You can usually change that if you want. It can give you a rock solid recall but having a ball-focused dog has its own drawbacks for some.

well, i've been depressed all day thinking that I would have to give up agility, so I'm going to try my hardest to find an agility club that trains in a secure field or indoors, and going to exercise him before class so he's tired when he goes so hopefully won't think about running off and just doing the exercises asked of him, and going to go to different places to practice my attention and focus training. We have come so far in agility and he's nearly at his first show, so it would be a shame to quit now.

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I OWN A CHOCOLATE ROAN COCKER SPANIEL
RIP David xx Run free at the bridge. Love you always xx 19th February 2011
RIP Jack and Mickey xx Run free at the bridge. Love you forever xx 20th June 2011

Hi seven_pets, I am having a really similar dillema with maggie! we recently had to drop out of our foundation agility course - during the time i was at the course she kind of hit an age where a lot of prior training seemed to get a bit forgotten and her recall suffered as a result.

we were using an indoor venue and then after xmas the riding school we used said our club had to use the outdoors arena from now on, which is completely unsecure and next to woods and a road!!

they couldnt find another indoor venue in time, so i had to drop out as i just didnt want to risk it.

i have maggie on a long line at the mo and working on her recall as #1 priority and it is getting better again but not 100%...luckily our club has found another indoor venue and have a second outdoor venue which has secure fencing, so looks like i will be able to join again on the new courses...I dont know what i will do if the situation is still the same when i got to the level of going to shows...i guess i will just see what happens and worry about it when i get to that stage - but to be honest i am not too worried as really i am just doing it for fun anyway...

...a lot of people have told me that as they get better at agility, they become more focussed and much less likely to be distracted or run off...but i guess this is entirely dependant on the type of dog etc

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