Training For Agility.

[Jozlyn]

Hi folks,

My Kelpie puppy is only 16 weeks old at the moment and still learning basic obedience. Although the only thing she has missing for graduating to Class 1 is heeling and tbh I can't see us ever achieving that

My actual question is, at what age can you start agility training? My Club has some equipment: jumps, tunnel & weave poles. One of the Trainers there suggested 6 months old, but I actually thought it was older than that. I've trolled the 'net and, as usual, can't find a definative answer. Any advice would be appreciated. Also does anyone know of any Agility type Clubs in Western Victoria? We're near Border Town.

Many thanks,

J

[megan_]

Foundations start the day you bring them home - that doesn't involve any equipment. I wouldn't put a dog on equipment until it was at least 1. There are a few threads here that detail foundations

[Kavik]

You can do foundation work (no equipment) from a puppy, but you shouldn't do much jumping or contact equipment until 12 months or fully grown.

There is a lot you can work on before then that will allow you to progress more quickly once your dog gets old enough to use the equipment :)

Some examples of what you can train at home:

* Get your reward system in place - engagement and relationship building - so you can get and keep your dog's attention in all environments and be able to reward them - the holy grail for agility is tug, otherwise active and interactive games involving food and chasing you and food

* Recall exercises especially restrained recall

* Body awareness exercises such as walking through a ladder, walking backwards, perchwork, 4 feet in a box

* Circle work/shadow handling

* Send to a toy/bait bag and get the dog to focus on the toy/bait bag and not on you when you send - for focus forward on obstacles later on

* Think about what you want to do for your contact behaviour - whether you want your dog to stop at the end of the contact or whether you want to teach your dog to run all the way through the contact - and look at different methods for teaching these. There is foundation work you can do for all of these.

[Jozlyn]

Thanks guys

[Tassie]

And the great thing is that most of the foundation and relationship building stuff will help with the heeling. Incidentally, it's worth noting that there's a big difference between" heeling " and loose leash walking. Heeling is a very precise position next to your leg and the rear end awareness is good for that too. Don't be in a hurry to rush training. Little steps and setting your pup up for success is key.

[Jozlyn]

And the great thing is that most of the foundation and relationship building stuff will help with the heeling. Incidentally, it's worth noting that there's a big difference between" heeling " and loose leash walking. Heeling is a very precise position next to your leg and the rear end awareness is good for that too. Don't be in a hurry to rush training. Little steps and setting your pup up for success is key.

I'm not in a rush, it's just we're both bored out of brains with Puppy Class :D

I've picked up a couple of good ideas so I'm going to try out one of them tomorrow and see how we go.

Cheers,

J

[Sayreovi]

Also does anyone know of any Agility type Clubs in Western Victoria? We're near Border Town.

Not really, you're best bet would be Horshams dog club and hope they do agility. There would be nothing in Nhill or Kaniva. Maybe once or twice a month make the trip to Adelaide to go to their agility clubs?

Haha talking about these towns makes me a little homesick! I was born in Bordertown, my mum was born and raised in Kaniva and most still live there and my dad was Bordertown born and raised and all still live there :laugh:

[Jozlyn]

Also does anyone know of any Agility type Clubs in Western Victoria? We're near Border Town.

Not really, you're best bet would be Horshams dog club and hope they do agility. There would be nothing in Nhill or Kaniva. Maybe once or twice a month make the trip to Adelaide to go to their agility clubs?

Haha talking about these towns makes me a little homesick! I was born in Bordertown, my mum was born and raised in Kaniva and most still live there and my dad was Bordertown born and raised and all still live there :laugh:

I had a feeling that might be the case but it was worth asking anyway, we love going to Adelaide so trips there are not out of the question :)

Thanks.

J.

[skip]

HI

I have a brown and cream girl kelpie about 8 months.

I am lucky in that we do have some experienced agility trainers in my area. We have two clubs and one offers a very structured program learning Greg Derrett's system.

I brought some books (reccommended 2 me )that gave me some help when I brought my kelpie. One was Control Unleashed The Puppy Program by Leslie McDevitt. And The Focused Puppy by Deborah Jones, Judy Keller. And to balance things out i also read Ruff Love by Susan Garrett but that's another gameplan altogether. However it was something to consider and it had some good games in it.

I also just purchased Susan Salo puppy jumping and will buy Susan Garretts One JUmp. Bearing in mind the jump bar doesn't really exsist, they use a "bump" on the ground. Your pup isn't old enough yet but will be before you know it.

I find time is flying by and so much to teach. I don't feel a need to hurry and there is none. I did/do concentrate with my pup with socialisation and taking her everywhere. Agility dogs need to be comfortable in all sorts of situations. My pup didn't get a lot of socialisation so to me this was paramount.

Building a reward system is also really important. Tug, tug tug and take it everywhere.

Congradulations BTW. Your pup is lovely.

[Jozlyn]

HI

I have a brown and cream girl kelpie about 8 months.

I am lucky in that we do have some experienced agility trainers in my area. We have two clubs and one offers a very structured program learning Greg Derrett's system.

I brought some books (reccommended 2 me )that gave me some help when I brought my kelpie. One was Control Unleashed The Puppy Program by Leslie McDevitt. And The Focused Puppy by Deborah Jones, Judy Keller. And to balance things out i also read Ruff Love by Susan Garrett but that's another gameplan altogether. However it was something to consider and it had some good games in it.

I also just purchased Susan Salo puppy jumping and will buy Susan Garretts One JUmp. Bearing in mind the jump bar doesn't really exsist, they use a "bump" on the ground. Your pup isn't old enough yet but will be before you know it.

I find time is flying by and so much to teach. I don't feel a need to hurry and there is none. I did/do concentrate with my pup with socialisation and taking her everywhere. Agility dogs need to be comfortable in all sorts of situations. My pup didn't get a lot of socialisation so to me this was paramount.

Building a reward system is also really important. Tug, tug tug and take it everywhere.

Congradulations BTW. Your pup is lovely.

I've just ordered some books recently, waiting very impatiently for them to arrive.

Thanks, we think Abby's gorgeous too :D