Handler Novice Agility

Justicemom said:
Whenever I'm getting too serious or think I'm doing so well, my dogs let me know to lighten up.

Last week in agility class Diva decided jumps were so last week.:rolleyes2: This was her. OMG there a dog walk-run to it. I turn to bring her back. OMG there's the A frame-zoom I turn again. OMG the teeter-zoom,bang Nice teeter right, what you say, over there. Flys to the box. I 'll just sit on the box. I'm a good dog. Right.:biggrin2: All I wanted her to do was take 2 jumps right in front of me and all she wanted was contacts. She was running back and forth across the field by passing all the jumps on the way. I swear this dog did an Open course last week. Sigh.
Click to expand...

LOLLLL
nice teeter, right? I am a good dog hahaahahah
I just had the greatest visual, laughed out loud! Thank you!

it's true I don't need it to be serious, I really just want Toffee and I to enjoy! I have been hoping for a long time to go to Agility and here I finally am, with a dog I love and who may have some potential.. and here I am worrying about stuff that hasn't even happened yet!
 
Che has been through puppy class and we finishing his basic obedience class next week. We also starting beginner agility next week and rally beginner as well. Since he is only 7 month I hope we would not be too deep too soon...
anyway, my best advice- those classes are not for socializing so most dogs will get into working gear real fast... come as early to class as you can manage- I usually walk to the classes to tire him out and we arrive 20-30 minutes prior, many dogs will come early too and they have time to cool down, get each other sniffed etc, by the time class starts, they are back to looking what their human wants as opposed to "lets us check each other out"...
also it will give you time to sit/ stand and do few deep abdominal breathing excersises to relax yourself- very very important!
 
Don't worry you and Toffee are going to do great! Even if he doesn't get it at first, the most important thing is that he is having fun and you're spending time with him. Good luck!
 
Yay!! And just have fun. Try not to be nervous, I'm sure the first class will be more about very basics and foundation stuff (if it's more of a serious agility class that'll lead to possibly competing, versus a local community one that immediately introduces them to all the equipment).

Also, if toffee does love tennis balls, a woman in agility class last night, had this toy with two tennis balls, connected by a rope. It didn't go far (meaning, it won't really roll) and you can play tug and fetch with it. If you want, I can ask her where she got it. That way Toffee won't go into other dogs space....well, unless you throw it there. hehehe.
 
How exciting!!!! I love love love agility.

Let's see, our first class, was last August. Our instructor uses only positive methods, so there are absolutely NO corrections. We do use a clicker or a verbal marker.
Our first few classes all we did was: wobble board, perch work, ladders, teaching the dog to walk backwards, shadow handling and target work. For the target we were told not to use a margarine lid, but a clear plexi as it was easier to fade out later. But we started with the targeting on our hands. Also, Crate Games were the basics of everything.

You will have soooo much fun. I cannot wait to hear all about the classes!
 
Relax and enjoy it!

As others have said, you don't have to be perfect. Honestly, I'd be more surprised if you and the other students didn't have a few foundering moments. It happens. Just laugh about it and try again. :yes:

Trust me, there are plenty of other things in life to get stressed about. Agility shouldn't be one of them.
 
k9kreationz said:
Also, if toffee does love tennis balls, a woman in agility class last night, had this toy with two tennis balls, connected by a rope. It didn't go far (meaning, it won't really roll) and you can play tug and fetch with it. If you want, I can ask her where she got it. That way Toffee won't go into other dogs space....well, unless you throw it there. hehehe.
Click to expand...

Yes that's right I have one of those for Diva. It works great. She prefers it to just a straight tug.:smile2:
 
You're going to love it! Just relax and enjoy yourself. Sounds like you've been working on a lot of stuff that will help. Most people don't know any of those foundation behaviors when they start (we didn't!)
 
OMG Update
Today was only his official second class, because we missed one due to our camping adventures.. see other thread, lol
I think camping actually helped him if you can believe it, because this time in class he was CALM on his mat in between exercises AND he didn't even try to pin down the jumpy, too happy Labs at all, lol He wasn't very reactive to other dogs and learned TWO new things like it was NOTHING.. we started front cross training AND worked on contacts both exercises we had never done before, including a plank...
He's also really into the tug toy, where couple of weeks ago, he was too shy to be tugging on nuffin other than the leash to get the hell out of there LOL
I can't wait to get into it more :) :biggrin2:
PS... also starting to work on box work, any tips to get a fast lay down, and for me to NOT label it yet!??? haha I need that damn tape over mouth, I can tell :)
 
New challenge

SO what the heck am I doing wrong this week, because I know is not my dogs fault, LOL

How did you guys train for the entrance to the weave?!?

Looks bloody easy enough but somehow I am not very successful at this point so I have not even put a label on it yet... We are very slow at getting the entrance to the weave to show Toffee what I want?

I am with the clock face standing near 12 and heading towards 6 o'clock to send him to it... he walks around it or lays on the other side pawing at it :o
SO I stepped back again, made the two entry poles more straight instead and not the 1 o'clock and 10 o clock positions... I have had somewhat success with that, and wrapped pink shoe laces around my garden bamboo stakes, lol which are currently used as training tools, to make shre he sees them lol
Any of you done this kind of entry to weaves?

My trainer's suggestion was to let him think it out, use high value treats and it worked a little better... I am worried I didn't throw the treat fast enough in the right direction at the beginning?

SO ANY INSIGHTS?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top