• 30Sep

  Jumping Through Windows

  Dog Agility Equipment No Comments
  

  Don't do it!

  Teaching your dog to jump into your car can be a fun trick. Police K-9’s are trained to jump through ‘windows’ using a special hurdle, and it’s a challenge because the dog has to be extremely accurate. He has to jump straight through, and at the correct height, and for the big-tailed breeds, to be aware of his rudder!

  If you train your dog to do this trick PLEASE be careful- the famous jump scene in Lassie was edited, and your dog cannot jump into or out of your house windows without risk of injury. That said, if your dog can jump the height, it’s an impressive way to get him in the car, provided you left the window down!

  

  Tags: agility obstacles, dog safety & health

• 29Sep

  Training in Water

  Dog Agility Equipment No Comments

  It’s a lovely sunny day, and you’re practicing in your yard for the trial this weekend. Your dog’s perfect, you’re perfect, and no matter what you send him over or through he gets it. You’re confident you’ll do great! Then Saturday morning comes, and it’s raining off and on despite the forecast showing a smiling sun! You look at your dog and he looks at you, and you wonder if he’s okay with running on a wet course in the rain. You’re nervous, and that makes him nervous, too.

  While you can’t cure the rain, you can train in wet when it’s sunny, since training A-frames in thundershowers might be a bit dangerous! One of the things you can do is practice on “Water Obstacles” so your dog is used to running around dripping and working on wet surfaces. The best way to introduce your dog to a water obstacle is to not use any water at first. Then turn the hose on only a little for a small stream. If you do it gradually, and make it fun, soon your dog will be bravely charging over and through walls of water like this dog in the video.

  

  Tags: agility obstacles, videos

• 28Sep

  Start and Finish Points

  Dog Agility Equipment No Comments

  As you know, each time you do a trial, the obstacles are put in a different order. You never know what you’ll get until you get there! When you set up your obstacles at home, it is important to frequently change the order, and to have a plan. If you don’t, you and your dog will just run around willy-nilly and your dog will learn to just do as he pleases. Numbered cones help to develop a sequence, as well as having a starting point and an ending point. Sometimes where you start and end can change the whole experience!
  Set up marker poles to replicate a real trial. It will help your dog to know what he’s getting into. And as far as having a plan, there are many great resources and ideas for courses that are free for trying. Click here to read more, and check here for training a great start!

  

  Tags: agility oddities

• 26Sep

  Doolin Doin’ da Weaves

  Member Photos & Stories 1 Comment
  

  Doolin Does Weaves!

  A picture and comment from Dave and Sylvia in Mendon, MA…

  “Our experience with your company so far has been great. We ordered a set of competition weave poles for our Border Collie, Doolin. We used to use driveway reflectors as make-shift poles for a few weeks; so yours were a tremendous upgrade!

  Here is a picture of Doolin after a few days with your poles.”

  ——————-

  Do you have a picture or a story to tell us, of how your dog is doing in his agility training career?  Every Saturday we post a new one!  Send to: pamela@affordableagility.com.  I will reply to let you know I got your email.

  

  Tags: member stories

• 25Sep

  World Champion Courses

  Dog Agility Competing No Comments

  

  The 14th Annual FCI World Agility Championship is offering the courses for viewing and printing.  Try some of them out! Go to:  http://www.lhbsystems.nl/wc2009/default.asp?open=courses 

   

  For even more courses, see our past blog on course design

  For more information on the FCI World event, click here

  

  Tags: Events & News

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