Puppy Agility Sampler

[Dori & Rua]

I, too, decided to try an agility class for Rua.  She is in a 4 week puppy class and we had our first session on Thursday.  Unlike Rooney, who, once he got is sniffing under control, is a natural, Rua takes after her Momma.  I just figured after the counter surfing, leaps up onto the ledge of the tub (24") and on to the bed (36") Rua might like this.

 

In fact, in anticipation, I took a broom handle and placed it on the carpet at home eariler in the week to work on "jumping"!  After a number of treats, we had success.  So, I moved to large tuna fish cans...again, after some bribing, success.  So, I am thinking "Oh yeah, we can do this.

 

So, first class...they wanted to get the puppy's used to walking on different materials, so they had chicken wire (soft), rough door mat, parachute material, etc.  They had a table (I have seen it referred to as a Pause Table) and a bunch of pvc pipes that they had to walk over.  Rua freaked on walking over the pvc pipes (helps them learn where their back legs are since they can't see them).  Ughhh!  I barely could get her through them with freeze-dried liver.  They brought out the tunnel, scrunched up to 3', and it took a bit of coaxing, but she went through.  She didn't like the board they put down for her to walk across, either.  No jumping stuff at this class.

 

Well, my living room has been turned into a mini agility course.  I was not entirely joking when I told my DH that I thought we needed to move the furniture out of the living room so Rua had room for practicing.  So what if this is the first thing you see when you walk into my house.  I have my priorities!  First, there is my "jump" (now held up by pumpkin cans)!  After the jump, we have pvc pipes for her to walk through/over (I threw Cherrios randomly throughout to help entice her).  And then, her pause table (she's good at this one)!  I am using her little denim bed to walk over to help with balance. 

 

 

I went to Home Depot and bought 4 10' 3/4" pvc and had the guy there cut them into 2' pieces.  I bought 3 colors of electrical tape (don't know why they put the tape on them, but I assume there is a reason) to give it some stripes.  I also bought a 4' x 4' board that they cut down to 3' x 3' for me and I covered it with a piece of carpet...held up with 5 cans of pumpkin (I bought 30 cans in December)!

 

I am also making a jump like this one from CleanRun.com.  I had the guy at the hardware store cut the pieces for me from 2 10' pieces, bought 6 end caps for a total of $5.60.  Ordered 10 clip and go jump cups (only need 4 now) from Clean Run, and need to get 2 4-way tees from a plumbing supply place (Home Depot/Lowe's don't have them). 

http://www.cleanrun.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Pr...

 

I want to get a tunnel, but will start a discussion to see what would be best!

 

Next week I am hoping that after practicing at home, Rua can at least get through the pieces of equipment without being a baby!  Rooney is her inspriation.

 

Wish us luck!

 

[Kim Williams]

Congrats!!  You are officially hooked!!!  Welcome to the wonderful world of agility.  You will have the most amazing bond with Rua!!  Hard to describe the relationship that results from agility.

[Dori & Rua]

Oh yeah Kim.  Rua and I have had at least 5 little practice sessions today.  She is becoming more confortable walking over the pvc pipes.  It sure makes it convenient when it is right in the middle of my living room.  I have an open space in my kitchen where there is supposed to be a table but I haven't found the "perfect" one yet.  I'm going to stop looking...I will just put a tunnel in that space.

 

I already was looking up how to build an "A Frame" on line earlier today.  That I will use either in the backyard, or in the room downstairs that is empty and would be used for a pool or pingpong table!

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Seriously Dori - you crack me up!

[Dori & Rua]

What can I say.  This is what happens when someone in their mid-fifies, who wasn't able to have children, all of a sudden becomes a mom.  She goes a bit overboard.  Who needs furniture in their living room anyway?  We have a family room downstairs with a big TV if I want to watch TV.  We don't have much company over, and even if we did, I really don't care if people think I am obsessed over a dog.  I know that every single Doodle Kisses mom or dad can relate to how I feel and that is why I love it here.

[Kyoko]

Agility is so much fun!!

[Donna K & Quincy]

Dori, your house really had gone to the dogs. What a great set up, you and Rua are going to have so much fun.

[Dori & Rua]

Yup...my house had totally gone to the dogs....or should I say, dog!  My sweet Rua has turned me into a crazy person. It started with toys all over the floor...squeeky toys, tug toys, balls, stuffies.  Then, we had an exercise pen in the living room (has been moved to the deck to block off the stairs).  Now, cans of pumpkin, pvc, wood, and toys. 

 

We did some training tonight.  I was so proud of Rua.  I said jump and pointed over the stick, and she did.  I told her table and pointed there, and she went there.  Then, pointed to her bed, and there she went.  I got her to run through her sticks...yeah!

 

Now, what are the odds of her cooperating Thursday at Puppy Agility Class?   Probably 20 to one.