Hiya everyone had my second week at agility training yesterday, have done full height a frame off lead and tunnel, and done jumps on a small/medium height, dog walk and seesaw on lead and the thing thats looks like a lifesaving boy with hole in middle. My boys not keen on that (lifeboy type piece of equipment), The only thing that concerns me is yesterday he started joining in when another dog barked and he barks continusely i had to remove him from situation and take him in to have his turn then leave again, any advice on how to stop him reacting when other dogs bark is greatly appreciated, his nearly 4 and a german shephard cross border collie. As quiet as a mouse at home but does bark in excitable situations outside we had to withdraw from flyball classes as he got too noisy and other members of club complained dont want this to happen again no-one said anything yet but knowing my luck wont be long, someone suggesed a spray water bottle anyone else got any ideas.

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T.J.JACKSON

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gi...app_2373072738

Take a crate in with you and put him in that between runs, covered over. He could be out of it if he remains quiet and focussed on you, put him in if he barks continuously. A lot of dogs bark at agility class out of excitement which is no bad thing even though it can be annoying. Better a barking dog than a dog that has to be persuaded to do it! DON'T use a spray, you want him to asssociate agility with positive experiences, not having water squirted in his face. He should be enthusiastic and confident.

Sounds like he's doing really well. Don't be in too much of a hurry to work on full height, only do that when he knows all the moves. That will be when YOU know all the moves.

Someone in my club used to put one of those nylon tube-type muzzles on a dog that barked all the time - they physically can't do proper barking with one on, it worked pretty well.

unfortunately got no where to store a crate big enough for a gsd cross we have one at home but but its folded in garden and hasnt been used since he was a pup, i dont drive and rely on others for lifts mainly friends that attend the club, normally my dad takes me then takes my friend home as she is a higher level and then i go home with her mum and her dog a spaniel in a small car as we finish later saves dad and my mate hanging around waiting for us. Does a 4 year old dog still need to wait a year between measurements before they can compete, i havent had first measurement done yet but he will definitely be large, thinking of making an aim to start competing october 2011. Hope the two year rule doesnt apply or he will be six before he can compete. Not sure how club trainers would feel about a muzzle as he had to be temperment tested before he could join which he passed, its just the barking i am concerned about as other members that have obedience trained there dogs to bark on command have already started to complain

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T.J.JACKSON

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gi...app_2373072738

Could you get a soft folding crate? Argos do them, quite light to carry.

Don't worry about a second measurement. Any dog can compete after the first, but when a dog is 'obviously large', no second measurement is required. Second measurements are required for small and medium dogs, but as dogs only grow bigger, not shrink, once he's large, that's it. I'm a KC measurer.

At my club no-one gets their knickers in a twist over dogs barking.

Has your dog got a fav toy you could give him while he is waiting his turn? Alot of dogs do bark like mad while waiting their turn, i used to give my dog a frozen kong with food in while he was waiting in class,
I had to miss training last night as i have 2 g/children staying with me as their dad(my son in law) has been rushed into hosp, i sat with itchy feet all last night !!!!! lol lol,

Just adding general agreement to other posts.
Wow! My guy's class is taking it slower. Jumps, tunnel, weave & low A-frame first week, adding bent tunnel & dog walk plus straight jumps & jump, turn, jump the next time; higher A-frame (not top) and putting obstacles together next. I haven't seen the "ring" in use, I heard in past that was a tricky obstacle with advice on Agility sites how to habituate a dog to going through it.

Now, you can find calming exercises to practice at home. Also play games which require excitement then self-calming (reward freezing and calmness with more action). In general I tend to point ppl towards tripod's blog articles for calming (good links present) Crazy Canines | Pet Central's Pawsitive Dawgs Blog! and try kikopups youtube channel and friends, with searches for things like click to calm.

Having a Collie with toy mania and playing games like tug in calm way, helps distract and calm, rather than wind dog up, with them chewing (kikopups tug demo is tug on Mogodon!).

I don't understand about not barking at Flyball, what I seen of Crufts the dogs are barking like crazy with excitement, presumably he was not able to self-calm and stop barking quickly enough once wound up?

You should see some of the dogs go crazy barking at the Agility event I filmed a bit last weekend to!

the ones i,ve seen would not been big enough, i now have made liver cake see if that works, as i said i joined late other dogs on week 4 but i was aloud to join as done some have a go agility at dog shows and two training days with agility trainers when he was younger just never took it further, his not interested in tuggy when i have it, that was flyball trainers issue with me as he would play tuggy with her but not me just wanted the liver cake in my pocket or the ball and if another dog barks he barks in an excitable situation but only barks if someone at door at home., i have ordered the kennel club agility record book and printed off the forms for activity register just need to find a kc measurer near to hastings in east sussex, i dont go to shows yet only training.

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T.J.JACKSON

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gi...app_2373072738

On the KC website you'll find a list of agility measurers with their contact details, broken down by area. Also check AgilityNet for shows near you where there might be a measuring session. Don't be in such a hurry though, it's normal to do at least six months training, usually more like nine, before you're ready to compete.

OK so work on your tug skills.
Distract dog with less Liver cake around, so play is fully enjoyed.

My Sis sabotaged a part of our Agility class last week by spilling Liver cake, the week before, I did have dry training treats, but didn't have recourse to use them once. Food is less reinforcing when action is going on.

Think lower threshold of reaction to barking when excited is normal.

Have uploaded couple more clips in the Agility Nuts Event thread, so you can see what fun competition conditions are like.

I am not in a hurry to enter loads of agility classes but i may do some jumping ones this year as we have had a year and a half experience jumping jumps at flyball training.

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T.J.JACKSON

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gi...app_2373072738