agility training

[newf4u]

From those of you whom have gotten your dogs involved in agility training, what age do you feel is a good, safe age for them to start. I am so overly cautious about the joints and overdoing anything, so I'm kind've afraid to get Ben involved in this quite yet. He is 9 months old and has done his first course in obedience, which he passed with flying colours. <proud Mom> I feel mentally he is getting ready for agility, but I'm not sure about physically. Thanks guys,
Jennifer

 

[Jeannie]

Jennifer,
The younger you start them the better. You can teach all the contact obstacles, tunnels, chutes and weave poles. The only thing I would be really cautious on would be the jumps. You can start training jumps, but do not put them very high. Maybe 8-12". I rarely jump Sam at full height during training. Why stress the joints needlessly?? In AKC newfs have to jump 24" in UKC they jump 20". Believe me that 4" is a big difference.

The most important thing in Agility is to have your dog very fit. Swimming is the best way to build the muscles and endurance needed for Agility. The second most important thing is you newf needs to be as slim as possible. But that is a good idea for any newf to avoid joint problems.

There are many other things you can teach. "Touch" or "spot", side, go out, here, blind crosses and so on.

By the way you need to train you dog to know the difference between agility and obedience. A dog is never in Heel position during agility and that really confuses a lot of obedience dogs. Sam follows my shoulders so well (because of obedience) that when she jumps I have to stay square with the jump until she completes it. If I turn she tends to drop her back leg and knock the bar. Also for newfs you have to remember that they are much bigger than the normal agility dog so your lines between each obstacle will be much wider.

Ok I have gone on enough. Have fun.

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Jeannie and the rescues
Sara, Samantha and Panda
www.newfland.com

 

[newf4u]

thanks Jeannie, as always you have been a wealth of information. Your dogs sound so wonderful. I wish I could meet them. But you are a world away from me.

Thank goodness for this forum though, it can really bridge the miles.

Jennifer

 

[Emilymonet]

Our six month old Emily tried a very small agility course over the weekend for the first time. I guess she knew she should'nt
be jumping because she walked up to the first jump (only about 6" high) stopped, then knocked the pole down with her paw. Then she walked over it. LOL

Encouraged by little cut up hot dogs she went through the pols like a pro. The A frame was only about 2 or 3 ft. high. She walked up that but became nervious at the top. When we got to the tunnel she wanted nothing to do with that! I am planning on taking a few private lessons with her before we start our intro to agility class. I want to start my little scardy-cat off slow. The trainging facility told me that we would leave the poles for the jumps on the ground. I don't think she should do any jumping until those growth plates are closed. However like Jeannie said the contact obsticals will be a good confidence builder for them. Good luck

Melissa & Emily

 

[Jeannie]

Lots of things you can teach at home. Your newf has to learn to know where the back feet are. Put a board on the ground and have your newf walk over it. Slowly raise it so he learns "back feet". On the tunnel, crunch it up so it is only about a foot long, and call you newf through it. It will be a bit before any dog will go through a blind tunnel (a tunnel where they cannot see out the other end)

Have fun and keep me posted.

------------------
Jeannie and the rescues
Sara, Samantha and Panda
www.newfland.com

 

[newf4u]

Melissa,
You gave me a good laugh just picturing Emily batting that pole so she didn't have to jump over it. LOL. These guys are so funny. Their personality never ceases to amaze me only after 9 short months.

Jennifer

 

[Emilymonet]

Jeannie, I only want to take a few private lessons to learn myself, how to deal with her fears. I know that there are some things I can work with her at home, in fact I am lucky enough to have a neighbor who is an agility trainer. She has all the equipment in her back yard. But, when Emily gets scared(loud noises, thunderstormes, stairs, funny looking objects outside that were not there yesterday, etc..) I find myself consoling her. I know that is only reinforcing her behavior, but I really dont know how far I can push her without traumatizing her and making her more fearful. I really want to do the pet therapy and agility with her, and I just dont want my lack of training knowledge to head her down a different road during her fear stage. Maybe I'm being to cautious.

Thanks,
Melissa & Emily

 

[Jeannie]

Melissa,
Sam has lots of the same fears as Emily. We had a trash toter and just this morning after trash pickup I decided to put it in the back yard so the rain could wash it off. I let Sam outside a bit later and she went crazy barking at it. She even hid behind the grill as she continued to bark at it. Finally she did go potty- but on the other side of the yard. Sam is afraid of any loud noise. We found a child's play chainsaw on day at our new property. Gary picked it and pressed the button. It worked and immediately Sam was running away with her tail between her legs. She is really a wimp, but she loves agility. She showed some fear on some obstacles like the aframe and the dog walk, but now I think those are her favorite.

Agility can be a confidence builder for any dog. Good luck. I hope Emily will learn to enjoy it as much as Samantha does

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Jeannie and the rescues
Sara, Samantha and Panda
www.newfland.com