Question.

[Aasha]

Aasha is now almost 1 year old (Jan11th). I am interested in training him in agility. So to all of you agility people out there I have a few questions, can you please help me? Is Aasha old enought to start doing that type of activity? Should I get him a trainer to teach him or teach him myself? Is agility a costly activity to do? All your help would be great, thanks!

 

[dizzydogmom]

Personally, I would wait for his growth plates to finish closing before I started sending him over any jumps (around 18mos-2yrs), but it's never too early to get started on ground work like basic obedience and weave poles. Since this is your first time training an agility dog, I would definately look up a good trainer in your area. As far as cost goes, it will depend on how involved in the sport you get and where abouts you live.

Good luck, though-it's an aweful lot of fun!

 

[Renee&Jake]

All your help would be great, thanks! [/COLOR][/QUOTE]

Is Aasha old enought to start doing that type of activity?

In moderation, yes - all of my dogs have started agility training as puppies (under 4 months) but everything is done on a 'puppy level'. My 11 month old can do a table, has a 75% understanding of how to do the Aframe, teeter and dogwalk (all are lowered in position) can do tunnels and chutes, understands how to find a weave pole entrance**, and has done some VERY low jumping chutes.

**Weave poles are very hard on young, square, upright Boxer bodies and IMO require the most consideration** (They are tough on adult Boxer bodies for that matter)

Should I get him a trainer to teach him or teach him myself?

You need a trainer to teach you. Teaching a dog to do the equipment goes quickly, but most of the challenge to agility happens in-between obstacles. You need someone who can teach you how to direct the dog around the course, to monitor your progress, to analyze your handling, and make suggestions. I now very VERY few people who can do that successfully without a trainer - I've been competing in agility for over 5 years, I run in the excellent classes, and I STILL need someone to watch me run and handle my dogs and coach me.

Is agility a costly activity to do?

It can be, depending on how involved you get and how resourceful you are. I'm the Agility "chair" for my club, and have access to equipment and building use at no charge, and I assist the instructor I hired in beginners classes in exchange for reduced prices in the competition class. I'm also responsible for monthly "run-thrus" where I set a course and people come to the club and pay money to run their dogs.

Otherwise, classes would cost me about $15 lesson per dog per week, private are $30-60 an hour going up to $150 an hour if you train with a "big name".

The flip side is that I have to make the time to do all that...

Showing again is as expensive as you want it to be - I show mainly in AKC so entries are typically $35 per dog per day (for 2 classes, standard and jumpers) . I usually spend $60-$100 in gas to drive to a show over a weekend, and hotels can run $50-$75 a night ( I stay in CHEAP rooms ).

Also, I need to bring crates, duffel bags full of misc. training stuff, mats, treats, energy replenishers for the dogs, toys, water bowls, mats, tents for outdoor shows, special "tuggy" leashes (ok not necessary but very fun) so there's some set up cost involved when you start showing.

Overall, running 2 dogs a trial weekend runs me a minimum of $200 running 1 dog, probably $125.

 

[kayboxer]

I do not do agility, but my mom does, and she also is a judge. She has three shelties and started them out when they were pups, so your guy is definately not too young. The expensive part, for her anyway, is when she travels to the competitions. Since she is not in a big city, most are at least an hour or more away, then you stay the night or two, depending on the competition. She started her first dog out in a class. You might check to see if there is a class near you that you could enroll in. After she got her second dog, she did buy/make some of her own equipment to train with at home. I have thought about putting Buster in agility but I haven't made up my mind yet. I will wait until summer to decide so she can help me train outside.

 

[Aasha]

Thanks guys so much for your helpful information. Aasha has just had one basic obedieance trainning class. I think maybe getting him some more obediance trainning will help first. I have looked and found a place where they offer a begginers class for agility. I'm not sure if I would put him in competition. I want to do really right now just to give him some stimulation and for me and him to have fun. And if he likes it and gets good then maybe put him in competion.

Just one more question. You guys think getting him more obediance trainning first would be better. He lisens now but still kinda stubborn about it. He does the basic things like sit, down and stay. He alright at recall when he wants to be. I'm just thinking it's probably important to have a good lisening dog in order to agility huh?

 

[dizzydogmom]

Piper Ann and I haven't done much with agility other than playing around on the equipment when no one's looking -we're working on our competitive obedience/rally titles right now. But I can't imagine that you could do agility successfully without a fairly firm grasp of obedience. Most agility classes I've seen require that you at least take beginner obedience as a prerequisite.

 

[kayboxer]

Yes, I would do more obedience if he has only had one class. I took obedience classes with my mother and one of her Shelties and the thing I noticed most is that boxers definately do not mature as fast as other dogs (which is one of their traits). Her dog would listen and do the things he was supposed to and mine would do it when she wanted, and then try to play with the other dogs! If your dog is about a year, then you could even do both classes at the same time, which I've seen done also. They definately need to be able to listen and follow commands and if that takes another obedience class, I would do it.

 

[DiverDiva]

You need a trainer to teach you. Teaching a dog to do the equipment goes quickly, but most of the challenge to agility happens in-between obstacles. You need someone who can teach you how to direct the dog around the course, to monitor your progress, to analyze your handling, and make suggestions. .

This is SO true and so often overlooked. Oscar and I have been training in agility for over a year and our weakest point is STILL the 'moving together' portion. A handler communicates so much through body language, and the way a dog 'reads' it almost requires the handler to learn to 'speak' a new language. That said, there are some things you can work on at home that will help you do well in agility class, once you enroll.
1) A really good, solid recall. When you are working off leash and your dog decides to 'design' his own course, you need to get him back.
2) A really good sit/down stay. When another dog is working off leash, you want your dog to be calm and relatively still, not pulling and trying to join the other dog.
3) A really good focus on you, E.G., response to the 'watch me' command, so if another dog happens to come over to say 'hi', your dog will not start a party with him.

I know these seem basic and mundane, but a good mastery of these will help you (and your instructor) enjoy the class and be able to work on the more complex things. Have a great time!