Tell me about AGILITY Classes

[TrevorDoodle]

I just finished obedience 101 with my Doodle and was thinking about
taking Agility class. My doodle will be about 8 months old when the
classes start. Is this too young for beginner agility classes? If you
have taken any agility class please tell me all about it and if you
and your doodle enjoyed the class.

[Adina P]

I've never taken agility, but I know Belinda Stevens does classes with Stella and Kate & Yarra started an agility group on here recently--might want to contact each of them if they don't find their way over to this discussion.

[Linda and Murphy]

Murphy is 2 1/2 and we started agility when he was about 10 months. Its still a social event for him. We met a lot of great people.
Every class he gets the "ZOOMIES" and people with small dogs snatch them up so they don't become hit and run victims...nothing like a horse running through the class.

When we were first learning the jumps (there were about 4 in a row and he was on a long line) one of the assistants got at the end and called him, using cheese as a treat/reward.
He very enthusiastically took off. I watched her eyes get bigger and bigger as she realized Murph didn't have brakes. She was squatting down so the tackle wasn't tooo bad.

When he belches in class, it stops ALL 3 groups that are working because they are laughing so hard.

I was really nervous about this Wild Child running around and got a few dirty looks from some of the owners....but the instructors told me not to worry...All the puppies do it...Murphy is just so obvious. (we are definitely not too serious about competing, but we will go to our first fun match next month)

The teacher says that he is her most enthusiastic student.
We have a wonderful time.
What more can you ask?

[LeAnn, Lucy & Rusty!!]

You can ask for nothing more! That is so wonderful!!

[Diane Dolphin Rocker]

Ruby and I have done 2 agility classes now. The jumps and activities that they do in the early classes are very small and mild. If your pup listens at all, they will be fine. It's all VERY positive training, a fun bonding experience, and a great confidence booster for your dog. Go for it! A lot of people take one class and stop, but agility is a great way to further your pup's education and socialization. It was really fun for me as the 2 people teaching the classes are AKC poodle and cocker breeders (the classes are done at my local Kennel club) and at first they kind of sneered at my "australian labradoodles" (and, yes, they used air quotes when saying it!), but her great little personality and enthusiasm have completely won them over :)). Have fun!

[Adrianne Matzkin]

Samantha starts her first Puppy Agility class Nov 10. She will be 1 day passed her 9 month old birthday (where has the time gone?!?!). I am told that the classes that are for puppies under 1 year are different as their bones and growth plates cannot handle the same stress as older dogs.
I can't wait to see her 1st class. She loves to follow the other dogs at the park as they climb so I am sure she will have a wonderful time. I am not looking for competition for her - just the mental and social stimulation that she craves. As her puppy kindergarten teacher said a busy Doodle cannot get into trouble.

[LeAnn, Lucy & Rusty!!]

You'll have a GREAT TIME. It sounds like you have a trainer who's looking out for the best interest of your pup. Excellent!

[Adrianne Matzkin]

We had our 2nd class Sunday morning. She loves it. Nothing like having Mom to herself for a solid hour and the pizza crust treats don't hurt either.
Samantha did not love walking the plank that was flat on the floor but when it got raised a few inches, she pranced on it up and down. I assume that is because she has been following the big dogs in the dog park up and down the planks and the one one the floor was for sissies.
But Samantha became the sissy when she refused going through the tunnel when it was opened about 3 feet. She had no problem when it was open 2 feet but that last 12" was the deal breaker. Before we left I did bribe her with 1/2 a pizza worth of crust and she did go through. I didn't want to push her but I wanted to end it on a positive note. Which it was for both of us.

[fergie11]

I took very baic agility class when fergie was 5 1/2 months. The class was very very basic and easy for fergie but fergie really wanted to play with the other dogs and, of course, none of that was alowed. That was the problem. Also, in WI the AKC agility competitions are the ones that are close by. Again, of course, fergie would not be allowed in those. I would have to travel and get a hotel - this would be expensive - in order to compete. We decided this was not for us. I came from the world of horse shows and i know how crazy and out of control this gets. But - if competitions would have been held close by that fergie could of ended up competing in, i would have kept on going. If your puppy is 8 months old I bet she'd just do great. She'll show up all those AKC dogs.

[Ann W]

Charlie and I are taking our second agility class. We started last fall. Charlie felt like it was a big party in his honor. This class is going better for us. He now pays closer attention to me. Last week he was doing figure 8 and it's was amazing how big that figure 8 was. Its fun and Charlie seem to like it also.

[Linda and Murphy]

We just did our first Agility Trial last weekend.
The first event we did was Tunnelers...nothing but tunnels...his favorite...14 to be exact. Of course, Murphy had never seen anthing like that. He did his sit/stay at the start and I took a one tunnel lead to try to keep up with him....really!!?! He hit the first 2 tunnels and then was just going beserk.....Tunnel!! ...Tunnel!! He did all of the tunnels...some more than once...just not in the right order. The photographer said she was sorry she didn't get any pictures on that run....she was laughing too hard. The event chairman said "she really shouldn't charge me...Murphy was such wonderful entertainment. I've never seen a dog run with a smile on his face."
When we would walk by, people would break into a smile (or laugh) and say something like..."He sure does love life. When does he run again?"
We didn't win any ribbons, we met a lot of nice people and now everyone there knows what a Goldendoodle is!

[LeAnn, Lucy & Rusty!!]

I smiled just reading your post! How wonderful.. and THAT is what I love about agility - it is sooooo JOYFUL!

[LeAnn, Lucy & Rusty!!]

I started Lucy in agility classes at 5 months - after she successfully graduated from obedience. My agility trainer is very conservative and will not allow jumping of any kind until they're 18 months old (something about growth plates, blah blah) but we learned tons of bonding and attention types of things and we do tunnels, tunnels and more tunnels. I think what Lucy gained the most in those first two classes was confidence! They started us out on the "wobble board" (see picture below) which is basically a board balanced on a ball. The puppies get used to unusual movements and learn their balance. Also, Lucy had a real problem with balance - when she ran her hiney would go sideways and almost catch up with her front! (it was funnnny) My trainer had us do coordination exercises like walking through the rungs of a ladder at home. We had to pass the coordination exercise before we were allowed on any of the dogwalks - this was for Lucy's protection - because she was more likely to fall off. We worked on "targeting" which was teaching your dog to recognize a target and touch it with their nose. I would say the first 18 months are all foundational. I take Lucy to both agility and obedience because it's important to keep her mentally stimulated (she gets into less trouble). When I'm not in one or both of those classes - then we work on tricks to keep her stimulated. She's so darn smart!

I suppose main suggestion is - make sure your trainer knows how to keep your dog safe! I want Lucy around for a long long time and I want her pain free for that time. I don't want to risk her joints because I trusted a trainer who was more focused on the money than on the safety of my dog. I feel pretty strongly about this.