Just signed Devon up for beginning agility class

[Calliesmom]

Hmmm.... I feel that Devon would be better coming off of the AFrame without stopping too, and like you said he's unlikely to miss the yellow with his smaller stride (have you ever seen a dog hurt their pads or catch a toenail trying to stop on that steep a slope?). As I get further into this I may push back on the instructor about it. For now I'd be afraid if I pushed back, given my beginner status, she might not take that very well.

what part of Ohio are you in? you should check this place out- even if it's an hour or so away, it would be worth it......................

 

[KarenCurtis]

We're just on our 2nd session of agility, but this is how my trainer starts out. She trains for competition, not just for fun. The first level of the class I attend is all about teaching each piece of equipment. There are a few folks who are there just for fun, she doesn't do the same with them. If you express interest in competing, stuff is totally different. We do 2 - 3 pieces of the course each turn, and we do things slow. Things with contact points, the A-Frame, the dog walk, the table, she is all about slowing things down and making those contact points or in the case of the table, making them in the proper direction based on the handlers instructions. She will often thrown in a stop at the end of the weave to make sure that the dog is in proper position. She wants to train proper from the get go, not try and fix it after. So , yes, we do a sit at the end of the dog walk, but remember, she is not training at fast speeds at this level, we do a sit at the end of the A-frame. Everything is about making sure the dog is 100% trained on making contact points, following signals, and my part of the training is where to stand, which arm to be using, how to position my feet. I am not trying to keep up with Brodie, because that will never happen. I am training on where to be and how to move on the inside in the smallest, most effective way so I can direct him through a course, but remember we are not racing through the course at this level either, we are doing this slower and more methodical - this is teaching, not racing. If he is spot on and listening, at the end of the class, he gets a few full runs throughs without the stops. She does NOT want him to learn short cuts. Once we move up to the next level of class, we practice and pick up speed.

We had a border collie in our beginner class, she was FAST, she LOVES agility and competing. But she was trained elsewhere, was competing and never getting anywhere because she was taking short cuts. She started in our class to learn basics again, contact points, following her handlers instructions. She was worked these last two sessions with a contact point and clicker and after a lot of work, she is moving back up again.

If you are doing for fun, it's not as important, but if you think you want to try a few competitions (we did with Rally and it's fun!), you want to train correctly from the start because bad habits are HARD to break. Speed will come with practice, good habits will not easily be over-ridden.

Our trainer does all these things too, still, it's just for fun though. No one is at the level to start competing, and the facility is not big enough for a competitive course, we would have to go elsewhere.

 

[SRW]

We're just on our 2nd session of agility, but this is how my trainer starts out. She trains for competition, not just for fun. The first level of the class I attend is all about teaching each piece of equipment. There are a few folks who are there just for fun, she doesn't do the same with them. If you express interest in competing, stuff is totally different. We do 2 - 3 pieces of the course each turn, and we do things slow. Things with contact points, the A-Frame, the dog walk, the table, she is all about slowing things down and making those contact points or in the case of the table, making them in the proper direction based on the handlers instructions. She will often thrown in a stop at the end of the weave to make sure that the dog is in proper position. She wants to train proper from the get go, not try and fix it after. So , yes, we do a sit at the end of the dog walk, but remember, she is not training at fast speeds at this level, we do a sit at the end of the A-frame. Everything is about making sure the dog is 100% trained on making contact points, following signals, and my part of the training is where to stand, which arm to be using, how to position my feet. I am not trying to keep up with Brodie, because that will never happen. I am training on where to be and how to move on the inside in the smallest, most effective way so I can direct him through a course, but remember we are not racing through the course at this level either, we are doing this slower and more methodical - this is teaching, not racing. If he is spot on and listening, at the end of the class, he gets a few full runs throughs without the stops. She does NOT want him to learn short cuts. Once we move up to the next level of class, we practice and pick up speed.

We had a border collie in our beginner class, she was FAST, she LOVES agility and competing. But she was trained elsewhere, was competing and never getting anywhere because she was taking short cuts. She started in our class to learn basics again, contact points, following her handlers instructions. She was worked these last two sessions with a contact point and clicker and after a lot of work, she is moving back up again.

If you are doing for fun, it's not as important, but if you think you want to try a few competitions (we did with Rally and it's fun!), you want to train correctly from the start because bad habits are HARD to break. Speed will come with practice, good habits will not easily be over-ridden.

I haven't made a decision yet on whether or not to compete with Devon. Right now I'm just trying to see if he is capable of doing it and likes doing it. I don't want to try to force him to do something he doesn't seem to enjoy, and I'm really not intending to restructure my life to revolve competitions, like some parents do with sports oriented children who they are hoping will get a college scholarship. If it turns out he has the knack for it and enjoys it I certainly wouldn't mind continuing to work with him and let him compete, but that's not required.