Agility and herding
Also in obedience class the trainer said there are herding groups out there where a sheepdog could do herding for fun. Has anyone ever done that and is there anywhere close to Chicago that does that sort of thing? Please tell me about agility and herding |
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| I've never done either activity with my dogs so I don;t have any help for you there, but I think it would be so much fun to do herding with my dogs. I think it would just be amazing to see them do the actual work they were meant for..... |
| For information on herding, try this site---
www.ahba-herding.org For a list of instructors who evaluate/train dogs for herding see Willow acres site (also has agility info) www.willowacres.com Have fun!!! |
| AKC publishes an events calendar, aparently quarterly. The Dec. 2004 issue listedAn event in Brownstown IL sponsored by the American Shetland Sheepdog Assoc. on April 17; and one in Genoa City WI on April 30 sponsored by the Collie Club of Southern Wisc. This issue was given to be may a trainer; I don't know whether the calendar is available to the general public from AKC or not. |
| Doggies need to know their commands first as you must be in control of your dog around the course. So if your little love knows he P & Q's, yes some limited agility might work. Jumps are too stressful for the growing body. But play with commands is a great way to get him exercising, listening to you and having fun. Remember, as your puppy grows he will go thru those teenage "years" when he won't listen to you at all. Relax, their brains do return to working order. Most of all, have fun with your pup! |
Meet teenie bopper Barney! Thanks for the reminder. I thought he was going deaf.  |
| Oh, the teenage years!!! If only they came with a remote control.
For an example, Carl took first place by leaps and bounds in puppy kindergarten. Teachers said, smartest dog they had ever seen. At an agility match, I saw that teacher and he couldn't believe that Carl had failed Level 1. He came to one of our next classes and asked if my dog was on drugs. Welcome to Sheepdog teen years!!!! |
| So when do the "teen" years begin for dogs? My 2-legged kids are entering the teens, so how fun that I'll also have a teendog as well!! At least teen dogs don't talk back like kids do!! |
| Tonight we are watching the large dog agility trials on ESPN. I know sheepies are good herders, as mine is...but I wonder if they could actually do the agility course in competition. I wonder if they could do the weave with the poles. I would love to see that! When we take out two dogs on a walk at night our sheepie Jules grabs our other dog's leash and pulls her all the way home. We say "take her home". It is cool to watch. If anyone has ever seen a sheepie do those competition agility trials I would love to hear that it is possible. |
| Hi Weezie!
I'm sure they would be good at agility, seems like OES enjoy physical activity and challenges of an agility course... I've seen a picture of an OES weaving through poles in a dog training book-now how long it takes to train them is the question! A fun site that has some OES demonstrating agility is www.bobbytails.co.uk Check out the great video of bobby over the hurdles... I love the pictures of the Sheepies in the Mini Cooper, I think thats the event they would enjoy best! |
| I had my husband make a few basic bar jumps and a tire jump this past spring (all materials from the local hardware store). Cassiopia and Baxter love them! It did take a little while for them to understand what I wanted them to do. But it is a great way to help them get rid of some of that excess energy they seem to have. They aren't anywhere near as fast as the dogs on the "Big Dog" agility contest last night - probably due to the fact that they like to stop in the middle of the course and roll on their back with their feet in the air.
Next on my wish list for my husband to make is a dog walk and a set of weave poles. Jennifer, Baxter, Cassiopia and Sharkey |
| We watched it too and James and I theorized that Clyde wouldn't have made it to the first hurdle in the time that it took any of those Border Collies to complete the entire course. Clyde, of course, would make no effort to jump it either, just smash right through. Picture The Hulk: CLYDE SMASH! |
| That's what Norman does! He makes no effort at all just barges right through if something is in his way. He's just a big bulldozer in furry clothes. |
jennifer_t wrote: - probably due to the fact that they like to stop in the middle of the course and roll on their back with their feet in the air.
Jennifer, Baxter, Cassiopia and Sharkey Jennifer, Would be great to see action shots of Cassiopia and Sharkey on the course ! Ha,ha! Stopping in the middle of the course and rolling on their back with their feet in the air. They are looking for a belly rub pit stop! How very sheepie! |
| I enjoyed watching the sheepie jumping over the poles. I would like to try that with Jules. I bet she could do it. I know she scales our 4 1/2 foot fence! |
| Hi I have just joined the forum, I have 2 old english Frodo and Smeagol, we live near Southampton in England. Frodo is nearly 3 and I have been taking him to agility training for 1 year now. He loves it and it is fun for me too. He is very agile and manages the weave poles really well. We have been in two competitions but have not had a clear round yet. I would recoment it. Great fun and good exercise.
you can see Frodo at his club website (Agility training) http://www.scallywagsdogs.com/classes.html |
| Hi Chris,
Welcome to the forum! Love the your avatar picture! Sounds like Frodo is enjoying agility, best wishes with your upcoming competitions ! How often is class, once per week? What type of practice do you do at home to reinforce the lessons? We have not tried it yet, but we hope to soon... Hope you enjoy the forum, please post more pictures in the picture section~we love pictures!!!! |
| Hi Zahra,
We go to classes once a week, we only have a tyre and weave poles(made from broom handles) at home to practice with. Your sheepie looks such an angel how old is it? Chris |
| Hi Chris,
Thanks for your reply! That's great, there is a new training center that opened, and we are going to give the agility a try in the Fall. Its 10:45 am and already 82 degrees F with high humidity. We will reach over 96 degrees F today. So Bogart is lounging in the luxury of air conditioning today! (We are in Massachusetts) When the weather becomes cooler in Fall, we will try agility class, I think he would enjoy it! He is one year and 4 months old. He's a really good sheepie, lots of fun and likes his training classes. Please keep us posted on Frodo's training and competitions!!! 
Love his picture on the scallywags web site, he looks so serious going over the hurdle and looking at the next station. He's so focused, he'll be great in competitions! |
| Great action shot of Frodo! Good luck with the agility competitions. |
Quote: Please keep us posted on Frodo's training and competitions!!! )
We have our 3rd competition this week-end we have entered for beginers Steeplechase beginers Jumping beginers Agility We are entering for fun but it would be great to get our first clear round rosette. There will be lots of different breeds competiting, and it will be a great day out if it dosn't rain. Frodo's best little friend at training is a little spaniel called Milo, who is hoping for their first clear round as well. Milo gets a bit distracted by the smell of the burger van and has been known to leave the ring and run to the burger van. 
Please keep your fingers crossed for us. Chris Frodo and Smeagol |
Chris Gardener wrote: Quote: Please keep us posted on Frodo's training and competitions!!! ) Milo gets a bit distracted by the smell of the burger van and has been known to leave the ring and run to the burger van. Please keep your fingers crossed for us. Chris Frodo and Smeagol Chris, Best of luck at the competition! We'll be thinking of you and Frodo. Seems like a race to burger van would be a great Steeplechase. Bogart would like to know where he can sign up, could he have the burger his way (lots of cheese)
Have fun!! |
| Thanks Zahara,
We will let you know how we get on. Maybe if we do well Frodo and Milo can have there very own burger to share 
Frodo says he would love to send Bogart a cheese burger but it would be a bit messy when it reached you. 
Are you still planning on Agility training in the Fall? Chris Frodo and Smeagol |
| Hi Chris,
Yes, we are still planning to give agility a try. Right now Bogart has an eye infection which has returned. We are not sure of the cause. He is being treated with antibiotic drops. When this resolves, we'll give the agility a try. He may need some additional obedience classes to work on recall. He would be the first to arrive at the burger stand. You would most likely find him cooking hamburgers (double cheese) for Frodo and Milo. He likes to keep busy 
Looking forward to the update on the Competition with pictures! Best Wishes! |
| I have someplay stuff for my shelties, and as a pup Bosley took to the tunnel in no time with a clicker. Then also in no time he outgrew it, (just one of those little toddlers cloth tunnels), so he graduated to a 50 gallon drum with the ends cut out. We really enjoyed it, and it did keep him busy, but guess what? He out grew it : ( Now what can I use? I also taught him the "touch" with a clicker so we have fun with that, too. He LOVES training time and runs to the door when I get my fanny treat pouch and clicker out : 0 |
| Hi
We diid it  We got a clear round in Steeplechase on Sunday.
I am so proud of Frodo Click on camera to see a picture of rossette Chris Frodo and Smeagol |
| Yay! Way to go!
"Brilliant!" |
| Thank you
Must confess though we did have a sheepie moment on Saturday when Frodo ran the course in every direction ran through the wrong end of the tunnel went right when he should have gone straight on tripped me up and the jump crashed to the ground. We did entertain the crowd though.
Chris Frodo and Smeagol |
Bosley's mom wrote: I have someplay stuff for my shelties, and as a pup Bosley took to the tunnel in no time with a clicker. Then also in no time he outgrew it, (just one of those little toddlers cloth tunnels), so he graduated to a 50 gallon drum with the ends cut out. We really enjoyed it, and it did keep him busy, but guess what? He out grew it : ( Now what can I use? I also taught him the "touch" with a clicker so we have fun with that, too. He LOVES training time and runs to the door when I get my fanny treat pouch and clicker out : 0
Sounds as if Bosley loves training, we also had a cloth toddler tunnel when Frodo was smaller, but he would get stuck in the middle now. You could try weave poles, I made weave poles out of old broom handles, just use 3 to start, then add more when he can do those. The poles should be 22ins (559mm) apart. He should enter with the first pole on his left shoulder, guide him through with a treat and when he does it correctly give him the treat. Chris Frodo and Smeagol |
Chris Gardener wrote: Hi
We diid it We got a clear round in Steeplechase on Sunday.I am so proud of Frodo Click on camera to see a picture of rossette Chris Frodo and Smeagol Way to go Frodo!!!!!! Congratulations, well done! |
| Thanks Zahara
How is Bogharts eye infection, Hope he is feeling better.
Good Luck when you start your training keep us posted.
Chris Frodo and Smeagol |
| Congratulations Chris & Frodo!!! |
| Thanks for the reply, Chris.
So far the infection appears to be getting better, we still have quite a few more days on the med. Hope it takes care of it fully this time around. We would like to try agility for the exercise (not competition) I think he would enjoy the mental and physical workout. (it might make him a little more tired so he's not pulling my socks off at the end of the day) I'll keep you posted! BTW it would be awesome for you and everyone to have a Sheepfest UK!!! Good Luck!! |
| Glad to hear Bogarts eye infection is getting better. He would sertainly enjoy the mental and physical exercise. We just do it for fun really. We started because Frodo got bored with training, We tried Obedience but it was in a small hall and he got so excited he just kept barking. Agility is a good way for him to have fun while he is working. I meet lots of new people as well.
Chris Frodo and Smeagol |
| OK. I am bound and determined to do something fun with Bosley. I tried him on a tire hoop we have and he was jumping through it in no time. I have it barely off the ground, due to his young age, but it is a bit small for him. Any suggestions on what I can use? A hula-hoop?
He still squeezes through my 50 gallon drum tunnel, but I need to get him something bigger. I am also on the look-out for sticks to use for weave poles, and this week it is time to clean out the garage, so might be something in there. he loves it : ) |
| Its great to have fun and play with your dogs isn't it. it builds up a great bond as well. Hula-hoop sounds a brilliant idea. I can't think of anything to use as a bigger tunnel though. I will keep thinking.
Chris Frodo and Smeagol |
| Chris!
Just found this site, has some good information http://www.clickerdog.com/trainingreminders.htm How's Frodo and Smeagol ? Can't believe its almost Thanksgiving!  |
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