! Perhaps this means we will be crap at agility:) She will probably stay at the start for ages, before illegally running off to play with another dog.

[moosemama]

I found formal obedience far too dry and boring. It's no wonder they don't want to do a stay, when they have to complete the rest of the course to get their reward. With agility, the reward is getting to do the rest of the course. Far more fun all round.

[basildonbond]

Ooh well done - that sounds brilliant

[lougle]

Can dogs who don't like other dogs do agility? I presume that would rule a dog out? My dog is so agile but he's really uncomfortable with other dogs.

[Lonecatwithkitten]

Lougle yes they can, but you need the right trainer at the right club. It can actually help them too.

[Owllady]

There is a dog reactive dog in our class lounge, he has been fine. We sit apart from one another and do the course in turns. You can also do 1:1 agility at ours

[Booboostoo]

Well done!

I always thought it is simpler to get some obedience training in (not formal, but teach commands and teach the dog to listen to you) before starting agility. My bitch started agility after 4 years of obedience (formal and fun with clicker) and just got moved to the second group during the first lesson - there was so much she knew already like hand targeting for weaving, jump command for any obstacle, wait, foot targeting for the red zones, slow and fast commands, etc.

[Owllady]

How difficult is the weave though if you start off on the wrong foot? I am sure I look like Mr bean when that happens