Agility Training
 

I am looking into agility training with Daisy. She is not a little fragile Yorkie, 8 pounds now and will likely be around 10 when she fattens up (teenager skinny right now).

They said they lower the jumps and have had toy dogs participate before. Have any of you ever done agility training with a Yorkie?

I know Mike does (alaskayorkie) you may want to talk to him:)

I've never done it, but I think it's something a Yorkie would enjoy. They love jumping around and they are so smart. :thumbup:

My, 4-year-old 10-pounder has been through quite a few agility classes, and he's doing quite well. We still haven't competed for real, but we're real close to being able to.

Yes, they do lower the jumps. It's generally no higher than the dog is tall, but Yorkies fall in the 8" jump height here in the states. That's a very reasonable height for a little dog. I know a 4-pounder who clears that height easily.

How old is your girl? My instructors encourage you not to do jumps or any of the more stressful exercises (A frame, teeter) until they are a year old. Their bones are still growing.

Eddie is doing really well. He's always among the first in the class to figure stuff out. His big problem now is he doesn't like the banging of the teeter and will frequently try to skip that exercise. But he had a perfect run through last week, so I'm hopeful he'll master it soon.

Good luck, and be sure to let us know how it goes.

Here's a couple vids, first doing a backyard agility course, then struggling at a real course.

Good Boy Eddie!!! Thanks the videos are great!

Daisy is 7 months now, born Aug 22. She jumps up on our bed which I just measured at 29 inches, and has mastered jumping up there with her toy in her mouth this week. When she jumps off it is more of a horizontal leap with legs out. I hope it's not bad that she does that, I don't know how I would stop her. I was actually looking for a bench to put at the foot of the bed because I didn't think she would ever be able to jump that high. She is really a fearless little thing.

I want to do the agility training because I have time for a hobby now. My homeschooled children are grown and out of the house. I have had other dogs over the years but it has been a while since I have had a real companion dog. Or as we have been saying: a dog on purpose, as the other dogs we have volunteered to live here years ago :)

I think Daisy would like it because she likes to have fun! She already will go get her toy if I point at it only. She will get in the bed or in the car with just pointing as well. I think that indicates that she will understand what she needs to do on the course pretty easily. I don't want her to get hurt of course, but I think she does more dangerous stuff at home!

She sounds like a natural. Enthusiasm is a big part of it and something we struggled with for a long time. Eddie would go through the motions and do everything right, but he'd do it at a slow pace. Just recently, he's kicked it into another gear.

I think I'd definitely watch your girl on the big leap off the bed. Consider getting some doggysteps. You can find them at pet stores or Wal-Mart. I wouldn't worry too much because I don't think she'd do it if it was painful, but it wouldn't hurt to err on the side of caution for a while. I don't think it's as big of a deal going up the bed because it's a soft landing with her weight going against gravity.

Sounds like you have the right attitude. If you get in it just for fun, I'll bet you'll be surprised at how well she does.

Mike that is just awesome! You must have the patience of a saint teaching all of those moves. GREAT videos :thumbup: