The advice that I have been given is lead walk for 5 - 7 days.  I have only taken her out in the garden on a lead because she normally tears around like mad - we have steps and walls which she flies over.  Shall I wait for the full 7 days before I let her off the lead in the garden too?
I have been contacted this week because a new agility class is starting and because we have never been before there is an 'induction' evening next week.  This is 8 days after her op.  I said that I would go and walk her round to familiarise myself more than anything.  The course starts properly the following week.  How much should I allow her to do?  Would be grateful for any opinions - the vet saying 5 to 7 days is a bit vague really.  She is a collie and very active normally. 

You vet may not have appreciated just what level of exercise you were talking about :)  I would take her for a walk around if you think she is up to it but I think for abdominal surgery I would not be letting her jump for 6 weeks as the abdominal muscles will need to knit together fully not just held by sutures.  I have never had to have mine on a lead in the garden but you know your dog best if you think she would go wild I would continue doing that for the 7 days.

My vet has always said no walks for the first 3-5 days and then short 10 min lead walk until the stitches come out.
This is to allow time for everything to adjust and heal itself inside.
I would rather under do things than over do them.    I know it seems to go on forever  but the 10days really does come to an end eventually.

I was told that I could walk her for 15 - 20 minutes so that is what I have done.  I thought that complete healing would take longer than 5 - 7 days.   Maybe I will give this course of agility a miss - it is supposed to be 10 weeks but I think it is an ongoing club like thing.  

My vet told me to leave it for three weeks after the girls were spayed before starting agility training again. To be honest though if you're just starting, your bitch will probably not actually be jumping anything - really just running between wings and being taught contacts. I didn't let mine off lead at all, or let them tear round the garden until their stitches were out. HTH Jane :)

That sounds sensible Jane thanks.  I will check with the vet next friday when I have the stitches out.  I will start the course - and hope the weather stays nice like this.  At least I can get to know what to do myself and get to know the others there.  I will leave the jumps alone.
Christine

For the first couple of sessions you can always walk your dog past the equipment pausing at each peice telling her jump, tunnel, climb, weave etc etc so she can start to associate the pieces of equipment with thier names.  She could also get used to going through the tunnels.
So when you can start properly the tunnels will hold no fear and she will be familiar with the look of the other equipment.
At our club we start the begginers off with a couple of pieces of equipment at a time so they learn each piece correctly and work on getting contacts from the start, when the A frame, dog walk and see saw are bought out.

Bev