Exactly. Hey, I'll crawl all the way through if I can get him to behave!

There are only three things that work when training terriers:
* Bribery
* corruption
* abject humiliation.

(and we wouldn't have it any other way!):D

OMG. That was so great. I want bentley to do agility. I think he would be amazing. Do you really enjoy it? What about Dixi?

Looks like Liz signed off, but I'm sure she'll get back to you.

Speaking for myself, I love it. It's such a fun challenge for a wannabe dog trainer. Eddie has taken Agility I twice, Agility II 2 1/2 times and a jumpers class. He seems to enjoy everything about class except the banging of the teeter. When that happens, he stresses out. I quit after the first round of Agility I and II because we couldn't get over that hump.

But I missed it. And Eddie really seemed to enjoy practicing on our own in the backyard. He got real good too.

So we're trying it again at a different school with an instructor who is sensitive to Eddie's little-dog issues. I think as long as you keep it in perspective and just do it for fun, it can be rewarding for both dog and handler.

I was holding my breath the whole time! It's amazing how your little one completed the entire agility course. Congratulations on the great training job.

Hi ya - agility is great for building a really super relationship with your dog. I got to know my two guys so much better through training. And both D&D really really enjoy it. Dixie is so excited when we arrive at agility class or comps and will barely wait on the start line cos she's SO eager to go.

wow, that's impressive!:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

wow look at her go well done!!!

I have a few acres and would love to put some equip on it. Not necessarily for competition, but just for fun for me and the babies. Do you have any recommended reasonable sites for purchasing such equipment? :)

OMG I can't believe I'm just seeing this. Hi guys!! I'm always excited to see our Yorkies doing Agility.

Dixie...Izzy and I are so proud of you. Very rewarding that's for sure.

I took Izzy to an intro Agility a few months ago and we loved it. It was just a two-week intro course to get them used to the equipment. It truly is amazing what our little buddies can do. She was not afraid of the A-frame or tunnerl or even the ramp that's 6 feet off the ground. But she was afraid of the chute..lol. When we trained we held the shoot up with our hands on the other end and had them go through..it was fine until the end when we let the shoot fall down on her - then I saw this lump just freeze and try to run out the other end..lol. That we have to work on so what I am doing at home is when I make the bed and she's on it I lightly toss the sheet on top of her and play a game of where are you. It's working somewhat.:rolleyes:

I know that it's tough for out little guys since the equipment is standard. But I found this site that's just for small dogs for Agility and if you can find a local training place that has the smaller equipment that would be great. I might try this again in Spring since Izzy liked it or get some equipment to train on in our back yard first.:D

Mighty Mite Small Dog Sports Forum: Dog Shows, Training, & Dog Sports for Little Dogs (Powered by Invision Power Board)

That was fantastic

Ah don't buy anything! Jumps can be made from a couple of plastic flower pots and a PVC pipe. Weave poles are a garden stake with a bit of PVC pole over the top - check the specs for how far apart they should be in the US in NZ it's 60mm. Get a sheet or towel to practice the chute. Get a bicycle tyre for the tyre (I made a pVC frame for mine). It just takes a bit of lateral thinking.

I really recommend training classes - there's heaps to learn and it's not all about equipment - it's about what you, as the handler, do between each obstacle that makes agility.

I think the full size equipment just has different challenges for our guys - have you seen those big dog owners try to train the tunnel?! It really slows some dogs down. Also with the A-frame it's harder for our guys going up but it's harder for a big dog to go down the other side and hit the contact - I don't have to work the contacts nearly as hard as the big dogs and we've NEVER missed an up contact! LOL. I've also seen big dogs get tangled in the chute - which is never a problem for Dixie!

And the weave has totally different challenges! Dixie has tripped over the metal supporting bits of the weave base, Dougal's just big enough that he can do the "bounce" between the poles but Dixie can't.

Considering how anti- small dog most agiliteers have been about the wee dogs I never make an excuse for my guys - I only insist that the jumps are put down. I refuse to make D&D jump 38mm (Which is the lowest legitimate jump height in NZ).

That's great!!! I'm hoping to train Paddy in agility this spring, but I'm a little nervous. He still bolts if he's off leash and knows he can get away, and I know he won't like the tunnel. I think he'll be good at the jumps though.

Thanks for posting the tips about using PVC pipe and other things rather than buying all the expensive equipment! I'm SO hoping that we'll have obedience fine tuned by the spring, and he'll have the maturity to start learning how to run a course. I tried to enroll him in an agility class, but the trainer suggested I come back when he is more mature. I agree with him, though, and I'm glad he was honest instead of just trying to take our money!

We didn't start doing agility til Dougal was about three. I think it takes longer for long-lived dogs to mature anyway. Dougal used to run off all the time - the trick is bribery! Carry really good treats to agility training. Practice your recall at the park. When your dog runs off - run away from him and make exciting noises he'll come and check you out - then reward reward reward for coming to you.

Practice the tunnel at home - get a kids' play tunnel and be really positive when your dog has the slightest interest in the tunnel.

I found that my dogs love agility soo much they don't run off during a course. (well dougal doesn't now that his back's better and it doesn't hurt).

The key to agility training is having fun - both you and the dog. People like to see my runs because I'm cheerleading my dogs the whole way - o yeah and D&D are the cutest little agility dogs in town!