The Doodle Fitness Group

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Comment by Leslie and Halas on February 13, 2009 at 2:45pm

Halas and I had a great time at flyball, but it will be awhile before we can really run the races. It's kind of funny, because training starts with the very last part of the race. The key to the whole thing is getting your dog to run down, get the ball, and run back. If they get the ball and then stop, their team probably isn't going to win. So your dog has to think that running all the way back to you as fast as he can is the best thing in the world. So the first thing to learn is getting the dog to run to you and rewarding him with some tugging or playing for awhile once he gets to you. So that's what we started with last night. Someone would hold Halas, like they do in a race. I'd run away from him and call him, he'd run to catch up with me, and then we'd play with a toy or I'd just start playing with him and let him jump with me. There were some dogs there that are in intermediate stages, and they knew to go over the jumps. Some knew to jump onto the box and turn around. And a couple were ready to start grabbing the ball. Getting the ball from the box sounds like it's about the last thing they learn. We're supposed to start practicing jumps this week at home, and continue with the running recalls. Halas is pretty good at the running recall, especially if he can keep moving once he gets to me. In his mind, that's way better than a normal recall, when he has to stop when he gets to me. I ran a lot, too, so I can tell we'll both get some exercise out of it. So all we've done so far is a little running, but it was still fun. Halas seemed to really like it, so it may be something we continue after this 6-week intro class. Based on the way he does his doodle zooms at home, slamming into the back of the couch to make his turn, he's going to like jumping onto the box to turn around, so we'll see how quickly he picks that up when we get to it. I'll try to keep you posted on our progression each week.

Comment by Linda and Murphy on February 11, 2009 at 7:33pm

Leslie, we don't have any flyball people around here. There is a group in Pensacola. I can't wait to hear how Halas does.
Murphy and I do agility and just competed in our second trial this weekend. Not very agile but very enthusiastic...and the only doodle around.

Comment by Leslie and Halas on February 11, 2009 at 8:35am

Does anyone play flyball with their doodles? If you do, do you have any tips for us? Our obedience club is starting a 6 week intro class to flyball on Thursday, so Halas and I are going. I think he'll enjoy it, because he loves to run full speed. I know there's more too it than that, but it's at least a start.

Comment by Rae on February 7, 2009 at 8:34am

I actually made the jumps - so easy. They are out of PVC pipes and cost about $15 total for the two - and I have exta pipe. There is wonderful detailed instructions on www.instantagility.com. I did some slight modifications (didn't glue in as many places so they come apart for storage easier) but basically did each one in the garage and it took just about 45-60 minutes each. The girls REALLY have fun with them. They ready made jumps I've found aren't nearly as good and cost a chunk.

Comment by Ali on February 6, 2009 at 5:57pm

That looks like so much fun. Did you make the jumps for them or buy them?

Comment by Rae on February 6, 2009 at 10:44am

We just started agility and it's great. Easy to set up short tunnel and a couple of small jumps in the house. Besides 2-3 training sessions they make up their own "games"...mostly hiding in tunnel and jumping out or just chasing in tunnel and over jumps. Boy are they tired at end of day.

Comment by Ali on February 2, 2009 at 8:57pm

Sue - that is hilarious... 30 degrees is a cold cold day in Austin, Tx

Comment by Sue & Willy Babe on January 31, 2009 at 3:30pm

Hurray it is 30 degrees today Willy got a nice walk this morning and play time this afternoon and around 4:30 he got to go for a run with my neighbor's daughter who is like my daughter too Yea he is exhausted !!!!

Comment by Nanette de la Torre on December 16, 2008 at 6:45pm

Some great ideas here! For those who have bad knees - I can relate as I too have bad knees. To give them some relief from walkimg I bought a 7 speed cruiser bike and now alternate between walking and riding the dogs. I walk the dogs for 45 minutes and then on the alternate day I hook them up to the bike and we ride for about 30 minutes. I don't have a problem with pulling because both dogs were taught to walk by me. On nice spring, summer, days it is great. Now I see other folks in the neighborhood "biking" their dogs. For the larger dogs they just love it. Mine are medium size so I don't go too fast but they are definitely trotting. It is kind of funny to watch. My dood knows that all he needs to do is keep his feet moving and then he turns his head all sorts of ways to see what's up in the neighborhood. It sure helps the knees and keeps me sane when the dogs are going insane.

Comment by Ali on December 15, 2008 at 3:45pm

Hey, maybe we can start sharing what we do with our doodles in a discussion so that we can reply to each other and it can be better organized. I am an organization freak. :)

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