Puppy agility?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. |
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| yeppretty much the same concerns. |
Do fun things like getting the puppy on lots and lots of new surfaces, including wobbly ones (low tippy/buja board is great!) Incorporate lots and lots of play that involves you AND a toy. Together, that is. Be careful tugging with a young puppy (you can tug, but basically just use passive resistance and let the pup tug against you, no swinging her back and forth  to protect both bite and neck for starters). Retrieving as long as that includes bringing toy back to you (to be thrown again, possibly after a quick game of tug, so pick your toys carefully - a ball with a handler or Mad used to love those soft discs you can throw kind of thing)
No jumping over elbow height till after growth plates have closed, I don't start bringing my guys up to their full jump heights until after they're 18 mos old, and I don't typically work them on a closed weave channel until about that age as well, no structured jumping exercises (repetitive) at her age right now at all, and no jumping off of heights either if you can avoid it, haha, since most OES puppies are born to be little wild asses. I also don't have them on full height contact equipment until after 18 mos old. Basically you aim to get them ring ready by about two or three. Physically that's no problem. Mentally, four years old may be more realistic 
Like Kerry said, having done this with a Mastiff, you know the drill. Welcome! Where are you located? kristine |
| Thanks so much!
I am glad I posted. The other concern we had with our Mastiff girl was feeding. We were cautioned to make sure she didn't put on to much weight too quickly because of growth concerns. With Mastiff puppies. if they eat freely they can grow too quickly and have problems because of it. Is this, too, a concern with OES pups? I am in New Mexico now, but in the fall I will be moving to New York State. So, while I will be adjusting to the cold weather, I'm sure my new baby OES is going to love it. Thanks again! Kerry P.S. Always great to meet another Kerry! |
| Oh, too funny! What are the odds of two Kerry's doing agility with OES in New York State? <snicker>
Where in NY are you moving? The Old English Sheepdog Club of America's National Specialty is being held in the Rochester area in mid September. There will be agility, herding, obedience and rally trials, all OES only. Hope you've moved by then! You need to come. And bring your girl! What's her name? Yes, we also feed to try to make sure that growth rates remain slow and steady. It's not just the issue of not free feeding, though good point, but personally I like to get mine off of puppy food and onto a quality regular food by the time they turn 5 mos old. Opinions vary on that one. Kristine |
kerrym wrote: Thanks so much! I am glad I posted. The other concern we had with our Mastiff girl was feeding. We were cautioned to make sure she didn't put on to much weight too quickly because of growth concerns. With Mastiff puppies. if they eat freely they can grow too quickly and have problems because of it. Is this, too, a concern with OES pups? Like Kristine said but one thing to consider might be raw feeding - they do grow more slowly - we found that out with the Newf. I am in New Mexico now, but in the fall I will be moving to New York State. So, while I will be adjusting to the cold weather, I'm sure my new baby OES is going to love it. Thanks again! Kerry Where in NY - Kerry #1 P.S. Always great to meet another Kerry! |
I am moving to Amherst, NY in the fall. I am not at all familiar with the state since I've been on the Texas - New Mexico border for most of my life. I think the cold might be a little traumatic for me  but I am excited.
Well, my girl arrives late tonight. I have pillows, blankets, crate, puppy gate, brushes, food and water bowls, toys, toys, toys, and a 9 mo old Mastiff who is going to be just as excited as I am.  |
kerrym wrote: I am moving to Amherst, NY in the fall. I am not at all familiar with the state since I've been on the Texas - New Mexico border for most of my life. I think the cold might be a little traumatic for me
but I am excited.Well, my girl arrives late tonight. I have pillows, blankets, crate, puppy gate, brushes, food and water bowls, toys, toys, toys, and a 9 mo old Mastiff who is going to be just as excited as I am. Wow - Nationals will be in your backyard!! Like snow? K |
kerry wrote: Wow - Nationals will be in your backyard!! K
No kidding! Herding especially. Your girl will be old enough to instinct test by then. Requires no previous herding experience/exposure. No comment on the snow. I lived in the Syracuse area for a number of years 
Kristine |
| I don't think I've actually ever seen REAL snow. We get about half and inch per year here. While I know my pup will be a natural at it, I am going to have to adjust. |
kerrym wrote: I don't think I've actually ever seen REAL snow. We get about half and inch per year here. While I know my pup will be a natural at it, I am going to have to adjust.
Oh, boy, just to prep you a little....this is agility in Wisconsin in winter: 
Where we only get a fraction of the snow they get in Western NY. The good news is OES tend to LOVE snow.
Kristine |
| Welcome! |
| Amhurst Ny is a nice suburb of Buffalo. Buffalo is only an hour away from Rochester. It is and easy drive I do every day for work. Madeline mentioned the big OES event to me last month and asked if I would help. It ir right around the corner and is being held at the Dome Arena in Henrietta NY.
I have only shown horses before but the dog show in September sounds like it is going to be a blast. I would love to and show my Bella off their but we don't have a big bag of tricks and skills yet. Maybe they have a class as to which pupper bounces the most or wiggles the most. Then we might have the class for us |
kerrym wrote: I am moving to Amherst, NY in the fall. I am not at all familiar with the state since I've been on the Texas - New Mexico border for most of my life. I think the cold might be a little traumatic for me
but I am excited.Well, my girl arrives late tonight. I have pillows, blankets, crate, puppy gate, brushes, food and water bowls, toys, toys, toys, and a 9 mo old Mastiff who is going to be just as excited as I am. Amherst???? Are you kidding??? My college roomate was from Amherst! |
| Actually, Gail, you have plenty of time to get ready for pre-novice obedience and novice rally, both of which are on lead. And given that it's not till September, and you have an adult dog if memory serves, really no reason you couldn't be doing novice obedience and more advanced rally if you really want to. Get thee signed up for an obedience class ASAP
And, of course, you can get her herding instinct tested, for which she needs no formal work before hand (though a recall is a nice thing )
Do you know how to apply for an ILP/PAL number (she's a rescue, yes?) with the AKC? it's sort of a tracking number so she can compete in AKC sponsored events. If not, let me know and I'll walk you through it. I intend to do the same for the train wreck known as Dazzle shortly. I'm just waiting for her to grow some more coat so we can pretend she looks more like an OES than she currently does (You submit two pics with the application). And, yes, she is allegedly a purebred and I really have no reason to doubt it no matter how far she strayed from the standard. That is one of the requirements. Being purebred, I mean. Hair and proximity to standard optional in the photos as long as the AKC doesn't have reason to believe you're misrepresenting the breed.
Now, if someone has an OES (or any other) mix they're interested in competing with they will be able to compete in AKC agility and obedience and rally at allbreed trials starting in April, just not at the OESCA National which is a breed restricted event. Kristine |
Mad Dog wrote: Actually, Gail, you have plenty of time to get ready for pre-novice obedience and novice rally, both of which are on lead. And given that it's not till September, and you have an adult dog if memory serves, really no reason you couldn't be doing novice obedience and more advanced rally if you really want to. Get thee signed up for an obedience class ASAP
Kristine I suppose this means I should be ready by then too? |
| Bella is a rescue and Madeline said a purebred OES. I do not have any paperwork for her and was not sure how to get around that. From reading the AKC website it sounded as if she needed to be registered.
I have just been working with her on my own doing basics. I don't know of any good local classes to get her into. any suggestions???? I think that she would take to it well as long as we stayed focused. Saying HI to everyone is such a lot of fun for us so we would definitely need some practice time. Any help you can offer would be great. |
| Gail. if Madeline says she's a purebred OES, that's what she is.
Rescue dogs generally don't come with papers, even if they had them to begin with. That's OK. You're not looking to register her in the traditional sense, you just need the AKC to give her a number that identifies her to them. I'll start a new thread on the ILP/PAL process in a little while since there are at least three of us who should be doing so in the next few months. It's not difficult. I've asked Kerry to research training opportunities in your area if she has time since she's closer and may be able to ask around, but I'll look too when I get a chance. I know all about excess friendlieness    You can work through that
Kristine |
ChSheepdogs wrote: Mad Dog wrote: Actually, Gail, you have plenty of time to get ready for pre-novice obedience and novice rally, both of which are on lead. And given that it's not till September, and you have an adult dog if memory serves, really no reason you couldn't be doing novice obedience and more advanced rally if you really want to. Get thee signed up for an obedience class ASAP Kristine I suppose this means I should be ready by then too? You and me both, honey.
KB |
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