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04-28-2006, 03:14 AM | #1 |
Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Indiana
Posts: 52
| Agility Hi everyone!! Just curious to know if anyone does agility with their little yorkies. I have shown aussies in the past in conformation and have had my little girl to the shows as well, but I've never done agility. She is being started with the basic commands currently, but we are slowly moving into jumps, wobble boards, etc. Didn't know if any of you could give stories or advice of your own furbabies in agility. I just think the little guys are too cute running a course. The only problem is that you usually don't have competition if you jump 8 inches. Suggestions, comments, stories????
__________________ Spice Trio Dakota in heaven |
Welcome Guest! | |
04-28-2006, 05:05 AM | #2 |
Donating Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Connecticut
Posts: 94
| I would love to do the agility too. I know my pup's mother does it. They are in Ohio though and i am in Connecticut |
04-28-2006, 05:08 AM | #3 |
Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: USA
Posts: 1,857
| I haven't done it but I am hoping my new pup will be able to get into agility. I think it would be lots of fun. |
04-29-2006, 02:52 AM | #4 |
Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Indiana
Posts: 52
| I am on the border of Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky, so I may have seen the dog(s) that you are talking about. I have seen 2-3 yorkies at agility trials. Not a large amount of small dogs out there for competition, but I guess as long as you're having fun, it doesn't matter. I have gone several times over this past year with a friend of mine that's big into agility and it seems like such a blast. Any training, especially training that requires daily work, makes you bond so much better!! The best dog I have ever had (Dakota) past away last June and we had a bond that was inseparable. It was undescribable and I believe it was because we went through so much training together in 4-H and AKC shows. I know that I will never have another dog that will compare to her, but I will do extensive training/bonding with any and all animals that come my way throughout life. Spice is my first yorkie, so I didn't know what to expect, especially from being an Aussie person, but she's better than I could have ever imagined. Smart as a wip! I'll have to keep you updated on her progress as an agility dog. This could get interesting...LOL
__________________ Spice Trio Dakota in heaven |
04-29-2006, 03:07 AM | #5 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: New Zealand
Posts: 944
| I've just started agility We completed the first course and there were quite a few smaller dogs there. But I've just started the second course of agility and all the dogs are way bigger than dougal. They set up the table and it was at my waist height! Everyone else in the class thought that was hilarious when they saw Dougal baby. But I love agility. Dougal loves it, I love working with my dogs. And you learn so much about dog behaviour and training. I went to a people training class and the instructor suggested you train your dog to ride a skateboard to give them balance and get them used to noises and stuff that they can move. Dixie starts agility in July. I'm already teaching her the basics. SHe looks sooo adorable going over jumps, with her fur streaming behind her. Hopefully they'll open the micro class here in Nz or she'll have to compete against dogs that are like three times her size! (Not an issue for dougal who's nearly as big as a jack russell anyway.)
__________________ Dougal (card carrying member of the Teapot Club) & Dixie (aka Evil Wee) Dougal's Facebook Dixie's Facebook |
04-29-2006, 03:46 AM | #6 |
Donating Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Connecticut
Posts: 94
| I'm in the northeast. I don't know if there is much available classes but after reading these posts, i am seriously looking into it |
04-29-2006, 09:43 PM | #7 |
Mom to 6 Beautiful Furkids Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Ohio
Posts: 5,409
| I have not done agility with my dogs yet... I will be starting this summer. I know they are going to love it because they love learning and more than anything they love to run!!! Especially my trixie, she can run and run all day if she was allowed. I just took her to my dad's today and she ran an hour non stop. I had to calm her down otherwise she would have kept running. She is so fast, sometimes it seems like she's flying. She even extends her whole body so that her stride is faster and longer. The greatest thing is seeing her happy face when she is running, you can tell she was born to run. I can't wait until summer!!
__________________ A dog is a furry person! http://www.dogster.com/?300866 Tracey and the gang DestinyHarmonyScamperGracieLillieKiwi Hershey Peppi |
04-30-2006, 03:15 AM | #8 |
Yorkies Rock My World! Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: North Carolina
Posts: 4,721
| Agility Y'all got me looking at agility things!! Here's some links! http://www.usdaa.com/ This one is my favorite, very professional, and they divide the dogs in groups. http://www.nadac.com/ http://www.dogagility.org/index2.htm (much as we hate this word, I am certain there are lots of yorkies involved!) http://dogwoodagility.com/jff.htm This is agility for fun's sake, not competition. I don't think Wosie can do it, with the three pins in her formerly broken leg she may get pain from agility courses.
__________________ Glad Mom to Jasper, Wosie & Dreama, RIP sweet babies. |
04-30-2006, 05:48 AM | #9 |
Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Indiana
Posts: 52
| Thanks for the links!! This stuff is addicting. I've been using positive reinforcement (clicker) training methods with Spice. She's the first dog I've ever used it on. A friend at work is big into clicker training and she got me hooked. It makes the dog think on their own and because they choose whether or not to do what you are asking, they are in charge of their own fate- whether or not they get a click and a treat. I love to watch her thinking. Once they learn 1 or 2 things, everything comes so fast since they know what the pattern is for learning. The '101 things to do with a box' game is fantastic and gets their little minds working. I'll never go back to traditional training methods. If anyone is interested, there is a wonderful magazine that comes monthly. Look up 'clean run' and it should pop up. Also, Karen Pryor writes books and training manuals for clicker training. A good starter book is her starter kit and also a book called 'Don't Shoot the Dog." Good luck to everyone with their training excursions!!
__________________ Spice Trio Dakota in heaven |
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