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Post by CurlyCub on Apr 12, 2013 16:14:46 GMT
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Post by teegiebear on Apr 13, 2013 21:27:02 GMT
We do little bits of agility at our training club and if there's enough interest will be starting up an agility class again, last time I think member numbers dropped too much, I'm just starting my boys on light agility and its going great, hope it will help focus especially Enzo as he is so scatter brained sometimes but when he's paying attention he's great! Got my mini course coming together in the garden
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Post by CurlyCub on Apr 13, 2013 21:31:15 GMT
Sounds great! About the mini course - that's the same as me
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Post by teegiebear on Apr 13, 2013 21:37:54 GMT
Hoops from b&m and going to make stands over the next week for them so free standing or raise them a bit when dogs are used to them, small jumps for now in the process, I'd bought. Cheap tunnel but I think my dad was in a good mood and has just ordered them a proper tunnel!!! Can't wait till it arrives!
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Post by Jessie99 on Apr 14, 2013 14:52:49 GMT
1 year and over for training. 18 months and over for competing. Be careful at which places you go to though and think about it first because a lot of places are quite snobby and look down on cross-breeds, etc. For example, when I used to go to Flyball training with my Westie he loved it at first but then the trainers were horrible and said Charlie wasn't good enough for the time (even though it was his first EVER time doing Flyball) so I was disappointed and a little upset because they also said that it wasn't worth bringing him back because 'he is ONLY a Westie anyway'.I was very upset and my parents reported them for such negative and 'disgusting' - as my dad said behaviour towards not only a child but a new member of the team. So just be wary - I now go to Agility with Charlie Boy and he loves it, he is very good at it and we compete in fun shows . I have a long jump, a practice tunnel and I wan't a hoop, normal jump and weave poles to practice at home when were not at training on thursdays .
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Post by teegiebear on Apr 14, 2013 15:04:44 GMT
Ill agree u need to pick your training and club carefully. I took my lab pups to a well known reputable dog club and thought they would do well but the people who ran it as dog training was actually more ring craft. They were all so focused on their own collies and not on us and out pups, they had too many in the class and it was moving far too quick for my boys that was a disaster. Too much looking down and if your down couldn't move sideways with u even though you were still working on trying heel work and basics they weren't interested. I managed to find not long after I left this the old trainer I took my last dog to had opened up daycare and training and my boys are doing fantastic. It's amazing what a great trainer and club can do for both owners and dogs.
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Post by Jessie99 on Apr 14, 2013 15:27:21 GMT
I have formed a stronger bond and better communication with my Westie Charlie Boy since going to Agility training and I have been going for almost a year now .
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Post by orpheous87 on Apr 14, 2013 15:44:14 GMT
For example, when I used to go to Flyball training with my Westie he loved it at first but then the trainers were horrible and said Charlie wasn't good enough for the time (even though it was his first EVER time doing Flyball) so I was disappointed and a little upset because they also said that it wasn't worth bringing him back because 'he is ONLY a Westie anyway'.I was very upset and my parents reported them for such negative and 'disgusting' - as my dad said behaviour towards not only a child but a new member of the team. That's horrible AL. Plus, you'd think that they'd want a smaller dog on team considering that the jumps have to be set at the right height for the smallest dog on the team - surely that's a big advantage in competitions??
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Post by Jessie99 on Apr 14, 2013 16:02:07 GMT
I know! Its a massive advantage! I lost a lot of confidence and sometimes felt that Charlie wasn't a good breed and I stopped doing training and going to local shows for a year or so because of that stupid bitch but then I realized how much it doesn't matter and he is my dog and I will do whatever training I want with him, so I took up Agility and Heelwork to music and now I am starting Flyball with either him or Roman Or both but one at a time
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Post by Weims on Apr 14, 2013 16:37:56 GMT
I know! Its a massive advantage! I lost a lot of confidence and sometimes felt that Charlie wasn't a good breed and I stopped doing training and going to local shows for a year or so because of that stupid bitch but then I realized how much it doesn't matter and he is my dog and I will do whatever training I want with him, so I took up Agility and Heelwork to music and now I am starting Flyball with either him or Roman Or both but one at a time I get pretty annoyed when all you see in dog training videos are border collies, don't get me wrong, I love them, I think they're beautiful dogs, very intelligent and I will have my own one day, I just find it stupid that people think a dog has to be a collie to do anything!
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Post by Jessie99 on Apr 14, 2013 16:43:10 GMT
I completely agree! I think I have proven that because in my dog agility club this women said when I joined that I might not get very far with a Westie and she had 3 Border Collies, but now Charlie is a higher grade and in higher class than all 3 of them! HAHA!
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Post by CurlyCub on Apr 14, 2013 16:54:33 GMT
Thanks for all the help guys! I'll pick the club very carefully as I realise some don't think crossbreeds 'are good enough with all there pedigrees'. I also get fed up of seeing border collie's doing everything, I love them too but it gets annoying. Thanks again
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Post by Weims on Apr 14, 2013 17:12:29 GMT
Any dog can do agility, one of my trainers dogs only had three legs and still got to crufts!
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Post by CurlyCub on Apr 14, 2013 17:14:07 GMT
Wow that's great! Nice siggy by the way
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Post by Weims on Apr 14, 2013 17:18:26 GMT
I know! Thank you, that was at our first show!
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