22Apr
Besides agility talk, and regular Friday give-aways, I’d also like to use this blog to tell you about other cool contests out there for people to enter. I just got a press release from AKC Humane (a divison of the American Kennel Club) that they are seeking a “Canine Hero” in EACH the following categories: law enforcement, search and rescue, therapy, service, and an exemplary companion dog. Winners will receive $1000, a medallion, and an all-expense trip to the AKC/Eukanumba Championship in Long Beach Ca, in December 2009. What fun! Deadline is June 30th. All contest rules can be found at the AKC Humane Fund’s website page.
Note:
~Only AKC recognized breeds are allowed to be nominated.
~Apparently you can nominate any dog (not just your own). Not sure who actually gets sent to California, but I suppose they aren’t picky. It appears the writer of the story gets to go.
Tags: Events & News
21Apr
“Distance Work”, or getting your dog to move ahead of you to an obstacle, is one of the more advanced exercises of agility. But you can start training your dog to do this at any level now, by incorporating little games into your everyday training. One of my favorite exercises is done indoors while watching t.v.!
The Game:
Prepare ahead by setting up an obstacle in your living room, like a simple jump. Position it up so your dog has to go over the jump, not around it (like in a hall or somewhere where the sides are blocked). Put the bars down really low to start. With your dog in a stay (or not looking), place behind the jump a plastic lidded container (like an old butter container) with a snack inside. Poke a hole in the top so your dog can smell the treat. Then go sit down or lay on your couch for a bit. Now, don’t wake your dog up from a sound sleep, but if he is just sitting there, or doing nothing in particular (like you), you can then point to the jump. Say ’jump’ (or whatever word you use). The first time this happens, unless your dog has been patiently waiting for you to release him from the stay to investigate that mysterious container, your dog might not know what you are saying at first. So you’ll have to get up and point closer to the jump, and the container, to encourage him to come over. When he goes over the jump, reward him by opening the container. Try it again over the course of your tv time (during commercials!), each time taking your dog over to the jump until he gets the idea. Keep playing this game, and eventually you should be able to just say “jump”, and your dog is going to immediately seek out the jump, wherever you placed it. (Future games will have moved the jump around). This may take a few “Lost” episodes (or whatever you like to watch), but its a fun way to teach an important skill, while enjoying your tv time at the same time!
Tags: agility games/classes, dog tricks
20Apr
Wow, I had NO idea so many words could be made out of the word ‘affordable’! If I did, I would have chosen a simpler word for this contest, like agility! (I’ll have to save this for a future contest!) Who knew that broadleaf, fordable, and areola were hidden in there? Not me! But congratulations to “Ladysown”, who did, along with 276 other words! She was the first person with the most words that were in the online dictionary source we gave. Sorry I can’t list all the comments as I thought I could. Many of you put a single word on each line (giving it a return/enter carriage), so if I posted them all the page would be a mile long! I don’t think of all these details when I’m developing these contests 
Stay tuned this week for an exciting line-up of blogs. Tomorrow I’ll be talking about a useful agility training exercise that you can do inside with your dog, during commercials of your favorite t.v. show! Plus, an AKC contest that you need to know about, to win an all-expense paid trip to the Eukanuba dog show in California!
17Apr
FRIDAY FUSION CONTEST…
This contest is now closed.
Today’s Friday Fusion Contest is going to take a fun little twist. We’re going to play a game!
How many words (at least 3 letters long) can you make out of the words “Affordable”?
The first person with the most words will win a $25 Gift Certificate at www.AffordableAgility.com! One rule: If you have any bad words, you’ll forfeit your priority to win over someone who has only good words. We have no idea ourselves how many words can be made, but I guess we’ll know when we see your answers! Words must be in this dictionary: http://dictionary.reference.com (which is a pretty normal one I do believe), and not a typically capitalized word (names, places, etc).
Click on “no comments” in the upper right corner to enter your list. Answers (and winner) will be posted on Monday. (until then it will say ‘no comments’). Make sure you have registered on this website (you only need to do it once, and you are good for all future contests).
Have Fun!
16Apr
It’s that time of year! Time to dig out all the agility equipment that you stored for the winter and set it up again. Yeah! Not! We’d rather get right to the training, wouldn’t we? Anyway, it’s VERY important that you check your equipment for safety and maintenance issues. Now is a great time. Here are a few things to look for…
- Inspect everything for sharp edges. Take a rag and slowly rub all edges of your equipment. If the rag snags, sand the area. Be especially concerned about sharp edges on jump cups.
- Fill cracks in your wood items. While some cracks are normal and happen to wood over time, it is best to take care of any that are positioned to collect water and cause splitting. Fill with exterior caulk, let dry, and paint with an exterior paint. Its also best to give another coat of paint to prolong the life of your wood items.
- Check for protruding nails on any wood surfaces, including the slats for your a-frame and dog-walk.
- Tighten all hardware and check chain links, making sure where the chain attaches to obstacles is secure also.
- Treat rust with rust-proofing paint.
- Wash your tunnel and chutes with soap and water if needed, and dry thoroughly. Inspect for any mildew.
- Add more colored tape to your tire jump and jumps if they have worn out. Visit our vinyl tape page at Affordable Agility if you need more.
Tags: agility obstacles, agility safety
Recent Comments