I've decided to knock agility on the head for Selma. I'm gutted because she is a natural - she has no fear of the contact equipment and jumps are a walk in the park, but sadly she just cannot handle the hyper environment close to other dogs. She's already far too hyper and the agility sessions just push her over the edge.

I've noticed that in the last few weeks that we haven't trained, she has been so much calmer with other dogs that we meet out and about everyday. I've spent two years modifying her dog 2 dog aggression and I've decided that this is really our priority - she needs to be content, not wired

She won't miss out entirely though, I made weave poles last year, we've got jumps set up and I just bought a collapsable tunnell that she thinks is the bees knees!

Who knows, maybe I'll get to comp level with my next dog **closes eyes and whistfully dreams of a time when Border Collies will fill the house, sigh**

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Some days you're the dog: some days you're the lampost

When I feel blue, I start breathing again

Aww sorry to hear that. My old Lab was very good at tricks and obdience but was always hyper when it came to other dogs. Sadly i never had the chance to work through that with him.

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(-: plɹoʍ ʎʌɹnʇ ʎsdoʇ ʎɯ uı uo ƃuıoƃ ɥɔnɯ os 'uoos ǝɯıʇʎuɐ ʞɔɐq ǝq ll,ı ɟı ʍouʞ ʇ,uop 'ʞɐǝɹq pǝpuǝʇxǝ uɐ ƃuıʞɐʇ ɯɐ ı

Oh I'm so sorry to read this, you must be gutted! I can sympathise, I started agility with Merlin last year but we had to stop after 6 weeks because he just kept eyeballing other dogs - usually others that weren't keen on other dogs - so he was just too stressed to enjoy it or focus on anything.

It's such a shame when you have a dog that's dog-aggressive, especially if you chose the breed because you wanted to do agility or sports, also if you have been wanting to do that for ages.

Carry on in the garden! no reason why not - I would if mine was big enough!

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Yeah good point MM!! You can buy the equipment. I might start that first with my boy!

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LOADING CRAZINESS..
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(-: plɹoʍ ʎʌɹnʇ ʎsdoʇ ʎɯ uı uo ƃuıoƃ ɥɔnɯ os 'uoos ǝɯıʇʎuɐ ʞɔɐq ǝq ll,ı ɟı ʍouʞ ʇ,uop 'ʞɐǝɹq pǝpuǝʇxǝ uɐ ƃuıʞɐʇ ɯɐ ı

I won't pretend that I'm not gutted. I REALLY AM!!!

But, Selma's mental wellbeing has to be my first priority and for the half hour a week we spend in the arena, it just isn't worth the days of anxiety that follows.

I spoke to some club members and they agreed with me (they've seen how she gets ) but also suggested that I give it a couple of years and see if she mellows with maturity, then maybe bring her back in slowly.

Time will tell I suppose

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Some days you're the dog: some days you're the lampost

When I feel blue, I start breathing again

That's exactly how I feel with Merlin! I waited 22 years to have a dog of my own, and wanted a breed that would get me doing obedience/agility etc - after seeing it on TV when I was a kid... one of my most long-held heart's desires.

But I wouldn't swap him for the world... and maybe if things change I could have a second dog one day and all the experiences I've had with M will mean the second dog will have all the benefit of that. But if I don't, I still have my boy. And I'll always be working on his dog issues anyway, I've always had a thought in my mind that by 6 years old he might well mature into something I can't quite see at the moment.... 'the woods for the trees' lol.

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aww that sucks

you're doing the right thing though, there's no point in spending all that time and effort to train her if it's all gonna go backwards at the agility club. But at least all is not lost, she can still have a great time with the stuff you have

I think Tiger would be the same, he'd be fantastic at agility (or probably more flyball, he is obsessed with balls and he'll do anything for one) but the environment with all the over excited dogs would be too much and I think he'd probably get silly, and none of the other dogs would appreciate it at all

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R.I.P Buster - Causing mischief over the bridge, sleep tight soldier

Absolutely! Selma is the apple of my eye. She's a beast at times, but she is sooooo clever, funny, loving, blah blah blah and the progress we've made over the two years is frightening. I wouldn't swap her for all the tea in china. Yes sure, I'd love to be running her at Crufts, but she's happier now and I'm glad I've made the decision. I know how darn good she is at agility, shame all the other dogs have to be there.... can't they stay at home and let us have some fun alone?!?!

Obsessed with balls??? Don't get me started!! Fl;yball would be my fisrt choice really, but Selma would probably have to be muzzled (way too much excitement) and I'm guessing that she'd find it tricky catching the balls wearing a muzzle

We've just gotta love em for what they are, they don't judge us for bad hair or lazy dress sense, so why should we ask them to do something that ain't for them??!!

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Some days you're the dog: some days you're the lampost

When I feel blue, I start breathing again

Just a thought but does your agility trainer do private tuition?
May be a way you can keep her going and having fun without taking backward steps with her training/socialisation with other dogs?

Just an idea?

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I'm sorry to hear that.

I was going to enter Taylor in a Agility show. Got a phone call about it a few months ago - had to call it off, because of Taylor's fear to other dogs.. He is getting better with other dogs. I have made his own agility course in our back garden instead

I hope you continue the Agility .x

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