• 12Feb

    orangetunJack Russels in Agility

    They are fun to run. When it is perfect, it is like flying a little radio controlled airplane or running with a feather on a silken thread. Those are the wonderful fun runs with the Jack Russell Terrier. They are worth all their quirky ways. They love to work and love to play. In fact if they don’t have a job they can be bored as unemployed dogs. They have been used for work for over a hundred years and kept with packs of foxhounds. Everything in the Jack Russell’s profile is life applied to work.Take this compact athletic dog and give it agility and you have one laser beam of a dog to play agility with. They have the capacity to be a true teammate. It is important to know that they were bred to have courage to face a fox below ground. They have the intelligence and the athletic form to be able to follow the fox to ground and dislodge it by barking at it so it would bolt. Their job was to eject the fox by its invasive presence or they would lunge at the fox and hold it at bay until the handler dug to the dog. The other technique to hunt the dog and the hardest, is for the dog to stay with the fox until the handler calls the dog out. Often they are not eager to come out, the fox having the dog’s undivided attention.

    Jack Russell’s name was given to define the dog apart from the popular show ring terrier the Fox Terrier. At one time the Fox Terrier and the Jack Russell Terrier were exactly the same dog. Soon the conformation of the show ring Fox Terrier changed. Russell’s known strain and others breeding working terriers worked their dogs and did not go in the show ring. Russell’s dogs were hunters. Russell himself said the dog should never be a murderer of foxes. He said the intelligence of the dog should prevent him from doing such a crime. Jack Russell was a popular figure in England and was a fox hunting man and a Parson. The dog has not changed in appearance over the years. It is never to be questioned this little dog has courage and needs to meet lots of other dogs early on and be protected from itself. They must be well socialized with lots of people in lots of places. Oddly they have very strong likes and dislikes when it comes to other dogs. Many have been known to go hunting alone because they are hard wired to explore. They will obsess over a caged bird or gerbil. To harness their compulsion and aim their boundless energy to agility can be a lot of fun.

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  • 11Feb

    Seeing such a big dog doing agility always makes me happy! It’s fun for all shapes and sizes and breeds, since the competition itself is beating the clock, and having fun with your dog. The dog is obviously having fun here- but watch out for that wagging tail, it could knock down an unwary handler!

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  • 08Feb

    ….goes up the big dogwalk! I hope you enjoy this video of Mixy the Chihuahua!  I think he’s probably one third the size of my cat! (I have a fat cat).  Never underestimate a small dog! What they lose in length of stride, they often make up for in precision.  TDAA is a great organization for anyone with a smaller dog, since USDAA course times especially can be a bit hard to navigate with a smaller, ’slower’ dog (slow is subjective and relative). There, the courses are designed for small dogs, by small dog owners! Since teacups don’t need as much space between obstacles, the courses are about half-sized! What do you think of TDAA? Have we got any happy TDAA-ers here?

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  • 20Jan

    mixedbreedagilitytunnel_wbBack in May we discussed the AKC allowing mixed breeds to compete with the purebreds.  There was a  lot of great feedback here at AgilityFusion, and elsewhere on the internet as well, apparently!  AKC has changed their stance on the Mixed Breed titling system and competing due to ‘compelling feedback’ from the community.

    AKC decided to allow mixed breeds to compete in any agility trial WITHIN the same classes. This is different than their previous ’separate class’ distinction that was obviously not accepted as well and clubs thought too confusing.  This means the AKC can now really compete with USDAA and CPE in their agility offerings (and rally and obedience as well!).  This’ll begin April 1st (I know, really?) So your mixed breed dog can now compete head to head with the purebreds, and may the best dog win!

    Clubs have the choice not to enroll in the Mixed Breed program (called the AKC Canine Partners Program), but it is anticipated that all will. Why limit your clubs’ venue by not allowing registered mix breeds? there’s money to be made in it, after all!

    You can register your Mix here:http://www.akc.org/mixedbreeds/listing_benefits.cfm and you can find trials that allow mixes at  http://www.akc.org/events/search/index.cfm?action=refresh_index&active_tab_row=2&active_tab_col=3&fixed_tab=8&mxb_flag=Y  I think this will definitely make it easier to get competitions in areas that don’t have a lot of venue options.

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  • 24Nov

    Research confirms that pilgrims weren’t the only passengers aboard the Mayflower.  Turns out man’s best friend also made the transatlantic voyage from Southampton, England to Plymouth, MA in 1620.  This Thanksgiving, the American Kennel Club® (AKC) celebrates the English Springer Spaniel and Mastiff, the two breeds who joined the pilgrims on their journey to the new world and who were the first to make dogs a part of everyday life for the earliest Western settlers. 

    The earliest mention of dogs in America appeared in a 17th century journal called “Mourt’s Relation” about the first years of life in the new world. According to this account, two dogs - an English Springer Spaniel and a Mastiff - were brought along by John Goodman. The dogs were involved in the first explorations of discovery on Cape Cod during the first winter ashore. 

    “This Thanksgiving we give special thanks to the English Springer Spaniel and Mastiff who came to America to help the Pilgrims begin their life in the new world,” said AKC Spokesperson Lisa Peterson. “While both breeds helped the settlers find and retrieve game, today, they were also trusted companions and it’s amazing to think our forebears enjoyed the same breeds as we do today.”generic20english20mastiff

    The Mastiff is one of the biggest dogs recognized by the American Kennel Club - some can even top 200 pounds.  The breed is a powerful and courageous, yet gentle and loyal companion.  Mastiffs were raised in Britain for more than 2,000 years and used as hunting dogs by nobility and watchdogs.  They like to be around people and bond closely with their owners.  Due to his large size and need for space, a Mastiff is best suited for country or suburban life and requires light exercise and minimal grooming.  Additional information on the Mastiff can be found online at www.akc.org.  

     

    g_english_springerThe English Springer Spanielis a fun-loving dog adaptable to city or country life.  The word “Springer” comes from the breed’s inherent desire to hunt. Springers are prized for their eagerness and ability to find and scare up a large variety of game birds as well as rabbits.  In the field, they are light, lean and fast.  The breed is recognized for his ability to keep going and going under adverse hunting conditions, which is partly due to his medium-sized, powerful body. Cheerful and affectionate, Springers love their families and like to stick close to their owners. They make excellent house pets, but require daily exercise and need regular brushing and trimming to keep their coats neat and free of mats.  Additional information on the English Springer Spaniel can be found online at www.akc.org.  

    With Thanksgiving approaching the American Kennel Club® offers safety tips for pet owners to make their Thanksgiving gatherings and holiday parties fido-friendly.  Among them:

    • Never give turkey bones to your dog; they pose a serious choking hazard for dogs.
    • Always keep an eye on the Thanksgiving table and secure leftovers and garbage to prevent your dog from going through holiday foods.
    • Don’t give your dog scraps from the holiday buffet. Stuffing, pies, cookies and fancy hors d’oeuvres are inappropriate foods for dogs and may make them sick.
    • Keep burning candles on high tables or mantels out of the way of your dog’s wagging tail.
    • Alcohol is toxic for dogs, even in small amounts.
    • If you host a party, remember that some guests may be uncomfortable around dogs. Your dog may, in turn, be uncomfortable or frightened around a large group of unfamiliar people. You may want to confine your dog to a crate or a room that will not be used by guests.
    • Stick as closely as possible to your normal routine. Try not to vary your dog’s feeding, walking and playtime schedule.

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