Agility Classes / Groups
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Agility Classes / Groups
My mum has just taken in 2 pups (toy poodle x pom) and I was thinking about getting them into some sort of Agility group or class when they are older. They are very fast little things even at 8 weeks old and I think they could do very well. Plus its good exercise for me too . I've always loved agility but I somehow dont think Archie would be too good at it - he would probably get stuck in the tunnel Does anyone know of any local groups that do this.
Warley- Revered Contributor
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Number of posts : 375
Age : 42
Location : Rotherham
Registration date : 2008-02-29
Re: Agility Classes / Groups
hi Warley,
Im not really aware of any specific local groups but I think you might find that they will want the dogs to be a little older before they start training. 12 months ish.
Agility raises the adrenaline of a dog to a sky high level. You need to have control of your dog in a calmer situation before you attempt to do anything which may make him more reactive. Im not saying you don't have control, but most classes require the handler to have a reasonable level of control before they let the dogs offlead.
It would probably be worthwile trying an obedience class first then when you are happy with the control move on to agility when theyre a bit older, calmer and know who's boss.
Im not really aware of any specific local groups but I think you might find that they will want the dogs to be a little older before they start training. 12 months ish.
Agility raises the adrenaline of a dog to a sky high level. You need to have control of your dog in a calmer situation before you attempt to do anything which may make him more reactive. Im not saying you don't have control, but most classes require the handler to have a reasonable level of control before they let the dogs offlead.
It would probably be worthwile trying an obedience class first then when you are happy with the control move on to agility when theyre a bit older, calmer and know who's boss.
Re: Agility Classes / Groups
I have been to a club called Rother Valley Agility. They meet at Rother Valley Country Park on Sundays from 10.30, you can just go along to watch/socialise and see what you think. http://www.rvdac.homecall.co.uk
I also heard about a Flyball Club but I haven’t been yet. http://kivetonkatapultz.co.uk/index.html
I agree with Sean – don’t do anything strenuous before 12m as young joints can get strained and it can lead to arthritis. But I think you start with the tunnels and maybe the weave poles earlier– not sure, you should take advice about it.
I’d also be interested to hear of anything closer.
I also heard about a Flyball Club but I haven’t been yet. http://kivetonkatapultz.co.uk/index.html
I agree with Sean – don’t do anything strenuous before 12m as young joints can get strained and it can lead to arthritis. But I think you start with the tunnels and maybe the weave poles earlier– not sure, you should take advice about it.
I’d also be interested to hear of anything closer.
Lisa- Valued Contributor
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Number of posts : 55
Registration date : 2008-05-15
Re: Agility Classes / Groups
Thanks for the info guys, I'll check out those links. I thought the pups would have to be between 12 & 18 months old before we started but I thought I would get some ideas, maybe see what it takes and see if they need other training such as obedience. They haven't even had their second vac yet (thats next week) but I thought I would check out local groups now as there is no point continuing if there wasn't even one available.
Im not too sure if flyball is for them, they are tiny things and I'm not sure if they would even get over the hurdles let alone get a tennis ball in their mouth
Im not too sure if flyball is for them, they are tiny things and I'm not sure if they would even get over the hurdles let alone get a tennis ball in their mouth
Warley- Revered Contributor
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Number of posts : 375
Age : 42
Location : Rotherham
Registration date : 2008-02-29
Re: Agility Classes / Groups
HA HA HA HA, OH you kill me Benson, speaking of what females can get in there mouths, you'd be suprised what men can too - although you know don't you, you've got your foot in yours often enough!!
Guest- Guest
Re: Agility Classes / Groups
Quick update – Rother Valley Agility are not taking new members now until 4th August because they have been so busy. I managed to sneak in on Sunday because I had been a few weeks back and the one lady remembered me. I notice there is also an obedience class at the same time there.
Lisa- Valued Contributor
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Number of posts : 55
Registration date : 2008-05-15
Re: Agility Classes / Groups
Hello, new update...
Rother Valley are stopping Agility Classes over the winter but are plnning to carry on with obedience and start up field trials. We are gonna try field trials for a few weeks. They said there are some jumps and some seek and retrieve exercises. Alf gets bored in an agility line even though he knows the moves so I'm interested to learn new things with him and maybe will get more fucus. (ever the dreamer!!!) Maybe will see some of you there???
Rother Valley are stopping Agility Classes over the winter but are plnning to carry on with obedience and start up field trials. We are gonna try field trials for a few weeks. They said there are some jumps and some seek and retrieve exercises. Alf gets bored in an agility line even though he knows the moves so I'm interested to learn new things with him and maybe will get more fucus. (ever the dreamer!!!) Maybe will see some of you there???
Lisa- Valued Contributor
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Number of posts : 55
Registration date : 2008-05-15
Re: Agility Classes / Groups
Well good luck to you and Alfie, although i think you'll need it more!!
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i know of an agility that runs all year round!
Henry and i do agility at my pet stop in tingley on friday nights. I don't know where they stand on people just coming in from another group, as we had lessons from the beginning and theoretically you can't go to agility club until you've completed beginners and intermediate. But if someone already does agility there's no reason why you couldn't just join in. We go at 9pm til 10pm, as we are in advanced club (invitation only, as to fit us in we run when the store is closed). The benefit of this club is they have a huge INDOOR arena, so it runs all year every week, and as the clubs are split into classes for beginners and intermediates, advanced and not so advanced club, the faster dogs( you wouldn't have thought Henry was advanced on fri as he kept refusing to go through the tunnel, unless i ran the long way round too!) get to have more complicated routes, and longer ones too, to stretch their owners memories, as most in the advanced are aiming to compete at some point.
I wanted to go to the rother valley club, but they get full quickly, and if it's wet there is the safety of the dogs on the frame and walk to consider, another club i went to cancelled when it rained which was a real problem, hence a centre that is further away, but it's indoors so we are never cancelled!! We also do obedience(competition standard) classes, flyball, pro club, and numerous other 'special' events such as doggy dancing, bonfire/haloween and xmas parties, and I'm atending a seminar show with Richard Curtis next month, to show us how he trains his dancin' doggies, our moves will look amateur compared but it's all good fun. Henry had a go at gundog work, and apparently should have been a gun dog he had a real enthusiasm for it!(especially the foraging) we are just waiting for that class to be set up too, the i'll be there almost every day. We already trail up to leeds 4-5 times a week as it is! My life (and wallet) is consumed by Henry's social life but i wouldn't change it for the world.
Sandra
I wanted to go to the rother valley club, but they get full quickly, and if it's wet there is the safety of the dogs on the frame and walk to consider, another club i went to cancelled when it rained which was a real problem, hence a centre that is further away, but it's indoors so we are never cancelled!! We also do obedience(competition standard) classes, flyball, pro club, and numerous other 'special' events such as doggy dancing, bonfire/haloween and xmas parties, and I'm atending a seminar show with Richard Curtis next month, to show us how he trains his dancin' doggies, our moves will look amateur compared but it's all good fun. Henry had a go at gundog work, and apparently should have been a gun dog he had a real enthusiasm for it!(especially the foraging) we are just waiting for that class to be set up too, the i'll be there almost every day. We already trail up to leeds 4-5 times a week as it is! My life (and wallet) is consumed by Henry's social life but i wouldn't change it for the world.
Sandra
henry's mum- Member
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Number of posts : 31
Age : 49
Location : Barnsley central
Registration date : 2008-09-10
Re: Agility Classes / Groups
My mum and I started the obedience classes at Rother Valley Country Park a couple of months ago now with her pups - they are doing very well. Paul came along with us last week cos I told him it was a good place for us to take Archie. For those of you who don't know - Archie is our Akita who has hated other dogs since he was 7 weeks old. He has a small network of doggy friends which he gets on with but all others he tries to eat! He has been to puppy training classes but he was a bully there as well and most owners would move their dogs out of his way. Anyway, we spoke to a couple of the obedience trainers last week and they told us to bring him down. Apparently they are starting another class soon for dogs with aggression / behaviour problems etc. I'll let you know how he gets on but between you and me if he does as well as he did on his walk today he will be getting an A+. We managed to walk past about 20 or so dogs today (some very close indeed) and the only one he kicked off at was a Golden Retriever which kicked off at him first. I was very pleased with him - I think he finally might be growing up
Warley- Revered Contributor
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Number of posts : 375
Age : 42
Location : Rotherham
Registration date : 2008-02-29
Re: Agility Classes / Groups
No Karlie, he's just lulling you into a false sense of security, we've had months of good encounters with Sam, so good i've had nothing to write up about on here and then when Ian (note it was the husband and not me) had him out the other morning he tried to eat a blow dried rat - Ian's description not mine.
They know what there doing,
They know what there doing,
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