smisch

for me and the boys during agility trials I usually set up the crate on the grounds.. put them in the the crate, get myself sorted and all appropriate paperwork that I need during the day. I then take the boys out once they have settled and walk them/do a bit of work and take them to every pole and tree near us that won't effect the competitors, put them back in the crate and I will regualary get them out according to when we are competeing.. Before going into the ring I get which ever dog is competeing and do a few small warmups and take them to trees and poles again and give them a small drink of water just before running.. This has been proven sucessful on most occasions the only occasions it hasn't worked is when I arrive late and have no time before running to take them to the toilet and normally they will go in the ring or in some cases run out the ring go and come back... either way not qualifying material!

<I have copied and pasted this in the General dog discussion> Hi guys I lost my cop of Dogs NSW and I urgently need the details for two trials which the closing dates for netering are fast approaching!a 1> Bushfarm Dog Agility and Jumping Trial on 29th october 2>CastleHill Agility club Agility and Jumping Trial 28th october! If sumone could please post the details of where to send the stuff and the cost ect I would be extremley greatful!!! Many thanks in advance!!! Sam

Hi Feralpup Well the 2on 2off is the one I have heard most about but the other method I was learning for a while at another agility club was the touch spot method which was whenever the dog touched the "target" which was a plastic circle we told them touch and instantly rewarded or clicked if it was clicker work... its sounds kinda vauge but I never took to the method, 2 on 2 off is what I try and work on or even simply stopping is good enough! I'm still only a novice in all of this but were getting there majority of the time the dogs know that touch is to stop until they are told where to go next!!! hope that helps!

hi Tanya, Its Sam we haven't been to training in ages! Roxy is doing so well! you must be so proud of her! Thats a great video I only have one video of Jock and thats him making a fool of me! haha

I have to check with the Taxi service but that sounds like heaps of fun!!!!! I want to take Jock! (bit out of snoopys comfort zone but we will try and go!!)

Okay well I have a story with a difference, I loved obedience, anything to do with dogs I love it, I was keen to do it but snoopy hated it, he would stop half way through an exercise and go to sleep, I tried so much to get him to do it, fav food, more enthusiasam (I was really OTT one week) but he was bored, he loves his agility, its running and climbing and puzzel work, he has so much joy in his face when you tell him good boy for doing a series of jumps rather than a heel.... thats my view IMO it depends on the dog too!

IMO (coming from a complete novice) Fromal obedience training isn't a must if you wanna do agility, I did obed. with one dog (snoopy) and I didn't with jock, and I have noticed snoopy wants to stay close to me all the time when we are doing agility which can make it difficult to send him away where as Jock wants to run ahead. Plus (correct me if I'm wrong) Some of the stuff you learn in obed. contridics what you do in agility. * In obed. we were always told reward your dog at the end of the excersise when they sit, In agility we're told reward the dog as soon as they have done whats been asked so as soon as they go over the jump instead of waiting for them to come and sit infront of you *In agility you work your dog on both sides, (I personally) found/am finding it hard to break this habit cos of obed. Really it is up to you if you feel your dog will benifit from obed. do it cos at the end of the day your the one who has to live with your dog. Good luck! everyone else please correct me if I'm worng buts thats what I have seemed to have picked up along my little while in agility!

Thats really good Vickie!! I enjoy your articals they always make so much sense; you take simple points and make them simlpier and help reinforce them into our minds!!! Thats the ability of a good writer!!!!! Thumbs up to this!

something rather gorment is Roast lamb, my boys have had it twice and thrive on it! they were going nuttso for it!!

Your cloub should have cards, I took my cards and and once I knew the dogs numbers on the register I got them mesured by two judges on the nite I took in my cards! It was funny! jock was exaclty 355mm and snoops was 350!

lol!! I was thinking of starting a topic like this, recently at training we had a mini agility comp and we were doing very well, we got to the table and jock did as he was told and sat there as I moved into position for the next obsticle and I gave him the command and he looked at me as if to say "don't be stupid mum you told be to stay on the table!" I spent easliy 30 sec trying to gte him to move!!!

brilliant photos as always!! My new brag!! I DIDN'T DQ!!!!! lol but I did have a fault but hey!!! Jock and I had a brilliant run yesterday at training during comp night!! he had such a great run on his jumping course!! just one missed weaver but I'm still so proud of him! he's going like a pro!!! I can't wait for our next trial!

:cool: GO MAI!!!!!!!!! Well done!!! Well the good news is I should be at training on thursday!! so I'll give mai plently of Well done pats then, maybe even a belly scratch! I remember taking a photo of her lying on her back in the mud!! Well done!!!!

Trim just keeps getting better and better! She's the shining star!! I will have to get some recent video of the boys training one day! Good Luck for Sunday! Bring home a Ribbon or 2 or 4 lol! We won't be there as I'm not well enough to go! But We'll see you guys soon!

unfortunaly not Mav, The doctor has ruled me out with something up with my suinus! Really sucks coz I was looking foward to it too!! oh well theres always next time!

Ohhhhhh, um thats right I had a friend who used to go to the same park with her dogs as me anyway she moved and then she was back for an agility comp and said I should come and watch it, I was hooked! Then I met vickie who was also involved in the dog sport world and she got me right into it!!

Well Done to Vickie, Trim & Holly & Maverick! Our Brag isn't huge but it's something for us! At training last thursday Snoopy went up and over the Aframe!!!!!!!! Mum was in shock as for the last few months he's been refusing to do it and if you try and put him on it he throws a small fit! but he did it (twice!!) So proud of my little monster!!! Jock has improved out of sight! I'm so pleased with him, he concerntrates alot more on whats being said rather than whats infront of him (although you can't tell!) and then on thursday we were doing some practice weavers and I had come up on one side with him and I wanted him to do them agin going back to where we started and he kept refusing to enter them and I was getting really frustrated with him until I looked where I was I and go the clue! ..... ..... I was trying to make him enter from the worng side and he didn'tgte what was being asked as he knows to enter from the left side!!! I'm so proud of my boys they are doing so well! Vickie we may see you at the trial on Sunday, mum wants to see a proper trial and she wants to see the dogs run! But it all comes down to if I'm well enough!! *crosses fingers* so hopefully we'll be there!!

Shmoo I have a few recipes at home which I'll put up for you tomorrow (I don't have internet at home) for dog treats

I did the channel weaving, (thats what they use at our club) but another way that I was taught to do to get the dog to be more independant was to throw the reward on the ground so the dogs would have their head down and urge on rather than look at you waiting for the instruction. I hope I explained that alright Vickie may care to elaborate as she taught me the method and it's really useful!

really good! I wish my two played like that for our trial instead they decdied the BBq smelt good! Well done

Vickie that wait and Go hand excersise that you taught me was really helpful! I don't know if it's already on here but that would be one for people to try (I'll let you explain it since you can explain it well! ) On the agility being just a running thing that is so true!! I have been trainign for school X country and I run a few times a week with jock and snoopy, it's been a struggle cause Snoopy can't run as fast and jock refuses to run at the same pace as me but we're slowly getting there!! We shall soon be running at the same pace!!

Gladesville thats not too far Brushfarm which is in Eastwood they hold sunday classes and they are really good ones in my opinion

lol here is a video of a doggir Rescue dog mr sneezy, I have been training him since before christmas when we got him!!! and see his tricks, he is such a sweety!! I would take him but I can't so thats out of the question, but he is very people oriented and is looking for a home but here is a short video of all his tricks!! Mr Sneezys Tricks! Hope you guys like them

well done vickie sounds like you guys had a great night!!! Does anyone know where the resluts are posted cause there were a few people from training who were entering their first trials plus I just wanted to see who was in novice!!! Congratulations!!

that sounds good Will be there! just let me know the times