Agility training?

[Alistriwen]

I've been thinking about doing some agility training with Plato. He's such a bouncy, agile dog and he loves to run in and out and around things so I think he'd really enjoy it. He's also incredibly smart. I've had him for only 2.5 weeks and he's only 11 weeks only but already knows: come, sit, stay, watch me, shake, kennel, down and drop it (this one is only about 50% reliable though lol). House training has been a breeze. I think something where he could do some complex work would really benefit his developing little mind. I'm just not sure when you get dogs involved in it or how or really anything about it and I'm looking for advice .

 

[trini]

Although your little lad is a bit too young yet to put into serious agility training, there are lots of fun things you can train at home now that will transfer over later when/if you do decide you want to get into agility with Plato.

The concept of weaving can be taught using cans, spaced, and placed in a straight line. Another fun way to teach "weave", and one that is often seen in free style dancing with your dog, is to teach him to weave through your legs as you walk.

Jumping can be done by using two stacks of books with a broom handle laid across them...start very low and gradually add more books to raise the jump. A bike tire is also fun to hold up and teach a pup to jump through.

The concept of tunnel can be taught by taking similar sized card board boxes, cutting off the tops and bottoms, and taping them together. Start with just a box or two and as soon as he is comfortable with running through them (which may be almost instantly) add more boxes. A chute for the end of the tunnel can be made by using an old bed sheet taped to the last box in the tunnel.

Watch some tapes on YouTube on agility and free style dancing for dogs...they will show all the different moves and then you can create ways to teach these at home until little Plato is old enough to start more serious instruction.

I highly recommend that you visit any local facility that holds agility classes and observe at least one class before deciding where you want to sign up. This allows you to see how the instructor interacts with both the dogs and their owners and lets you choose the instructor whose method of training/interaction you feel most comfortable with.

Plato sounds like one very smart little guy and a doggie who is a real joy to work with! Have fun!!!

Trini

 

[Sharon]

Agility training

Although your little lad is a bit too young yet to put into serious agility training, there are lots of fun things you can train at home now that will transfer over later when/if you do decide you want to get into agility with Plato.

The concept of weaving can be taught using cans, spaced, and placed in a straight line. Another fun way to teach "weave", and one that is often seen in free style dancing with your dog, is to teach him to weave through your legs as you walk.

Jumping can be done by using two stacks of books with a broom handle laid across them...start very low and gradually add more books to raise the jump. A bike tire is also fun to hold up and teach a pup to jump through.

The concept of tunnel can be taught by taking similar sized card board boxes, cutting off the tops and bottoms, and taping them together. Start with just a box or two and as soon as he is comfortable with running through them (which may be almost instantly) add more boxes. A chute for the end of the tunnel can be made by using an old bed sheet taped to the last box in the tunnel.

Watch some tapes on YouTube on agility and free style dancing for dogs...they will show all the different moves and then you can create ways to teach these at home until little Plato is old enough to start more serious instruction.

I highly recommend that you visit any local facility that holds agility classes and observe at least one class before deciding where you want to sign up. This allows you to see how the instructor interacts with both the dogs and their owners and lets you choose the instructor whose method of training/interaction you feel most comfortable with.

Plato sounds like one very smart little guy and a doggie who is a real joy to work with! Have fun!!!

Trini

Do not try any weaving at all as your pup is way to young .Weaves should be taught at 12 months and no jumping.

 

[2GoodDogs]

There is lots you can be doing. Make a wobble board, teach him to target with a nose touch to the contact, teach him to run with you, teach left and right, practice crosses, work that stay with distactions, etc... etc...

We are running short sequences with the jump poles on the ground. No weaves yet, but that's becasue I don't have weave poles. I do have a 2x2, but not ready to bring that out yet.

 

[trini]

Do not try any weaving at all as your pup is way to young .Weaves should be taught at 12 months and no jumping.

My apologies for not being more specific in my post...you are absolutely right that a very young pup whose body has not matured should not be racing through weave movements or jumping at any height. It is good that you pointed this out.

What I was proposing (and obviously didn't explain well enough) was teaching the concepts of weaving and jumping...by having the pup learn to walk in a weave pattern between objects in a line or between legs in a slow walk... and to step over something in their way (like a broom handle raised a couple of inches off the floor or a tire that is held upright while resting on the floor) rather than go around these items. No fast or high movements.

Trini

 

[Justicemom]

.

What I was proposing (and obviously didn't explain well enough) was teaching the concepts of weaving and jumping...by having the pup learn to walk in a weave pattern between objects in a line or between legs in a slow walk...

Trini

Actually I would not recommend teaching weaves that way. Weaving is all about foot work and muscle memory and teaching slow weaving does not translate into fast weaving as an adult. If you want a slow weaving dog or a dog that crosses their feet for life this is a good way to get it.

I don't do anything with weaves until they are around a 1yr except possible having them run full speed though a wide open channel weave set. They get it very quick if they learn to move their body properly right from the beginning.

 

[trini]

Actually I would not recommend teaching weaves that way. Weaving is all about foot work and muscle memory and teaching slow weaving does not translate into fast weaving as an adult. If you want a slow weaving dog or a dog that crosses their feet for life this is a good way to get it.

I don't do anything with weaves until they are around a 1yr except possible having them run full speed though a wide open channel weave set. They get it very quick if they learn to move their body properly right from the beginning.

Good to know.

I didn't have that experience with the one dog I took through agility on going from slow to fast weaves...but my experience is only with that one dog and obviously it was not the norm.

Thank-you for correcting my misinformation! I will leave the rest of this thread to more experienced agility people!

Trini

 

[Calliesmom]

there are several threads on beginning agility training and how to get started. they are most likely in the agility section instead of the puppy section.

 

[Justicemom]

Good to know.

I didn't have that experience with the one dog I took through agility on going from slow to fast weaves...but my experience is only with that one dog and obviously it was not the norm.

Thank-you for correcting my misinformation! I will leave the rest of this thread to more experienced agility people!

Trini

Unfortunately I have had that experience twice. and I have seen it a lot .