Sally Posted June 5, 2007 Share Posted June 5, 2007 Hi all, I'm keen to start doing agility with my dog, but we've only been to a few obedience classes, and she's not ready to be off a lead in public. What level of training does a dog need before starting agility? She's really trainable and is good at the sit, stay and heel commands, but needs to be on a lead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
he'smyhero Posted June 5, 2007 Share Posted June 5, 2007 Hero and I have just started training for agility. The club we go to runs a "relationship" class and then you go on to foundation class. In the relationship class you go no where near jumps and it really is just about building your dogs drive and get it wanting to work for you. Foundation Class expands on this but you do get to use equipment. From what I know most clubs have these sort of build up classes - you don't just start running the courses straight up. Hero already had done basic obedience but like you I'd never really had him off lead out side of home and his recall was crap. We did a lot of stuff off lead including restrained recalls which really built my confidence with him. There are alot of people around that could help if your dog decided to take off but I haven't seen any one's dog do that, the dogs are so pumped and invovled in whats going on. I really think she will suprise you! It is alot of fun too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poodlefan Posted June 5, 2007 Share Posted June 5, 2007 A dog needs to have a good offlead recall and to be generally controllable offlead. You don't train obstacles on lead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kavik Posted June 5, 2007 Share Posted June 5, 2007 Certainly a good recall is important. If you are not there yet with recall and some sort of stay position, there is still stuff you can do at home. There was a thread on foundation work a while ago, you can do this with no or little equipment, some of which you can improvise with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sally Posted June 5, 2007 Author Share Posted June 5, 2007 My dog will stay while off the lead at obedience classes, but the instructor has warned us that our dogs are not ready for being off the lead in public. I'll have a look for that foundation work thread, it sounds good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
t(AD)pole Posted June 5, 2007 Share Posted June 5, 2007 Rock solid sits, stays, drops and recall are essential. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skip Posted June 5, 2007 Share Posted June 5, 2007 After watching agility I was interested. When I could get dogs I found one suitable for agility and a girlfriend for him. I have done obedience for two years, even doing some local expo display. But I wasn't really wanting to trial, I was waiting to start agility. Somebody locally organised a charity fun day of agility training. There were 2 sessions, 2 teachers and maybe 10 dogs with each. So these dogs were a real mix. There were some jumps, tunnels, dog walk, A - frame, tyre jump etc. It was just a simple intro to what agility is. It was loads of fun. Most of these dogs hadn't done anything before although some were from obedience club. Most were on lead as requested although mine were allowed off lead. Positive rewards etc encouraged. Our club at the end of each month also gets out some basic agility equipment. Then members and their dogs can use them with some supervision. Our club doesn't have anyone experienced or interested in agility or teaching it. So I too am interested in agility. The only people to train me are the organisers of the fun day. I need to travel for over an hr to get to Sunday training and it is with ADAA? I did call the agility assoc?, number from the net but they couldn't tell me of any training school near to me. And the ADAA teachers that teach me are experienced, fun, passionate about agility and kind to the dogs. I'd love any pointers? At the fun day I won a magazine that outlined exercises not needing obstacles. This included basic obedience plus: running with dog on both sides, figure 8 with crossing over, heeling to both sides, getting your dog to turn to you and away from you, teaching " go " and " out " and contacts. So I started with these. Loads of questions and hope I can learn from advice on this forum. Where would that foundation thread be to find?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kavik Posted June 5, 2007 Share Posted June 5, 2007 Some interesting threads: Hind end awareness http://forums.dogzonline.com.au/index.php?...c=97449&hl= Weaving http://forums.dogzonline.com.au/index.php?...c=94181&hl= My agility videos http://forums.dogzonline.com.au/index.php?...c=96056&hl= Foundation work http://forums.dogzonline.com.au/index.php?...c=94066&hl= Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyl Posted June 5, 2007 Share Posted June 5, 2007 (edited) Skip, have a look at this thread, has lots of good tips and pointers. Eta: Snap Kavik! The above link is the same as the last link Kavik posted.. Edited June 5, 2007 by Sandrasm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sally Posted June 5, 2007 Author Share Posted June 5, 2007 Thanks kavik and Sandrasm, I'll be checking out those links. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Piximatosis Posted June 6, 2007 Share Posted June 6, 2007 The agility club Brody and I started at recently has 5 modules of obedience you need to pass before you start on obstacles By the end of them the dogs sit, drop, stand, stay, touch, recall and heel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vickie Posted June 6, 2007 Share Posted June 6, 2007 (edited) I know lots of people won't agree with me here, but I'm going to say it anyway. I don't think obedience classes/formal obedience is essential for agility training...and I think in some cases it can be detrimental to agility. To me it is much more important to have focus from your dog and a good relationship. I know that obedience classes aim to give you this, but am not always sure it works out that way from what I've seen. I want my dogs to be with me because it is more exciting than anything that is external to the game we are playing. Don't get me wrong, they have a recall, obviously it is essential for any dog to have a recall, regardless of what you will be doing. I like the idea of teaching tricks, there is a lot less pressure to be perfect & it builds a great relationship while teaching the dog to learn to learn. Edited June 6, 2007 by Vickie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poodlefan Posted June 6, 2007 Share Posted June 6, 2007 I don't think formal obedience training is essential either Vickie.. just a high standard of offlead control under distraction. Formal obedience training is no guarantee of that I'm afraid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogdude Posted June 6, 2007 Share Posted June 6, 2007 I'm sorry, but I am hard pressed to understand the meaning of the above two posts? Dogs are not naturally "self controlled"off lead, someone needs to be able to teach it effectively in order to have "Guaranteed reliablility"! Its called "formal obedience". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poodlefan Posted June 6, 2007 Share Posted June 6, 2007 I'm sorry, but I am hard pressed to understand the meaning of the above two posts? Dogs are not naturally "self controlled"off lead, someone needs to be able to teach it effectively in order to have "Guaranteed reliablility"! Its called "formal obedience". I think we have a terminology problem Dogdude. You do not have to particpate in a class that focusses on preparing a dog for obedience trialling (that's what I call "formal obedience" in order to train reliable offlead control. On the contrary, I can identify dogs with UD titles whose control outside the obedience ring leaves a fair bit to be desired. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kavik Posted June 6, 2007 Share Posted June 6, 2007 I agree that formal obedience is not necessary for agility. Some agility clubs require you to get to a certain level of obedience first, and go through classes, but with other clubs you just need to show you have the necessary control over your dog. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogdude Posted June 6, 2007 Share Posted June 6, 2007 Poodlefan Where do you think the most cost effective and convenient place to learn how to control a dog off lead would be? Like any other dog sport, the trainers dog is always his best advertisement, and yes, I have seen dogs in all levels of trialling that are unreliable in the world outside the ring. This does not reflect on formal obedience as a sport though! I also know plenty of people who could not cut it in formal obedience who then switch over to agility, then sit there bagging obedience and all of its "pressures" on the dog etc. You can't train focus and off lead reliablility by running your dog through a tunnel! Just for the record, I am not a fan of agility, but I would promote any dogsport aimed at building a better bond with its owner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vickie Posted June 6, 2007 Share Posted June 6, 2007 I'm sorry, but I am hard pressed to understand the meaning of the above two posts? Dogs are not naturally "self controlled"off lead, someone needs to be able to teach it effectively in order to have "Guaranteed reliablility"! Its called "formal obedience". I guess the point I was trying to make is that although a recall is crucial in any situation, there is lots you can do to reduce the need to actually use it in an agility environment, since it is an activity that dogs often find very rewarding. I find my dogs are generally uninterested in other dogs (or sniffiing the ground etc) at training, because they are either playing/doing agility with me or they are waiting to play/do agility with me. There is not much reason to recall them often b/c they are by my side, quivering with excitement to have a go. My point about "obedience classes" is that they are not always fun for the dog (depending on the club), the atmosphere can be a reactive one with dogs feeling pressured by leads & close proximity and often many of the things that dogs know in obedience need to be retaught in an agility environment. Just take a look at the amount of dogs with obed titles that cannot stay at the startline/drop on the table...or recall for that matter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vickie Posted June 6, 2007 Share Posted June 6, 2007 You can't train focus and off lead reliablility by running your dog through a tunnel!Just for the record, I am not a fan of agility, but I would promote any dogsport aimed at building a better bond with its owner. Ummm, there's a lot more to agility than running a dog through a tunnel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MolassesLass Posted June 6, 2007 Share Posted June 6, 2007 A dog needs to have a good offlead recall and to be generally controllable offlead. You don't train obstacles on lead. You'd think so but try telling that to the club I started with. It was bloody awful and I think very deterimental to my dog. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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