Well its finally come around and I am off to our first agility session on Saturday afternoon with my youngest.  I can't wait!  Really dying to get into it and full of enthusiasm.  Just wanted to know from you seasoned pros out there any tips that are worth knowing.  Such as how to teach directions etc

Claire

Hi Claire
If you are going to proper lesson then the instructor will teach you how to train directions, etc. All I can say really is, have loads of fun and enjoy yourself. I love agility and it started out as a bit of a laugh, but then it turned out my dog was an agility champion in a previous life and if I ever get as good as him we might do quite well! :D It is really addictive I warn you now!

Have a great day on Saturday, will be thinking of you with envy. ;-)

Claire

thanks for your very kind words.

I have been told it gets addictive and have had a look at the agility net/eye site which told you how much it costs.  I have already had to buy a new estate car now that I have two dogs so what the hell!!!

As long as I and JC enjoys it thats all that matters.

I understand that the instructor is very good.  I went up to have a look last year and got on really well with him.  Chap called Tim Knee.

Claire

my other half.....course hes good!!!!

you will be fine!
think up loads of questions for him wont you!!!!

c u saturday!
chel

Chel,

I can assure you I will.

Can't wait and am sure I will enjoy it.  I intend to put it that way.  JC is gonna think its his birthday!

Tim definitely impressed me when I came up for a look so what more can I say!

Claire

admin this post would have been inplace on a doggy sports board,dont you think????????c comeon ;)

We have a show board MichelledD not just ro breed showign I don't think.  Maybe it should be renamed to Canine Competitions?

yes that would be good!!!!
it puts the "activity " people off posting on there!!!!

Have to agree with that - I have never interpreted the "show" board as anything other than conformation showing - after all we talk about "show dogs" and we don't mean those who compete in obedience, agility etc. Can't remember any posts there on other topics either so I suspect many people interpret it that way.
"Competition" is much more inclusive.

Janet

Completely agree with this.  I would never think of looking in the showing forum for chats about agility.  Have never ever looked in there as I dont own a show dog!

Claire

Me too!

Yes competition would be better and more inclusive, but you have Agility and Obedience SHOWS so I cannot agree that they are not show dogs :D

I think it is more a case of word association than anything. 'Show dogs' do make most people think of breed showing.

Besides, I know we have agility and obedience shows, but most of the people I know who do agility and obedience don't actually compete, so therefore their dogs aren't show dogs in any way, shape or form. Yet they may still have questions about the sports, so I still say we should have a separate forum for such things as agility, flyball, obedience, sledding, tracking, field trials and so on. I must admit, when I tell people I compete with my dogs and they say, 'Oh you mean like running in circles while being judged?', I do tend to cringe slightly.

Sorry Claire, lost the thread slightly, meant to ask, how did your training session go on Saturday? I'm dying to know! ;-)

Thanks for asking Claire.  It went brilliantly.  Tim is brilliant as an instructor, explains everything, asks you to ask questions throughout, all reward based training couldnt ask for more really.  I can see I am going to become addicted though.  Am frantically practising my turns and starts already. 

JC (the dog) loved it as well.  A little nervous when it came to going through the tunnel for the first time but once he had gone through once he seemed to really enjoy it.  It did faze him though when we had to go in through the other way - he went in, turned around and came back out again.  He got there in the end though. 

Roll on next Saturday!

Claire