Agility

iluvdogs111 · August 2010

I'm looking for some tips on teaching my dogs agility. They are black labs, one being 7, is older and slower. But the other one is arround 5 and physically fit. She can jump high and far so she may be really good at this. Today we made an agility course in our yard. We had to get creative with what we used. It might not be pretty, but it worked and was perfect for our dogs, since they're beginners. Here are some pictures: <a href="http://www.fastuploader.com/?v=agility.jpg"; target="_blank" class="bb-url"><img src="http://www.fastuploader.com/thumbs/agility.jpg"; alt="http://www.fastuploader.com/thumbs/agility.jpg"; class="bb-image" /></a> Our "tunnel" was simply a tarp draped over a dog cable. I just wanted it so they could get the feeling of going through something. <a href="http://www.fastuploader.com/?v=agility2.jpg"; target="_blank" class="bb-url"><img src="http://www.fastuploader.com/thumbs/agility2.jpg"; alt="http://www.fastuploader.com/thumbs/agility2.jpg"; class="bb-image" /></a> Our older lab Molly going through the tunnel. She was more interested in sniffing for treats than she was making it through quickly. <a href="http://www.fastuploader.com/?v=agility5.jpg"; target="_blank" class="bb-url"><img src="http://www.fastuploader.com/thumbs/agility5.jpg"; alt="http://www.fastuploader.com/thumbs/agility5.jpg"; class="bb-image" /></a> The teeter-ta-well whatever it's called. <a href="http://www.fastuploader.com/?v=agility3.jpg"; target="_blank" class="bb-url"><img src="http://www.fastuploader.com/thumbs/agility3.jpg"; alt="http://www.fastuploader.com/thumbs/agility3.jpg"; class="bb-image" /></a> <a href="http://www.fastuploader.com/?v=agilitty4.jpg"; target="_blank" class="bb-url"><img src="http://www.fastuploader.com/thumbs/agilitty4.jpg"; alt="http://www.fastuploader.com/thumbs/agilitty4.jpg"; class="bb-image" /></a> Dixie going over a "jump." She loves her ball, so we put it in the chuck-it and used it as a motivater for her. She follows it through tunnels, over jumps, anything. Instead of treats, we threw her ball for her when she completed each obstacle. So that's basically it. If you have any tips about training your dogs agility, please share them. I only want to do it for fun right now. In the future I may purchase real agility equitment, but for now our homemade one is working fine. Thanks!

iluvdogs111 · August 2010

Okay so a little update- My dad is going to build me some agility equitment. A see-saw, some real jumps, maybe we'll buy a tunnel. And my dogs are doing great. Esspecially Dixie. Does anyone have any tips for teaching them verbal commands? I've been using simple words like jump when she jumps but I don't know if she'll learn them well enough.

chaser11m · August 2010

My mom and i actualy show and breed Australian shepherds, and well we go to agility classes every Tue and also thats cool how u made the homemade equipment.

iluvdogs111 · August 2010

Thanks! We've made homemade agiity courses before, but we're having the most success with this one. I just can't wait until my dad starts the real equipment.

DiamondPuppy0809 · August 2010

I've never thought about actually competing, but I've made homemade agility equipment. My dad's a carpenter and owns his own business, so we have scrap wood everywhere. I just nail/screw it together and make jumps, or tie hula-hoops to two posts. xD It works! (: I've never found anything good to substitute a tunnel though. For a ramp-thing (I really am not very good with agility, I just like to do it for fun with my dogs in my backyard), I used to pieces of wood propped up on something with small pieces of wood like steps, for the dogs to grip. It's probably hard to imagine, lol, it'd be easiest to show pictures but I haven't set it up in a long time. I also hammer posts into the ground for weaving. My dog Max loves doing it for praise or treats, but after a while he gets tired and refuses to keep going. xD Even if I let him rest, once he's had enough for one day, he's had enough, lol. Good luck with your dogs! I have so much fun with my own, just in my backyard too!

iluvdogs111 · August 2010

That sounds fun. Yeah, we usaully take it down like the day after we put it up but it's been up for a while and dixie and I have been working on it mulitple times a day. I can now just point to the obstacles rather than leading her with the ball, but I still use it as a reward. However I think she's getting bored doing the same thing, so I can't wait 'til we build the real one. We might be going to get the supplies tomorrow. Until than I may try rearanging the obstacles. So far she hasn't mastered the weave poles, (though they're just flag, easily trampled,) or the tunnel (though it's hard to make like a tunnel.) Also, does anyone know where I can find a cheap tunnel? I can not spend a lot, I'd like to keep it under $40, $30 if possible. I've read you can buy cheap kids play tunnels that work but I need a big one and there doesn't seem to be any. Thanks for anty suggestions.

55klovek · August 2010

Have you taught them any commands to go over jumps and such? If not you could keep throwing treats over and saying the command that you want. That was how I trained my chihuahua. SO for each verbal command throw a treat or a toy into or over an object and say the command as the dog does it. For jumping I use the command over and so far I have taught my 11 month old golden pup it and he can do it with no problem. Just keep repeating it and every time she or he jumps make sure you say the command. Also since they are older dogs keep it easy and don't keep the jumps to high. this can hurt there feet and be dangerous to there health. Try to keep training in the mornings and in the late afternoon when it inst so hot. They may be harder to train because of there age but they should get it eventually. Have Fun =D

iluvdogs111 · August 2010

Thanks, yes I'm using the commands and they are doing great. Molly (older one) doesn't do it as often and yes we usaully do it the late afternoons/evenings. We're both having a lot of fun with it and we're going to start building some more obstacles tomorrow.

iluvdogs111 · August 2010

The ramp is complete! I'll post pics later, Dixie was hesitant at first but now has no problem going up and down-and fairly quickly too. However she's already fallen off once because she was focusing more on her tennis ball than her footing. :roll: Next we're building either a tire jump or weave poles. Yay! Still looking for a tunnel....any suggestions?

HollyWood · August 2010

you can actually us a kids play tunnel for agility. My niece has one xD maybe looking at yard sales or maybe your local classifieds, also theres some on amazon for $20

iluvdogs111 · August 2010

I've heard that, but I'm having trouble finding ones that are big enough.

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Agility

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