Agility And Obedience Classes

[Weasels]

I am getting a field bred English Springer :) Can't wait!! :)

Oooooh yay! Cute :)

I think age is a factor too, fox has gotten easier to manage since she turned 2 last year, but Weez still has trouble settling (he's about 18 months).

Fox will learn most tricks lightning fast but it's taken about 6 months to teach her 'have a rest'!

Edited January 22, 2012 by Weasels

[huski]

Fox will learn most tricks lightning fast but it's taken about 6 months to teach her 'have a rest'!

Teaching a good on/off switch is something I will emphasis heavily with my new pup - Daisy is bad enough :laugh:

[lovemesideways]

I wont take Roscoe into classes, hes got too much drive and I don't want to squash it with boring heel work.

Instead we walk around, playing tug, using the other dogs and classes as distractions and having a fun filled play time .

I really dislike any club that lets dogs run around off leash and play before or after class (unless they're under control and kept away from others) If I wanted to got a off leash dog park, I would. I don't expect that at training.

[Ptolomy]

I feed a couple of mine (including my OC dog) before obedience training

[koalathebear]

I really dislike any club that lets dogs run around off leash and play before or after class (unless they're under control and kept away from others) If I wanted to got a off leash dog park, I would. I don't expect that at training.

Do you mean clubs that let dogs run around on the training ground when other dogs are training? At our club we have two large fields and two smaller fields. One of the small ones is for recall work and one of the small areas is for letting dogs run around like pork chops. I don't mind dogs running around in there except when we are trying to do stays - it's so tempting for the poor doggies who are trying to stay but other dogs are running around. Otherwise I'm not fussed by people letting their dogs run around in the off-lead area. It can be frustrating when people let their dogs run around on the actual training ground off-lead when people are training (I think it's not fair on the dogs that have to be on lead) but fortunately this is pretty rare at our club and ALMOST no one does this.

As for whether we let our dogs run around before or after - depends on how we are feeling (humans that is :laugh: ) Sometimes after class, we are tired/busy and just want to get the hell out of there. Other times, we'll let the dogs run around with their buddies. As for running around before class, it makes little difference to our two. They are both very high energy, drivey dogs and it's not possible to tire them out - again it depends on how the humans are feeling. Sometimes I let them run around before class, sometimes not. Even if they run around like crazy, they are exactly the same during class with no visible diminution in energy/focus/craziness. I sometimes wonder if Kelpies are solar-powered/wind-powered/air-powered

Edited January 22, 2012 by koalathebear

[Mrs Rusty Bucket]

We're lucky to have a large off lead dog area across the car park area from our club. So I arrive early, take my dog there for S&P. Once she's done that and I've picked up, she can go back on lead and greet other dogs on lead. If there is setting up or taking down to be done and I need two hands and no canine helpers, then she goes in the crate.

Between turns on the sequencing I do lots of different things - most of the things on the list, we need to practice calm waiting, training moves (shadow handling), nose touches, tricks, anything I can think of at the time or anything I think needs specific work. Sometimes there is a little bit of equipment to practice handling set up but often it's set up too close to the training course. But if I can, I do a couple of runs at that too. But not too much of any one thing - or we both get bored, and all these things, except the equipment practice bit, on lead.

It's hard to balance the joy of greeting all her friends and being focussed on me - so I try to "premack" all that and put it on cue/permission

Edited January 22, 2012 by Mrs Rusty Bucket

[The Spotted Devil]

When I train my dogs - agility at club, obedience (ring run throughs only at club) and retrieving at the oval or in the field - on lead walk to toilet (they know the drill!), then crated or staked out as required. Warm up games and tug for agility/obedience but retrieving she is just on fire from the get go. I love to give them a good gallop after training or trialling and they really look forward to it...just together or with known dogs. I find they have a bit of pent up energy and it becomes a real reward for concentrating.

ETA: I should add that for my working ESS, THE MOST REWARDING THING IN THE WORLD is chasing birdies. With the "regime" I have in place she perfectly understands that live birds do not exist when we are working (even if they dive bomb her!) but she will get the opportunity to self-reward when we are done.

Edited January 23, 2012 by The Spotted Devil