Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello,

I've always been interested in agility and the things that dogs can do when trained to do so. I actually got my first dog a month ago. He is a three-year-old Jack Russell Terrior. I adopted him from the pound.

I am wondering if a Jack Russel Terrior is a good dog for agility. I have been working on training with him, and he is always willing to do anything for a treat. Positive Reinforcement works Extremely well with him. He reponds to me in unbelievable measures. I've tried some clicker training, but he doesn't respond to it as he does a small treat of any kind. One thing I have noticed him do is when he gets almost effervescent. He does everything he knows in order to get the treat, until he gives me what I want.

-----
Momma, Dadda, Juliet (Calico), Buddy (Tabby), Lima (Siamesse Mix), Colbi (Jack Russell), RJ & Billy (Bearded Dragons), SweetPea (Midland Water Snake), Three Parakeets, and the 20-Gallon Bowl of Fishies.
------
(Sea_Tuon@att.net)

Jacks often make excellent agility dogs and it sounds like yours has the right stuff - focused and food oriented. Go For It!!! Agility is so much fun. And as long as your dog is healthy (structure wise) any dog can do it. I've even seen bulldogs and bassets do well. Good luck and keep us informed.

I did a small amount of research realized that he had to be off leash in an open area. I am a little frightened to that. When he is in a dog park (it is pretty huge), he listens to me extremely well, comes when I call him and actually stays by my side most of the time.

I did take him back to the car with out leash and he did well. Any advice on the easy way to see how well he is off leash out with out a fence?
-----
Momma, Dadda, Juliet (Calico), Buddy (Tabby), Lima (Siamesse Mix), Colbi (Jack Russell), RJ & Billy (Bearded Dragons), SweetPea (Midland Water Snake), Three Parakeets, and the 20-Gallon Bowl of Fishies.
------
(Sea_Tuon@att.net)

I can understand your reluctance to take your JRT off lead. (I have sighthounds myself!) Really, if you're interested in agility, I wouldn't worry about that now. It take quite a bit of time before a dog is ready to compete, about a year or so depending on the dog. Our lab was ready to compete after about 6 months of training, but she'd had quite a bit of obedience, was very reliable off lead and was older (6 or 7 years). I started with my basenjis after a year (or more) of training and I worked with them on a regular, consistant basis and had some equipment in my own yard (jumps, weaves, teeter, dogwalk, table). During that time, you and your dog will be training and learning to work together as a team. I would not enter an event if he's not reliable at the training center and I'd do an indoor event first if this is a concern with you. I would not, at this point, test him off lead in an unsecured area. If you really want to test him, try a friend's fenced yard or use a light line, but really I think you're getting a bit a head of yourself. Good luck!

yes I suppose I am getting ahead of myself. He is quite the fast learner. I think I'm going to start him off in some basic training and go up slowly. Even though I know he can do the basics I still wanna go through it.

-----
Momma, Dadda, Juliet (Calico), Buddy (Tabby), Lima (Siamesse Mix), Colbi (Jack Russell), RJ & Billy (Bearded Dragons), SweetPea (Midland Water Snake), Three Parakeets, and the 20-Gallon Bowl of Fishies.
------
(Sea_Tuon@att.net)

>>yes I suppose I am getting ahead of myself. He is quite the fast learner. I think I'm going to start him off in some basic training and go up slowly. Even though I know he can do the basics I still wanna go through it.
>>
>>-----
>>Momma, Dadda, Juliet (Calico), Buddy (Tabby), Lima (Siamesse Mix), Colbi (Jack Russell), RJ & Billy (Bearded Dragons), SweetPea (Midland Water Snake), Three Parakeets, and the 20-Gallon Bowl of Fishies.
>>------
>>Sea_Tuon@att.net)

He sure is a cutie! Its a good idea to get good basics under the belt. Especially recalls. This breed is wonderfully agil and extremely smart and will learn very quickly. The key is to keep his nose up and focused on you. There are lots of easy obsticles to use at your own home/yard. For instance, a ladder laying down so that he can go through the rungs is great, a makshift see-saw made out of a plank with a small block under it so that it just barely teeters is good too. Whatever you decide to do keep it light and fun
-----
PHRiot@PetHobbyist.com

"Acquiring a dog may be the only opportunity
a human has to choose a relative!"

Author Unknown

I actually took a mop and put it on two boxes and got a pole to jump over. I should take him to the park sometime, when there are no kids around. We have a closed in kiddie park down the street.
-----
Momma, Dadda, Juliet (Calico), Buddy (Tabby), Lima (Siamesse Mix), Colbi (Jack Russell), RJ & Billy (Bearded Dragons), SweetPea (Midland Water Snake), Three Parakeets, and the 20-Gallon Bowl of Fishies.
------
(Sea_Tuon@att.net)

Hello! Welcome! Your JRT is really cute! The beauty of agility is that it is for the fun and bonding of you and your dog. Any dog, any breed. . .if there is a desire to have fun together and motivation to please. I am fortunate to belong to an agility club. There are 3 JRT's and a Beagle. These breeds were bred to keep their noses to the ground, however, they have been successfully motivated to go over jumps and contact obsticles to please themselves and their owner! LOL!I encourage you and your fur-kid to give agility a try. Also, please write back to let us know how things are going. We can give you encouragement and lots of helpful tips and info.

>>Hello,
>>
>>I've always been interested in agility and the things that dogs can do when trained to do so. I actually got my first dog a month ago. He is a three-year-old Jack Russell Terrior. I adopted him from the pound.
>>
>>I am wondering if a Jack Russel Terrior is a good dog for agility. I have been working on training with him, and he is always willing to do anything for a treat. Positive Reinforcement works Extremely well with him. He reponds to me in unbelievable measures. I've tried some clicker training, but he doesn't respond to it as he does a small treat of any kind. One thing I have noticed him do is when he gets almost effervescent. He does everything he knows in order to get the treat, until he gives me what I want.
>>
>>-----
>>Momma, Dadda, Juliet (Calico), Buddy (Tabby), Lima (Siamesse Mix), Colbi (Jack Russell), RJ & Billy (Bearded Dragons), SweetPea (Midland Water Snake), Three Parakeets, and the 20-Gallon Bowl of Fishies.
>>------
>>Sea_Tuon@att.net)
-----
Charlene

My Email

Adopt the pace of Nature
Her secret is patience

-Ralph Waldo Emerson-

thanks.. so thats why colbi will cheat and go under the mop (pole) that I made instead of over.. I started it lower. He can jump They say a JRT can get up to 10 feet running start... 4 feet from a stand still.
-----
Momma, Dadda, Juliet (Calico), Buddy (Tabby), Lima (Siamesse Mix), Colbi (Jack Russell), RJ & Billy (Bearded Dragons), SweetPea (Midland Water Snake), Three Parakeets, and the 20-Gallon Bowl of Fishies.
------
(Sea_Tuon@att.net)