Daisy just finished beginner agility a few weeks ago. We have been waiting for the new class (beginner intermediate) to fill and start. She is really good at it also. She was the best in her class as far as speed and no fear. Some of the golden retrievers were afraid of the bridge like thing we call 'walk' and many wouldn't stay on the 'teeter' until the end. I think the little ones have an advantage in that they don't cause the platforms to shake when they are on them. They set the jumps at 6 inches for her and the dachshund but she sailed over them at least 12 inches.
She naturally follows where I point, that was one of the reasons I wanted to try this with her. Whenever she has gone around a jump instead of over it it has been because I moved my arm that way. It is a great class for me as well in communicating with my dog.
Did you get to try the weave already? That wasn't included in our beginner class. I expect to start that in the next class. I said before in this forum that one thing I have learned about my dog is that she will do anything for a piece of hotdog. We use cat treats now, less gross in the hand and I can keep them in the car, but she will still do anything for them. Sometimes at the end of the 'course' she would do her twirl trick before her treat. As if running the course was not enough. Aren't these wonderful little dogs!!
And I don't think it matters at all if they are neutered to compete. I imagine most of them are. They don't have to be pure breed either.
__________________ Beth and Daisy (Chrysanthemum leucanthemum)
 Daisy  Ezra Thelma  Tucker  and 200,000+ honey bees |