First Agility Class
- Thread starter Sharon
- Start date
Easily! As it was only in October!
It poured with rain/hail for the first half hour so we sat in our cars (and I tried to shut Epic up) then the sun came out and we had a go on a couple of tiny jumps and a tunnel. You could hear the ground 'popping' while the water drained away
Epic wasn't at all sure he liked the new game and wouldn't be held or wait so not an auspicious start - but I was hooked and by the following week so was he! I've been trying to keep a diary of our agility journey so I will have it to look back on in years to come!
It poured with rain/hail for the first half hour so we sat in our cars (and I tried to shut Epic up) then the sun came out and we had a go on a couple of tiny jumps and a tunnel. You could hear the ground 'popping' while the water drained away
Epic wasn't at all sure he liked the new game and wouldn't be held or wait so not an auspicious start - but I was hooked and by the following week so was he! I've been trying to keep a diary of our agility journey so I will have it to look back on in years to come! Not really the first lesson, but the first class. I was 12 years old and I knew the agility work from the lessons, my mother took. So when I startet the ensuing winter, I tried to tell the trainer (who had never done agility himself), how he had to do it. 6 months later he left the club... not because of me, I hope! Welcome to the chaos company
But somehow the first lesson for every new sheltie is a first lesson for me. Now I'm in the first class with Boots, 6th lesson and although it's my fourth agility sheltie, there is always something new.
corbinam
Moderator
Nope...I have a pretty bad memory. I do remember training Bentley in the very early stages and thinking that maybe the sport wasn't for him. He didn't want to target, and was SO slow. Now he's 2 Qs from his ADCH!
HopeShelties
Forums Enthusiast
Yes. The trainer was terrible. He was an old school obedience trainer who believed in correction based training, making the dog do it if it wouldn't offer a behavior, and was big on micromanaging everything. He also disliked my dog as she at the first class was extremely interested in agility and the dogs running, and would whine and bark intermittently. He told us her barking/whining would not be tolerated at agility trials and I would have to make her stop. By the end up the 6 week class, he had shut Athena down. That was 7.5 years ago. It was another 3 years before we made another attempt at agility. The second time around, the instructor, while not what I would now call knowledgeable, was at least positive, and taught the equipment safely, as well as front and rear crosses. That was the beginning of the road to where we are now. Without that positive trainer, despite her lack of skill, I probably never would've continued the second time, and may not have brought Athena back. We have by far surpassed that instructor in skill, titles, and speed.
YES! I took my Smokey to our first class. He HATED it. He wouldn't take the jump or go through a tunnel. He was terrified. I thought we were doomed. I watched this other woman in our class all excited because her dog was so good already. I felt like there was no way, but I had paid for 8 weeks so we'd do the 8 weeks. Well by the end of the 8 weeks I had caught the agility bug and Smokey loved treats so he was starting to catch on.
Fast forward a year or so and Smokey was competing. The other woman that was so thrilled with her dog? Never made it past Novice. Meanwhile, my Smokey made it all the way to 9 Excellent B Standard legs and 8 Excellent B Jumpers legs before he lost his hearing and couldn't continue.
It goes to show you to stick with it and even the most unlikely dog can love agility
Fast forward a year or so and Smokey was competing. The other woman that was so thrilled with her dog? Never made it past Novice. Meanwhile, my Smokey made it all the way to 9 Excellent B Standard legs and 8 Excellent B Jumpers legs before he lost his hearing and couldn't continue.
It goes to show you to stick with it and even the most unlikely dog can love agility
Justicemom
Forums Celebrity
My first class was with Justice. Absolutely no foundation work at all. They lined all the dogs up in a line and we all did the equipment. I think they introduced 3 or 4 things a night for like 7 weeks. epuipment was fairly high if I remember.
Justice had his UD and was well on his way to his UDX so he had all kinds of control and distance work already. He did everything perfect the very first time. Unfortunately, I had no concept of handling, no idea about motivation and no idea about the skills that would be needed to be successful in agility nor was it taught. I sucessfully taught Justice to run with me and do everything perfect and he never NQ not once in competition to the point I showed him. He got hurt(not agility related) and couldn't continue past novice in AKC. I often wonder how he would have done. I doubt he would have made time. Ember was trained the same way so I can imagine. I didn't know any better.
But the time I got to Diva, I knew something had to change. BUt I still didn't realize this until she was almost 2yrs old and I was having a hell of a time with her because I refused to slow her down. I credit the people on this forum helping me see the light.
Justice had his UD and was well on his way to his UDX so he had all kinds of control and distance work already. He did everything perfect the very first time. Unfortunately, I had no concept of handling, no idea about motivation and no idea about the skills that would be needed to be successful in agility nor was it taught. I sucessfully taught Justice to run with me and do everything perfect and he never NQ not once in competition to the point I showed him. He got hurt(not agility related) and couldn't continue past novice in AKC. I often wonder how he would have done. I doubt he would have made time. Ember was trained the same way so I can imagine. I didn't know any better.
But the time I got to Diva, I knew something had to change. BUt I still didn't realize this until she was almost 2yrs old and I was having a hell of a time with her because I refused to slow her down. I credit the people on this forum helping me see the light.