[Dougal&Little]

Hi ya, For all you young dog owners get along to training classes and teach your pups the basics, sit, down, wait, stay, heel and recall. All of these are really important. Another good exercise is teaching them to look at your face when you call their name. try to get them to look directly at your face the first time you call their name - this is really important - there's LOADS of distractions on the agility field!

I really recommend clicker training. It's brilliant.

I do lots of training indoors when the weather's bad. I put a sheet on the ground to practice the collapsible tunnel - Dixie's doing a KING size sheet now! I set up really low hurdles using bamboo sticks and video tapes. I'm not trying to get them to go great heights my goal is to "send" them ahead of me over two jumps - again this is quite hard - Dixie's better than Dougal.

And then there are my indoor weaving poles - bamboo sticks in beer bottles - I'm all class I tell ya!

I try to practice most nights. I try to do a bit at the park and a bit at home. Even if it's just some heel and recall work. Or a few tricks - Dixie can High five now - so CUTE! It's just a matter of getting them listening to you.

Some other exercises include teaching them to turn left or right on command. You should be able to google how to train all these.

My agility classes restart on 15 Feb WOO HOO!! Can't wait!! Even tho Dixie can't compete cos they don't have a micro class in New Zealand - YET!!

O yeah Alaskayorkie - showing off about the ONLY agility yorkie in Alaska - well mine are the only agility yorkies in NEW ZEALAND - that's like a whole country!! LOL!! But I'm doing my best to make converts!

Sorry for the long post I get effusive when I start talking about agility.