I've caught the agility bug!

S

Simba13

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Simba and I have just completed our first four week foundation agility course and we are hooked! I am definitely going to consider continuing on into the beginners course and then when he is old enough taking the regular classes. At only 8 months old the course was perfect for him. We didn't use any contact equipment just tunnels and the jump wings (no poles) so there was no stress on his little joints.

I have been told he has brilliant focus but lacks drive. Has anyone got any suggestions on how to increase drive? He really seemed to enjoy the classes (and so did I). We both made some lovely new friends and he also got to see a herd of cattle for the first time although he wasn't to sure what to make of them.

Roughly at what age do Shelties stop growing? Simba is my first Sheltie living in a house full of German Shepherds :smile2:
 
Awesome!! I've had the agility bug for about ten years, now, but haven't had a dog until now, lol!

Enzo and I are also in a beginners agility class, and almost all the other dogs are puppies (6-12 months).

I'd also love to know when shelties stop growing. Enzo seems to have slowed down at 7 months, but I think he still has a bit more growing to do. Hopefully not too much, he's already 16.5"! :eek2:
 
Curious, are there things that Simba gets really excited about? Bentley didn't have a ton of drive when we first started. I remember one exercise we were supposed to do was the rile him up and then have him go to a target plate. He was to get a taste (of peanut butter, I think) then we were supposed to pull him away to get him excited again before re-sending him. We pulled him away and tried to resend him, and he just stood there. He thought since we pulled him away he shouldn't try to get it! :lol:

Anyways, he wasn't really excited about food at the time, so we had to figure out what DID excite him. Bentley loves when you run and jump around. He starts barking and goes nuts! He loves to chase us when we run. So we started using that to get him excited. We would push him around (nicely, of course!) and then take off running. We even started using that as a reward!

Some dogs get excited about toys, some about food, and some about us :yes:

Also, with non-drivey dogs I'm more likely to reward an attempt vs. a success. You want them to gain confidence and feel excitement about the sport.
 
kryslaurelle said:
Awesome!! I've had the agility bug for about ten years, now, but haven't had a dog until now, lol!

Enzo and I are also in a beginners agility class, and almost all the other dogs are puppies (6-12 months).

I'd also love to know when shelties stop growing. Enzo seems to have slowed down at 7 months, but I think he still has a bit more growing to do. Hopefully not too much, he's already 16.5"! :eek2:
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It is very addictive! I must use watched every YouTube video out there that has anything to do with agility :) I hope yourself and Enjo are doing well in the class. I'm looking forward to beginners obedience to see how simba takes to the contact equipment at ground level before moving up to full height when he is older!

Wow he reall is a big boy. Simba is about 14" at 8 and a half months but he has only grown half an inch in the past 2 months so I'd say he's nearly finnished.

I can't wait to hear how you and Enzo are doing in a couple of months time, and see how much progress you have made :)
 
corbinam said:
Curious, are there things that Simba gets really excited about? Bentley didn't have a ton of drive when we first started. I remember one exercise we were supposed to do was the rile him up and then have him go to a target plate. He was to get a taste (of peanut butter, I think) then we were supposed to pull him away to get him excited again before re-sending him. We pulled him away and tried to resend him, and he just stood there. He thought since we pulled him away he shouldn't try to get it! :lol:

Anyways, he wasn't really excited about food at the time, so we had to figure out what DID excite him. Bentley loves when you run and jump around. He starts barking and goes nuts! He loves to chase us when we run. So we started using that to get him excited. We would push him around (nicely, of course!) and then take off running. We even started using that as a reward!

Some dogs get excited about toys, some about food, and some about us :yes:

Also, with non-drivey dogs I'm more likely to reward an attempt vs. a success. You want them to gain confidence and feel excitement about the sport.
Click to expand...

He loves his tug toys! But he prefers to chase them rather then to tug. He likes when I drag them along the ground, he will bark and bark and jump around.

We did a similar exercise where we would through a piece of food a couple of feet out of reach and hold the dogs by the collars and they would get excited and start pulling, then let them go and they would run to the food. Simba didn't do it though he would just sit there even when I let go of his collar and would only move form the spot when I gave him the release word and then he would just slowly trot over get the food and come back and sit in front of me.

At least I know his obedience training is going well. I have a feeling he may excel in obedience rather then agility but I would still love to do it even just for fun if he continues enjoying it. He really loves to be around other dogs so I am thinking maybe he prefers the social side of the sport to the actual sport :smile2:
 
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