25Feb
After your run, let your dog relax. Give him a treat and put him in his crate and leave him alone until your next run.
If it is hot at a trial DO NOT GIVE YOUR DOG ICE WATER OR ICE. Dogs have bloated from doing this (a serious medical condition that if not treated promptly can lead to death). Cool water is fine, but skip the ice. Most trial sites will have a hose or small pool to cool off your dog.
The most important thing to remember is to have fun with your dog. This is a GAME, and we play it to enjoy ourselves, our dogs, and our fellow competitors.
~ Thanks to Linda Freed at http://agilityteamair.wordpress.com/ for the above entry~
Tags: agility beginners, agility competing
24Feb
If you have a large dog that jumps over 24″, here is a tip that will help teach your dog to jump at more of an “arc”. You need a plastic barrel with both ends cut off (which you of course need for an official Closed Tunnel obstacle) and a standard bar jump. Take your top jump bar and slip it through the barrel. Your dog will then jump over the width of the barrel, but between the standards of the jump. To the dog, it will look like a flat panel jump or wall, but he of course will have to leap and land at more of an “arc” shape, than a simple hop-over. This is particularly useful for large dogs that sloppily ”hop” over jumps without a strong intention for clearing them. A good take-off and landing is important to avoid disqualifications and keep you in the game.
Note: The picture above is not an accurate illustration of this idea, as it doesn’t show a plastic barrel with the ends cut off and and slipped through a jump. It is just a stock photo we currently have to simply show the longer stretch you get from a dog jumping a barrel. I don’t recommend metal barrels that rust, and also, it is important that your dog be a high jumper that is in optimum shape for this exercise).
Tags: agility training, dog safety & health
23Feb
If, like many of us, you’re usually training your dog on your own, it can be hard to get them used to the chute. They can’t see the end ! it’s scary! it’s dark!
To help your dog get used to chutes and tunnels, try putting another tunnel or barrel into the exit end of the chute to hold it open. Your dog can see through! it’s a miracle! Slowly faze it out after your dog gets the idea of running all the way through.
This tip is especially good for very small dogs, and young dogs, or anybody doing agility on their own.
Tags: agility beginners, agility obstacles
22Feb
Watching the olympics always gives me the urge to go and do something athletic and pretend I’m better at whatever that athletic thing is than I actually am… but then there’s agility! When I do agility I always feel awesome, because I get both the fun of running myself, and I can watch my dog shine. It’s having my cake, and eating it, too!
Create your own olympic event!
You will need:
- A course, no matter the size. I’m suggesting a dogwalk, two or three jumps, a tunnel, and a tire or spread jump.
- Friends with Dogs (preferably agility friends)
- Video camera and person to film
- Still-shot camera
- Dog and people snacks
Now you can have your own event! While no titles will be earned, you can film each dogs’ run, and get great photos, too! After all the runs, take the player inside and watch the runs together. This is a great training exercise, because you can’t see yourself, and sometimes, you can’t see your dog! Filming can show you why your dog seems ‘pulled’ off of obstacles- because you’re turning away too soon! Enjoy your runs and the company!
Other ideas for olympics for you and your canine friends:
- Set up a long row of jumps- offer a prize for the best time down the row.
- Give a prize for the dog who knows the most tricks
- Set up a ’speed course’, and blaze through it! Make the lines of your course smooth and flowing, and focus on keeping your dog flying!
Tags: agility games/classes, agility training
20Feb
Well, this might explain some things…
Tags: simply funny
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