Heart the Agility Dog???
This is a foundation class so (I think) this is to see if "we" would be able to do this at all. I have seen agility and I do know both members of the team have to be quick---- which neither of us are... 
I am middle aged..(coughcough) at 54 and although Heart is only 10.5 months old, I can honestly say I have never seen her sprint, run quick, jog, whatever. She walks like a little bear and runs like a little bear too!!! Any thoughts or experiences or tips on us beginning this will be welcomed....  |
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sheepieshake wrote: Heart will begin agility on Thursday. In all my years having dogs, I have never been involved in this "sport" and I think I am more nervous about ME than HER....
This is a foundation class so (I think) this is to see if "we" would be able to do this at all. I have seen agility and I do know both members of the team have to be quick---- which neither of us are... I am middle aged..(coughcough) at 54 and although Heart is only 10.5 months old, I can honestly say I have never seen her sprint, run quick, jog, whatever. She walks like a little bear and runs like a little bear too!!! Any thoughts or experiences or tips on us beginning this will be welcomed.... You only has to be qucik if you are conmpeting...  Relax and enjoy...and I think Heart will surprise you.....My Bosley is like a bumbling bear, but he flys over the jumps like no tomorrow! You will have a ball, and Heart will be exhausted...
(and probably sore the next day, as might be her mom) |
| I wish I could get Nigel through basic obedience. We would like to do agility, but right now I can't find anyone who teaches for a reasonable price.
Good luck Heart...wish we could take classes with you. 
I hope Heart still think's Nigel is handsome with short fur. lol |
| Heart will be fab. Summer is taking to it like a duck to water. Mind you this was before she was ill, and since then she has become a bit defiant...but I am sure she will be fine.. |
| Have fun! It's all that matters. She may surprise you and you may surprise yourself. Lots of laughs and hugs. |
| Heart had better not be sore the next day or you're in the wrong class (Mom? Make no promises there But people in their 70s are doing competitive agility, so... ) As for Heart, if she seems at all sore, you have a problem - either with the dog or the class. I doubt she will though. Since it's an intro class you won't be doing much of anything at speed and since she's still a baby the jumps will be low and few (remind them of her age if need be).
Does she like toys? If yes, bring her favorite, tuggable, tossable one. It sounds like you may be needing to build a little drive into the little princess Do you own a clicker? If so, pack that too. Lots of tiny, soft favorite treats. And be prepared to have fun. BE fun. Vocally, ridiculously delighted with everything she does. Don't compare yourselves to any other team (for better or worse ), don't worry that you'll appear silly or clueless (we all do, it'a part of the game), just immerse yourself in your relationship with your dog. This is playtime for you and Heart. The obstacles are incidental and speed comes with confidence.
A few weeks ago Sybil's agility instructor basically told me (short hand version) that I was taking Syb for granted and put some effort back into being fun, please. I thought about it and she was right. Then I remembered that the night before I was all but doing handstands and woo-hooing at the top of my lungs at some tiny little thing Macy accomplished. When I compared my reactions I realized that I'm always shocked and delighted when Ms Blonde Thing actually does something. Anything! With that level of reaction, she's so darned pleased with herself that she starts all but doing hand stands to try to please me more.
Contrast this with Sybil who could care less about pleasing me most days and knows she can outthink me in her sleep. There's something to be said for the intellectually challenged dogs like Mace...
Don't be afraid to express your enthusiasm. The instructors won't mind. It's the people who are rigid and stiff that concern them. Heart will be tired after, but it will be from the mental fatigue of having to focus and think. That's a really good kind of tired. Make sure you keep us posted! Kristine |
Congrats, Val! I'm sure both you & Heart will enjoy yourselves! Have fun & keep us posted on how it goes.  |
| Sue, Sheepieboss and Nicole--
Thanks for the encouranging words...I really need them. Heart is soo sweet and soo stubborn and soo smart. I show her something one time and it seems like she gets it...now whether she DOES it every time is another story..On her terms..I am sorry to say.But at this time in her young life I am willing to let her get away with it to a point--she does know when it's mandatory and she does comply... Wendy...I wish we were closer too.. Heart is not that good at her stays or comes---but Deb the trainer doesn't seem too concerned. It helps that there are only 3 other dogs in the class so I think I will be getting individual attention (Deb had a sheepdog for a long time so she knows how they are ........I could just imagine Heart being in a class with Nigel..they are both such characters.....WHAT FUN!!!!!
and of course Heart is thinking Nigel is still soooo handsome..Heart is still full-coated, (much to Dino's objections) since there are very many more dust bunnies all over the house from her and Pearl...Cos is short short--hates to be groomed....
Kristine--- Wow!! THanks for all the great advice!!! I never even thought of bringing a toy..and she does love her stuffies --I think more than treats. I am going to the same place as Judi and Harry...so I know this trainer is very good! Who know....maybe WE will go to Nationals with Judy this year.... 
I decided to enroll Heart because I really want her to try different things---and I want her to have some fun away from her other packpals, Pearl and Cosmo....!!!! She seems shy when I take her somewhere by herself if that makes any sense...(after all, I am still there!!!!) Hopefully, I will not hold her back with my clumsiness  --but whatever happens...
We will be in this together... |
| You (and Heart) will have a BALL!!!!!!!!!!!!! I did basic agility class with Ty and it was soooooooooooo much fun (I'm OLD too ). Unfortunately after his knee surgery the Vet recommended we not do agility but it was so much fun!!! |
| Val - the part you mentioned at the end - about Heart doing this without the other dogs, and that she seems shy without them is a great observation.
This is very important for Heart to go out and do seperate things once in awhile without the rest. Working with the pack and without makes her a better dog.
You don't want to get her in a mental rut. She is just at the age too where it could happen if she doesn't do stuff without the others.
Have fun! |
| Hey sounds like it's going to be fun for both of you!
I've heard of ninty year olds jumping out of parachutes so guess you're a "youngun" doing agility. Having fun is the most important! Just make sure you get the okay from the vet as sometimes agility may be hard on the hips. I'm sure Heart is fine as the furkid is young and healthy. I'm only telling you as I had plans on doing it with Panda but had to bow out when I discovered his bad hips. Sounds as if treats should be included for both of you - chocolate for humans! Yum! Take photos - please!!! Marianne |
| Dawn--
Thanks for the tip on getting Heart away from her pack.. She is such a bully at home, always shoving stuffies is Cosmo's face and taunting him to play, play, play.running after him and grabbing him, barking, etc,,,...She will start barking at Pearl but as Alpha (and being 10 years old) Pearl will generally just ignore her unless she REALLY becomes intrusive..then Pearl will do a little motherly growl and Heart will back off!!!! When we go to play dates at the STLOES club, (we've been to 1 0r 2 so far) I generally do not take both of them since 2 are harder for me to handle. Heart will lay back and watch the rest of the sheepies play...last time there were about 8-10 sheepies. She really won't play with them until the end of the play time...when there are only 2 or 3 sheepies left...THEN she will run and play...??????? Maybe all those sheepies scare her.there is never any agression...just plain ol sheepie fun!!!!!!..or maybe she is too immature yet to get involved at this point. I really don't know..not too good at reading this young pup's behaviour --- Marianne... Thanks for the warning...I was concerned about this and I just contacted Deb the trainer yesterday. She made a point of telling me that since Heart was only 10 months, she would not be actually jumping and most of the "training" will be onlead until her "recalls and stays" are moe solid. That made me feel like I am in right place to learn Agility... I have watched trials and honestly...how does the human know where to direct the dog to go, at what time, in what order...????? totally intimidating~~~~~
I am planning on having fun with this...but I certainly don't want to embarrass Heart with my ignorance and lack of endurance....  |
sheepieshake wrote: I have watched trials and honestly...how does the human know where to direct the dog to go, at what time, in what order...????? totally intimidating~~~~~ Simple. (yeah, right! ) Practice. It's like anything else. You start easy and gradually add difficulty level for both of you. Don't worry that far ahead. It will come I am planning on having fun with this...but I certainly don't want to embarrass Heart with my ignorance and lack of endurance.... When was the last time you saw a dog embarrassed by her human partner? (OK, maybe they should be, but they're a pretty forgiving lot on the whole) And since she doesn't know what either of you are supposed to be doing, she won't know when you get it wrong as long as you maintain an ability to laugh at yourself. Sybil thinks the word "ack!" is a command. The signal accompanying the verbal is handler smacking herself in the head, followed by laughter. She's learned that this means "Ignore stupid handler mistake and let's try that again". Or something to that effect That and instructor yelling "good dog!!!" when I do something wrong and the dog does exactly what I (inadvertently) asked her to do, even if it wasn't what I wanted. Sybil gets praised by her instructor A LOT. As long as you laugh and never blame her for your mistakes (and you're going to make them, that's how you learn), she won't care. And Kristine |
| Ok, You really have to prepare for this. Here are the bald facts...You and Heart are going to have a BLAST!!! Simon and I did this and I am semi-old and we both loved it. We did it on leash but at the end of the class he was off leash because its hard to direct a dog to do stuff and hold the leash. Our trainer really focused of the fun part and treats. Heart may be a little timid at first like Simon but with treats and encouragement she will get the idea and revel in it. We took a break to do obediance(sp) but I am looking at going to the next level this summer. I look forward to hearing the reports on how Heart and you are doing.
The really most important part to remember is this is supposed to be fun and not work and you will have a blast! |
| I live in Caracas and recently, an agility park was opened. I took two of my dogs to see how it went... the little one just barked at everyone from between my legs and the daschund lay inside the tube... I think my dogs were not cut up for agility hahahaha |
| Just got home from AGILITY....We have another sheepie in the class to keep us company...JAKE!!!!! When Heart saw him she thought it was a play date!!!!!
We are using clicker to reinforce the actions...Heart went through the shoot...(no shoot attached yet) about 4 times with just a little urging by me. 
I really think WE are going to enjoy this more that I thought we would...
Deb the trainer let Heart and Jake play a while after everyone else left...boy did they have fun!!!!! |
| CHUTE......sorry....I'm kind of tired..... |
| How cool is that...another sheepie!! I think Nigel would like agility...he certainly likes to repel off the sofas!!! |
| Fabulous, Val! I thought you'd enjoy it
Sybil had a great class to today. I'm teaching her contacts differently than I did previous dogs and really liking it. Very much from the ground up (literally) asking for a very distinct behavior. Unlike previous dogs who have always wondered exactly - hm - what my criteria was, she "gets" the one rear toe on concept and is so darn pleased with herself.
Her weavepole entries were really nice too. She's a thinker, it's so obvious. Her mom's MO was always to just run full speed at everything and let the chips (and everything else ) fall were they may. In contrast, you can see Sybil thinking things through and she's so darn pleased with herself when she gets it. It's hilarious. Apart from the fact that it's fun for dog and handler both, it really builds a tremendous amount of confidence. Wishing you both continued fun times. Keep us posted!
Kristine |
| You and Heart will LOVE agility! Bella and I finished a beginner 16 week course and started the advanced beginner course and she absolutely loves it! When we started she was 15 months old and I wouldn't let her jump at the full 22 inches and limited her jumping overall. She is now 22 months and I let her jump at 22 inches and she is a pro. She is so enthusiasic about all of it the entire class loves to watch her. The best advice I've gotten was from a Master's handler at a club event. He said, "if she does something wrong, don't let her know! Just keep if fun!" It's been an awesome bonding experience for both of us.
Unfortunately at class the end of March, during a game we were playing to see how many obstacles they could complete in under 30 seconds, I made the mistake of hesitating for just a second and Bella came toward me. I then took off to continue and uncerimoniously tripped over her.......fractured and dislocated my left elbow. Surgery, a plate and 7 screws later we had to withdraw from agility class for this season 
But the club has "fun runs" on Sat mornings and the people in the class love Bella so much we are attending and they are working with her. She hasn't quite adjusted to running with anyone but me....gets through a few obstacles and then stops..." Wait....you're not my mom....I'm supposed to be doing this with my mom! Mom!!!!" and comes running off the field to find me. We did find a place here that rents agility rooms really cheaply and will set up any equipement you want and a few of us beginners are doing that and I have a couple women working on establishing a working relationship with Bella so she will run with them. Gotta keep her going while I heal! Hopefully we will be able to go back to classes in the fall. Good luck to you. I hope you have as much fun as we have been having! Mary, Bella and Simon |
Of course Jake's uprights will be logging in here soon?!?!??  |
| I told her about it...
I will be seeing her this weekend..Jake is a TOUCH dog too!!! Pearl and I are going to walk with them in the Variety Parade on Saturday--so I will make sure she know the website address.... |
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