Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello All,

I am new to agility, we just completed an 8 week course for beginning agility and had a blast. My dog Dooley loves it, and really does well. We took private classes so he is a bit farther along than he would have been in a full class with other dogs. We are going to move on and take more classes, but I have sooo many questions. Is anyone here from Oregon? It would be great to meet some others in our area who have some experience. Do most people compete in both NADAC and USDAA? Or just one? My dog is an Aussie/Lab X so we won't be competeing in AKC. Do you compete alone? or do you belong to a club? Is it best to only have one handler work a dog? or do any of you have more than one person showing the same dog?

I'll stop there, lol and try to slow down. Thanks, Maisey

Here is my guy...

Welcome to agility! I'll try to answer your questions.

I'm not, but I'd suggest volunteering at a few events and soon you will know lots of people. Most agility clubs are very friendly and always looking for some helpers.

I used to, but have cut back and have stopped doing USDAA. Due to time and $$ constraints, I cut back and dropped USDAA from my list. (At one time or another I've done 3 types of agility, 2 types of coursing, conformation and therapy visits with 2 different dogs pretty much at the same time). I don't do USDAA (although my first agility dog got his AD) since my 17 inch basenjis would have to jump 22 inches. They don't have any problem, when I train at 22 inches, but it is just easier for me to just do AKC and NADAC where they only jump 16. And yes, I know they could do performance, but it was just easier to opt out of USDAA. I would suggest you try them both out and see what you think, but I'd start with NADAC if you can. There are some differences, but many people enjoy both.

I belong to a club, but they don't offer classes (other than the ones I and someone else taught last summer). I've also found I'm a bit beyond most of the classes/trainers in my area. I would suggest you stick with the classes for as long as you are getting good instruction and don't have all the equipment at home. I had great trainers before we moved.

I think it depends on the dog. I've found my basenjis do best with me. Other dogs would do fine with anyone running them. I've run a friends' dogs on ocassion, but no one wants to run my badsenjis . My husband was supposed to run the tri basenji, but Jet just totally blew him off. I'd like to see them try again as my husband is really a decent handler, but we'll see. It is really annoying to have your dog run out of the ring after 2 obstacles.

Any time. Will be interesting to see what other people's experiences are.

The reason I asked about more than one person handling a dog....the trainer we are taking classes with, is encouraging me to continue with Dooley, it was my 10 year old daughter who actually took the class with him. He really likes Dooley and thinks he would do extremely well competeing, he doesn't think this will happen with my 10 year old handling him. Dooley will work for her, but not in the same way he does for me. He learns quicker if I am handling. The original plan was that my daughter would just use Dooley until our 6 month old Catahoula pup is old enough to start, and then she would work with him. She likes doing the agility very much, but is not serious about it, it's just fun. The trainer is not telling me that my daughter is not doing well....he is just telling me that he thinks Dooley would be awesome and very competitive with an adult handling, and that we need to decide which direction we want to go with our dog. He also thinks it is best to stay with one handler on a dog. He gave me alot to think about that I wasn't counting on, I was just asking for some feedback to sort of help me along with the decision. Thanks Maisey

>>The reason I asked about more than one person handling a dog....the trainer we are taking classes with, is encouraging me to continue with Dooley, it was my 10 year old daughter who actually took the class with him. He really likes Dooley and thinks he would do extremely well competeing, he doesn't think this will happen with my 10 year old handling him. Dooley will work for her, but not in the same way he does for me. He learns quicker if I am handling. The original plan was that my daughter would just use Dooley until our 6 month old Catahoula pup is old enough to start, and then she would work with him. She likes doing the agility very much, but is not serious about it, it's just fun. The trainer is not telling me that my daughter is not doing well....he is just telling me that he thinks Dooley would be awesome and very competitive with an adult handling, and that we need to decide which direction we want to go with our dog. He also thinks it is best to stay with one handler on a dog. He gave me alot to think about that I wasn't counting on, I was just asking for some feedback to sort of help me along with the decision. Thanks Maisey

Oh! Let her got for it! Its awesome to see younger handlers with their dogs! This is Reata doing her thing through the weave polls.

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Charlene

My Email

Adopt the pace of Nature
Her secret is patience

-Ralph Waldo Emerson-

>>Hello All,
>>
>>I am new to agility, we just completed an 8 week course for beginning agility and had a blast. My dog Dooley loves it, and really does well. We took private classes so he is a bit farther along than he would have been in a full class with other dogs. We are going to move on and take more classes, but I have sooo many questions. Is anyone here from Oregon? It would be great to meet some others in our area who have some experience. Do most people compete in both NADAC and USDAA? Or just one? My dog is an Aussie/Lab X so we won't be competeing in AKC. Do you compete alone? or do you belong to a club? Is it best to only have one handler work a dog? or do any of you have more than one person showing the same dog?
>>
>>I'll stop there, lol and try to slow down. Thanks, Maisey

Welcome! Agility is challenging and great fun for handler and dog. I started out by going through classes and then joined the group who taught the classes. Now I help teach as well as compete. No. . .I am not a professional and trip over my own feet sometimes! LOL!

Have fun!

-----
Charlene

My Email

Adopt the pace of Nature
Her secret is patience

-Ralph Waldo Emerson-

Welcome! and Dooley is one cool looking dawg! I bet he can jump like a deer with those long legs!!
I belong to a club, but I take 'few' lessons from them. I started with a trainer, many moons ago, and she spoiled me for others, luckily she is back to training and I'm back with her..
I teach classes as well, I like to take as many seminars as I'm able to get all kinds of different perspectives and ideas.
as for the handling question, I agree, Junior handling is great to watch!! Maybe you could 'both' get some time in competing with Dooley.
I do all the venues, Right now I have 2 GSd's, and 2 Aussies.
I've found mine anyway, will not work with anyone else..Clingy herding dawgs, that are out to only please me..
My suggestion, continue with your classes, and whatever else you can get into, grab it..and Have Fun
Diane

"Clingy herding dogs"...you said it! Dooley is all Aussie and I know there is Lab in there but it doesn't show in any way shape or form. I did all the training with Dooley and still do. He is extremely bonded to my husband though, he thinks he is "God", lol. Dooley will work for me, but if my husband is around...he keeps one eye on him, and if he can't find him he is distracted.
The same is true for my daughter, Dooley will work for her, but he looks for me, and occasionally will leave her side to check in with me. I think most of this with my daughter is her not being able to hold his attention very well yet. We are working through it, thinking about who will do what. My husband and I also do Flyball with him, we work as a team and share handling. If we separate though, he gets antsy and can't concentrate, he wants both his people visible at all times. However, if I go to flyball with him alone or visa versa with my husband, Dooley works fine with either of us. It's just when he knows we are both supposed to be there. We accomodate this, we have learned to pick our battles...this one hasn't caused major problems, just amounts to planning, and we are willing to do that for such a loyal, loving and willing companion. At flyabll, the team leader and members seem to work well around individual dogs and their quirks. I am not sure how well my Agility trainer will take to me deciding to do both junior handler and compete with him myself. OHH I wanted to ask...are there classes for just jr. handlers who are kids and then jr. handler adults? or are they all together? Thanks for your input..smiles Maisey & Dooley