Reptile & Amphibian Forums

How much do you think the equipment will cost? And the books? A handler? It even cost money to enter your dog in the show, doesn't it? How much do you think agility will cost all together? Aglity sounds good, but if it costs too much I can't do it yet. That's why I need some idea as to how much this will cost.

Thanks for answering my questions. And thanks for being such a great help on the "Where do I start?" questions. Please keep posting responses to this and my original "Where do I start?" post!

Well, my first 10 week class cost $100. And basically classes in my area for almost anything run $10-$15 an hour for a group class.

Books, I have only actually bought two, but the library has a number of them so book costs really should be too high. Also, there's a lot of info on the internet.

Equipment- it depends if you want "offical" equipment or you are willing to settle for "improvised." Jumps can be made out of two stools and a broom stick. Weave poles can be PVC and a metal support bar ($10) stuck into the ground. Tunnels can be found for about $30 at many toy stores (not offical so for big dogs this can be a problem). Contact equipment, if you are handy is basically wood and paint ($100 at most) if you going to do everything yourself. If you are taking classes, really weaves poles were my first purchase and I haven't bought anything else. Pause table, I just use a board on the ground- the idea is the same (wait at a given spot). So, basically, this can be as expensive or as cheap as you want it to be. Oh, and actually, a fenced yard REALLY helps if you are going to practice on your own. You can only get so far on leash.

Entrance fees to shows. In my area I've seen the fee as low as $15 and as high as $25 for the first run each day. They tend to give a price break if you do an additional class (for AKC). NADAC and USDAA are about the same I believe. So, for a weekend of 4 runs (1 JWW and 1 standard each day) you would pay as little as about $50 for the both days or as high as $80 for both days. Some times there is a 3 day event and you pay for another day. It takes 3 legs under 3 different judges (for AKC) to get a title. So, theoretically, you could qualify in one 3 day event. That tends not to happen, but it can.

In my opinion it takes about a year for a novice handler and novice dog to be close to ready to compete. There can be a bit of variation on this, but that's been my expereince as well and many classmates. Once you get experience, that time frame may decrease a bit, but a new dog still needs to understand. Rushing into it doesn't seem to help.

Hope that helps a bit.
-----
Chelle and the rest of the crew including, but not limited to Kita (the shiba inu), Adi (rescue tabby cat), and all the reptiles

Well, the first thing to do is to call around and look into classes in your area. I agree with Chelle about all of her posts, but you won't need to do everything at once. If you take a class, you won't need your own equipment, books or entries right away. My first agility jump was a broomstick handle with cement blocks, or paint cans. Very cheap. (For indoor jumps I used soup cans, my low hearth and the bottom rung of my dining room chairs.) My first weave poles were made all out of pvc - also very cheap and I'm still using them years later. My first dogwalk and teeter were made by my husband and while wood is pricier than pvc, the dogwalk rested on sawhorses. Not nearly as expensive as buying all that stuff. I have yet to get an Aframe or tunnel (I did aquire a kiddie tunnel, but haven't used it yet) and my good dog is in ExB (meaning he has his AX/AXJ titles).

What do you really need? I'd say if you're serious you will (eventually) need 3 jumps and weaves. You can do so much with those 4 things!!! I always try to give my 2cd level class lots of ideas using 3 jumps. But you really won't _need_ this until you've been to a class that introduces you to all the obstacles. And you can make all of this out of pvc; there are plans (somewhere) on the web. A pvc cutter is around $20 and the pvc is cheap.

Yes, it does take some money to pay for entry fees, but realisticly you're looking at a year or so down the road. Do you know exactly what your income will be in a year or two? The other thing is that you don't _have_ to enter trials. I know many people that just enjoy the time spent with their dogs and don't really have a big desire to compete. The other thing to consider is that you can enter when you can afford - say once every other month. Whatever fits your time and $ budget. Our club offers worker coupons ($1.50 for every class worked) that can be applied to the next event our club does. Some clubs offer free lunch to workers, some have raffles, etc. So that would be another way to save $. Even if you find you don't have the time/money to compete very much with this dog, it will put you ahead with your next dog if you do some with this dog.

Handler? My goodness no. This sport is basicly a do-it-yourself kind of thing. That's the FUN of it. There are a few dogs who aren't handled by their owner, but that's usually the exception not the rule. There are several jr handlers and lots of grandparents out there.

I do understand about bugetting, and if you can afford the classes, you're probably okay. And keep the questions comin'!

um...How old do I have to be to be Dodger's own agility handler?

Agilebasenji, you said, "If you can afford the classes, you're probably okay." Well, we can-- but my whole family thinks that stuff for dogs is a waste of money. I'm always like, "Pets are like people and should be treated as such." They are always, "It's a waste to spend more than $500 to buy a dog" and "It's stupid to buy doggie clothes" and that kind of stuff. Other than the cost for food, toys, treats, rawhides, vet bills, etc -- they think spending money on a dog is a waste. Of course I could spend money on agility classes, but my family would always be saying, "I can't believe you wasted money on something for Dodger". I could still do it though. However, I want to be 99% sure that agility is right for Dodger & me before I spend the money for agility classes.

>>Of course I could spend money on agility classes, but my family would always be saying, "I can't believe you wasted money on something for Dodger".

Well, it would really be for YOU, not Dodger. It would be YOUR hobby & therefore a justifiable expense. As hobbies go, agility is one of the more affordable ones. I cringe to think what it costs to ski, hang glide, fish, sail, keep a horse, etc. Agility is a healthy, inexpensive sport for you AND your dog.

Re: minimum age for handlers: I've seen very young kids out there, 7 or 8 years old -- and they're going to be absolutely awesome handlers by the time they're in their teens! (Young legs, advanced handling knowledge. )

>>However, I want to be 99% sure that agility is right for Dodger & me before I spend the money for agility classes.

If you think YOU'd like to do it, then give lessons a try, and don't give up too soon. You and Dodger will get the hang of it. The REAL fun comes after your dog & you know the basics.

-----
Sarah
Pacific NW
Nefer-temu Pharaohs

>>>>Of course I could spend money on agility classes, but my family would always be saying, "I can't believe you wasted money on something for Dodger".
>>
>>Well, it would really be for YOU, not Dodger. It would be YOUR hobby & therefore a justifiable expense. As hobbies go, agility is one of the more affordable ones. I cringe to think what it costs to ski, hang glide, fish, sail, keep a horse, etc. Agility is a healthy, inexpensive sport for you AND your dog.
>>
>>Re: minimum age for handlers: I've seen very young kids out there, 7 or 8 years old -- and they're going to be absolutely awesome handlers by the time they're in their teens! (Young legs, advanced handling knowledge. )
>>
>>>>However, I want to be 99% sure that agility is right for Dodger & me before I spend the money for agility classes.
>>
>>If you think YOU'd like to do it, then give lessons a try, and don't give up too soon. You and Dodger will get the hang of it. The REAL fun comes after your dog & you know the basics.
>>
>>
>>-----
>>Sarah
>>Pacific NW
>> Nefer-temu Pharaohs

BRAVO! APAWS! APAWS! Oooo I sooooo luv your answer! Spending time and money on your dog is definitely your choice and up to you. Let me tell you that my own husband and family think I am crazy to spend so much time and money on my dogs, but, you know what? I love it and so do my dawgs! LOL! Go for it, you will be richly rewarded
-----
PHRiot@PetHobbyist.com

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

Author Unknown

Thanks, PHriot, for saying, "Go for it, you will be richly rewarded!" It's encouraging!

great point, kridge! it really would be for ME, not just dodger.

Hmmmm, can I guess you live at home with your parents? It's hard for young doglovers to live with parents who don't understand. Do you have a way to get to and from the agility classes? I'd say given your interst expressed here on this forum, you would not find agility classes a waste of time. And you might want to look into the AKC's junior handler program. I know the AKC offers scholarships to jr handlers, but I don't know any of the details. You may also want to ask if the training facility offers a discount to jr handlers. I don't know many that do, but I'd ask. Often jr handlers get a price break in the conformation ring, but not in the agility ring. Anyway, I was thinking that if you could get some more info on the scholarship, you could show that it isn't a waste of time. I will think on it some more and holler if I come up with anything more. Good luck

should have added you can to to www.akc.org and browse for info on the jr handler program. Your dog will need to be registered and if he isn't but he looks enough like a breed, you can get an ILP for him.

thanks for your reply, Chelle. every reply is helpful and appreciated. you really answered my question about the cost! thanks again!

>>How much do you think the equipment will cost? And the books? A handler? It even cost money to enter your dog in the show, doesn't it? How much do you think agility will cost all together? Aglity sounds good, but if it costs too much I can't do it yet. That's why I need some idea as to how much this will cost.
>>
>>Thanks for answering my questions. And thanks for being such a great help on the "Where do I start?" questions. Please keep posting responses to this and my original "Where do I start?" post!

Great advice all! I would like to add that you may be able to find a club in your area. I am fortunate to belong to a club and we have all of the official equipment and we also put on a NADACC and USDAA trial 2 times a year. Plus, I have a handy husband who has made me some official equipment. But, I didn't get equipment until I was sure this was something I wanted to do. I have been doing agility with my dogs for about 7 years, nope, not a pro and don't have any titles, but we sure do have fun!

This is a pic of me and my Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Carson at a NADACC trial hosted by the club I belong too.

-----
PHRiot@PetHobbyist.com

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

Author Unknown

I wonder if I'm just really really lucky to have an awesome Dog Training club near me, or if anyone else has prices like mine? The price of an 8 week agility class is $40 at my club. We have all official equipment, wonderful training staff, and host NADAC trials every once in a while. We have lots of dogs in the program: I've seen a LOT of Shelties, a few BC's, Rottweilers, Japanese Chin, what looks like a solid steel blue/black Bearded Collie, and many other breeds.

I haven't started agility with my American Bulldog for two reasons: #1, and most importantly, she's too young (just a few days shy of 7 months old), and #2, her recall isn't reliable enough for me to be confident in keeping her off leash and tuned in on me during practice and class (then again, that could be part of being a puppy!!).

Find a Dog training club near you, you won't regret it! It quickly becomes a small family community and it's loads of fun! You socialize your dog and your dog becomes well rounded and reliable.

good luck
-----
Lesya & Sophie

Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadows.
-Helen Keller

thanks for the post!

i said it before and i'll say it again: each post is helpful and appreciated!

thanks for the help, everyone! please keep replying! the more replies, the better! thanks again!

>>thanks for the help, everyone! please keep replying! the more replies, the better! thanks again!

Hi, was wondering how you and your dogs are coming along? What tips have you tried and what has worked? Please let us know. . .

-----
Charlene

My Email

Adopt the pace of Nature
Her secret is patience

-Ralph Waldo Emerson-

I forget who suggested that I teach Dodger to look at me, but I would like to thank them. Dodger is learning "look at me" fastly. I'm sure it will help once (and if) we start agility, but for now it's just helping me to keep him out of Fluffy's food(LOL)!

I'm also teaching him "heel". I could never get Dodger to stop pulling on a leash, but about two weeks ago, I created a training program that's working perfectly for him! I started out leading him around on the leash with a treat! The treat leads him, and he appears to forget all about the leash--walking nicely on it as if it wasn't even there! He's starting to do good even without the treat now (I don't lead him with the treat now, although I still give him one at the end)!

I'm also doing jumping practice (over an about 16 inch high box) almost daily. However, if it's not in the doorway, he still runs around it. I can't seem to figure out a way to stop him from running around it. What should I do about this?

I'm also (like I always do) reveiwing his old tricks almost daily. Dodger's great at them, but I like to keep them fresh in his mind. These tricks are: sit, down, paw, other paw, speak, come, stay, stay (with a treat on his paws), etc.

I think he's doing great, considering I've only been training him "heel" and "look at me" for less than two weeks.

Have any other suggestions for tricks? If so, I'd love to here them.

a BIG thing for Dodger to learn is 'down' and 'come'. At the pause table in agility Dodger will have to fly up there and into a down as fast as possible! The sooner he gets up there into a quick down, the sooner he can leave the table and continue the course. 'Come' is a MUST for all dogs.

I'll list some of the commands that I practice in my obedience class:
come (dog comes to you and sits in front of you, facing you)
heel
finish (dog walks past you on your left side, turns around, and walks up in a heel and sits)
down
sit
stay
wait (dog waits for command to move)
leave it (used to keep dog away from something, or to not touch something. "LEAVE IT", dog leaves it alone)
watch (dog watches you, an attention command)
steady (reminder for dog to hold command. ie: you are formally returning to your dog, you say "STEADY" to remind your dog to maintain the stay.)
-----
Lesya & Sophie

Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadows.
-Helen Keller

thanks!