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The doghouse

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Original poster

Does anyone do agility?

41 replies

Lloyd45 · 23/12/2017 19:00

I have 2 lively dogs. I can take them for an hours walk and they still come back bouncing all over the house but an hours agility training, they sleep all day afterwards. Anyone else on here do agility?

OP posts:

BiteyShark · 23/12/2017 19:06

I have just started doing agility classes. I find it quite a nice balance from my other obedience chases as he has to 'listen and take input' from me but gets to do exciting things at the same time rather than just sit/stay etc.

I like it so much I have a few cheap poles, jumps and a tunnel I have set up in the garden to make him 'work for his food'

Original poster

Lloyd45 · 23/12/2017 19:14

I've been doing it about a year, it is the only thing that exhausts my 2 hyper dogs 😊 So glad you enjoy it, it's the best communication between human and dog 😊

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Airfixkitwidow · 23/12/2017 19:18

I do. With my miniature poodle. We love it. We've done it for three years now and are still in grade one. We go to shows and get eliminated every time. But it doesn't matter because we both enjoy it. I considered doing it with my leonberger but am worried she might get stuck in the tunnel! So she will be doing heelwork to music. Had my first class in that about two weeks ago. It's harder than it looks...

BiteyShark · 23/12/2017 19:20

The best bit is not only do I enjoy it but he cries when he has to wait his turn as he is desperate to have a go. At the other classes I do I can see that he is so bored (although still essential for us to do).

Are you doing the comparative type and if so do you think you will compete?

Original poster

Lloyd45 · 23/12/2017 19:21

Ah you are doing well, I have a mad lab x English pointer who looses his mind at shows with excitement but in training he is awesome, so frustrating 😩

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usainbolt · 23/12/2017 19:39

We do agility - I started with my lab he was fun to run - you needed a sense of humour to run him

I have collies running now they take it very seriously

Original poster

Lloyd45 · 23/12/2017 19:44

Collies are the best at agility 😊

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usainbolt · 23/12/2017 20:11

They think they are the best......mine have me as a handicap

ButFirstTea · 23/12/2017 20:13

I'd love to get involved in agility when our puppy is old enough (almost 8 months now). Anyone know the best way to get started? We're in south west London if anyone knows of any clubs or classes nearby!

mustbemad17 · 23/12/2017 20:18

Used to love agility! Attended with my more active dogs but we were usually the class clown pairs - you know, the dog that goes under the jump poles, over the tunnel & then goes & barks at the seesaw 😬 Great fun tho! Tried flyball too but we decided that was pushing it

Original poster

Lloyd45 · 23/12/2017 20:23

My dog was so bad one day my trainer announced she was giving up dogs and taking up cats so I feel your pain. The only thing that keeps me going is he loves it and one day when I am very grey and old he will be amazing 😞

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Original poster

Lloyd45 · 23/12/2017 20:27

With 8 month old the best thing you can teach them is recall no matter what's going on around them, that's what I struggle with as he finds every other dog and person so exciting. Oh and teach them to stop on a contact, blanket, towel, anything, very handy 😉

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mustbemad17 · 23/12/2017 20:32

Haha OP my trainer used to roll her eyes at me & get the video camera out...apparently we were prime examples of what not to do! We would never make a competing team - and i tried with several of my dogs over time - but it was great fun & wore the dogs out

LaGattaNera · 23/12/2017 20:33

Biteyshark where did you get your poles & tunnel etc? thanks

Original poster

Lloyd45 · 23/12/2017 20:39

Hee hee my trainer has said the same but I still try to compete but he is so bad, my friends partner said if the jumps were half a mile a part he would've won 😊

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LittlePearl · 23/12/2017 22:57

I've been doing it for a year with my 2 yr old Border Terrier. We both love it. It's been great for improving focus, obedience, social skills and the bond between us.

I doubt I'll ever do it competitively but I love seeing his progress and even on cold and rainy days it puts a smile on my face.

BiteyShark · 23/12/2017 23:13

LaGattaNera I just searched for agility equipment on eBay so it's a mix of sellers rather than a shop etc

noitsnotteatimeyet · 23/12/2017 23:28

ButFirstTea - agility clubs in London are few and far between - we used to go out to Surrey. We were never going to compete though as my dog only just measured large so he’d be jumping hurdles taller than him. We do a training class now which incorporates some agility and my dog loves it

steppemum · 23/12/2017 23:36

we have just adopted a 3 year old springer spaniel.

he is super high energy, and very focussed and trainable, but easily distracted.

We are going to start agility training in the spring. Between now and then I have to work on his recall!

rightsaidfrederickII · 24/12/2017 01:45

I've looked at it and sadly I haven't been able to find a club that's accessible for us - we're also in London and they're all either too far away or the time it would take to get there after work means we just couldn't get there in time

We're north side of the northern line (no car), if anyone knows anywhere

usainbolt · 24/12/2017 08:48

Some clubs listed here you can search by region etc.

I think most people have to travel to find the best club for them

fourpawswhite · 24/12/2017 08:53

I do it with one of my parson terriers. Enrolled in a fun class last summer. She absolutely loves it. Crys with excitement, bounces round the course, is generally amazing. It makes me smile a lot. When the fun class finished we were asked to join the club, very proud dog mummy moment.

Training has stopped December and January but is usually weekly. Hoping to start competitions by the summer.

Have made homemade jumps and tunnel etc in field.

Just brilliant fun.

I have lots of dogs though and this one is the only one any good at it. The others like the sausages but don't have the spark that she has for the actual courses.

Squirrel26 · 24/12/2017 10:00

I do 1-1 lessons with mine - the whole thing blows his mind, Outdoors! Off lead! New Scary Objects! Listening! Self Control! (He's not quite 2, and a rescue and I've only had him 6 months.) We get tiny baby steps - for ages it was massive for him to even give me eye contact outside. But then last week he listened to me and stopped on the contact, and then he sat and waited behind a jump and then came over it when I called him and I was sooo proud!

hennipenni · 24/12/2017 11:20

We’ve been training for 3.5 years and competing for 2 years, it’s great fun and you need a sense of humour if you run a spaniel!
We’ve made some lovely friends and memories, it’s brilliant for working their minds and mentally tiring them out.
We’re on a break at the moment as my dog has had surgery to his knees but all being well I’m hoping to be back towards the end of next summer.

usainbolt · 24/12/2017 11:43

We need to have a MN symbol so at shows we can spot each other - pombear dog treats?

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