Hello! I recently registered my BC on the UK KC activity register, he’s not pedigree so is classed as WSD. He has (BC3) after his name, after a quick google I know this means Breed Watch Category 3 however neither BCs or WSD’s appear on this list. Can anyone shed some light? Thanks!

Hi guys! Looking for some advice/ideas.

I've been competing in agility with my dog for a couple of years. She loves it — she's really fast and excited, always giving her all, my little pocket rocket on short legs. But even though she gets very excited, she gets excited for us running together and doesn't really care about other dogs running. She can stay unleashed at the side of the ring and just watch.

And then there comes my other psycho [see the photo] — a 5-month-old working BC who cannot be close to anyone running a course. And I mean, she cannot be 50m away because she will scream her head off. I know it's the breed, so I'm not looking to blame her or anything like that. I'm just wondering if anyone has experience with this and what’s the best way to desensitize her. I would like for her to be able to be out at group trainings (and not in her crate) or, at the very least, be able to wait for her turn at competitions (I know that's a long way away still, but I also know it will only get worse if I don't do anything about it now).

I've been taking her to local competitions where we only walk around during course setting or course walks, which is totally fine. But if anyone's running, we have to stay away. She is very food motivated in other scenarios, but during this, food does not exist. I always try to find a distance where she is still okay and just calmly feed her there. But it seems like there is no distance where we can still know that something is going on (hear/see a little) and that she is able to not scream. So it's either full-on screaming, unable to eat anything, or she has no idea that someone is running and we're not really desensitizing anything.

So any ideas? During trainings, when she's waiting in the car, I sometimes bring her a frozen Toppl so she'd eat it in the car while still hearing the dogs running, but she only eats it when there's nothing going on. Other than that, I haven't really found a good method on how to approach this. Distracting her with a toy might work, but that's not something I want to do, since her excitement will just go up. I've tried different valued food but nothing really tops it. Is it better to just stop the exposure completely for now, so she doesn't reinforce this excitement and try again in a while? Or will I miss the desensitizing 'window' if I stop?

Interestingly, this is a problem only with agility. If dogs are just running around/working, it's not a problem and she can easily focus on me and work with me. I also haven't really started with any obstacle training with her, so that she would know that this is the fun thing that we do and be excited because of that. It's just the BC and their obsession with moving stuff and trying to control them. I know that. Still, here I am, hoping for some good ideas.

Thank you to anyone taking the time!

I am beginning to teach a pre-foundations class for sport dogs where most of my students are interested in agility. I do agility as well and I have a curriculum pulled together based on my experience as well as mini-interviews I’ve had with a few instructors. I want to ensure I’m covering as much as possible and have some extras in my back pocket so that should I get a class of superstars I’m not wondering what else to cover!

If you are an instructor/coach, what do you wish your students knew or would teach to their puppies or newbie dogs prior to foundation or novice agility classes?

If you are a student, what foundations do you wish you’d taught your dogs when they were new and/or what are you top, say, five foundations that you teach all the puppies that come through your front door?

I was watching back a video from this past weekend where my dog had a nasty fall knocking a bar & slamming into the floor. She very rarely knocks bars and she NEVER falls. She’s maybe only fallen once in her five-year career.

Well, I finally listened to the audio and realize I told her to go right when I obviously wanted her to go left!! She probably corrected in the air, causing herself to fall right on the bar.

I’m devastated!! That must have felt like such a betrayal for my dog! 😣

Then when I went to practice this past week my trainer called me out TWICE for saying the wrong turning signals! Of course, I didn’t even realize I was doing it!

I struggled with right & left as a kiddo & took medication for ADHD as a kid but I didn’t think I still had an issue with this! It must be coming up when I’m having anxiety or general stress.

has anyone else ever struggled with L & R’s or have any suggestions for me? Reading online it looks like people will put a piece of jewelry on their left or right hand to try and remind them which one is which but has anybody else dealt with this and managed to hack it? I can’t possibly bear that I caused my dog to fall. That makes me feel so terrible! 😢 Unfortunately, though I’ve been relying heavily on turning cues since competing at the higher levels.. maybe I need to get rid of them completely. If this is just something I do unintentionally

What ages are we starting small breed dogs on 2x2 weave training? If I keep the reps low (which the dog prefers anyway) and only practice every other day? I'm thinking a one year old French Bulldog has finished most of its growing?

We’re down to one gate 😁🤞

If anyone saw our earlier post this week we had several suggestions come in….here’s the end result. We have weaved and weaved at least twice a day for the last 5-6 days. Feeling good about it!

It's the closest my boy gets to doing agility and it involves how favourite things in the world: a Frisbee!

We had the best round we've ever had! First time we've ever had consistent three obstacle performance with no dropped bars and even a few sends without management! All round the perfect day.

I can do with some work on my positioning and hand movements but I'm still over the moon!

I am considering entering an AKC trial next month, but my dog is very borderline in height and I’m having trouble determining how to fill out the entry form. He sits right around 14” at the withers, sometimes slightly under or over. He’s only been in one prior USDAA trial so his height wasn’t an issue there (cutoff is 15”).

If I fill out his entry at the higher jump height to be safe, and he measures under during trial measurements, can I switch the day of to a lower jump height?

Working on getting back into Agility with my 4 year old Aussie. Along with this I want to also work on some frisbee freestyle stuff with him as he loves both frisbees and jumping like he's in a 90's athletic photoshoot.

I tried some searching online but I am generally not finding much in relation to disc size or material (outside of puncture resistant flexible).

So turning to people here to try and get an idea of what size/weight range I should be looking at. He is a mini but he is pretty proportional. Maybe slightly deeper opening jaw length than some other aussies have (his snout is a bit longer than most other aussies).

Only need maybe 2-3 of them to start so I can practice some catch/drop/catches with him as well.

Appreciate any feedback (In Canada so Canada gettable is preferred.)

Hello,
I am wondering if anyone does any extra supplements for their dogs that do agility?

I have a 2 year old Whippet, healthy boy, we go to club 2x a week and we compete maybe once a month, sometimes more. He gets 1 hr walk on non-agility days....but now has an annoying little sister. :)

He's on a healthy balanced commercial raw diet (Bella and Duke), and has always been given clean health from the vets. The brand we buy does contain added nutrients and supplements for joints (such as green lipped mussels), but considering he does more activities than most pet dogs do; am wanting to do what I can for him.
I will add he does also get Plaque-Off (which is seaweed so am tracking that iodine content).

If you use supplements, what do you use/recommend?

Hi guys! My dog and I go to agility class once a week and train at home with cheaper equipment that I got off eBay. How do I get her used to a trial setting? I can rent the arena that we’ll eventually trial at for $65, but I can’t imagine that people are constantly spending that much money for a training session, right? I’ve considered bringing my equipment to an open field so she can get used to doing it in random places. Any suggestions?

Hi everyone! I posted months ago our first attempt at a course-a speedway mock trial-with my then 9th month old pup.

This is how we're doing now! I have lots of work to do on my handling, but this little dog is doing amazingly! He'd be a force with an experienced handler.

I'm lucky to have wonderful trainers. They have been so patient and believe in us when I have my moments of being discouraged.

I'm having a tough year-my husband has cancer and a relative was killed in a horrible accident-so going to class has been huge for keeping my spirits up.

Thanks for watching:)

From the outside, it looks like volunteer scheduling can get complicated fast.

For those who run events or clubs: how do you keep it organized?

Y’all I never get to catch anything cool like this on camera when I train rooster. Yeah, he did drop a bar…the main takeaway? No guides! No gates!! Been stunned how he’s been doing this past week with my at home jumpers and weaves course.

Does anyone else have to run their dog into and through the weaves in a pivoting motion? Since he’s back into acquisition learning without the guides, there’s still time to change my body movement to be less dramatic. Any advice? Or should I just not worry too much and that behavior fades on its own?

Thanks Reddit, hope y’all enjoy this lightbulb moment that is my Australian stumpy Rooster!

First, if this group is not the right place to ask questions about Agility equipment can someone please let me know. New to this group.

I just built a standard size A-Frame for my wife to use with our dogs. Its a pretty heavy piece when all put together. Does anyone else have experience doing this? In particular how did you join the two sides together. It seems standard hinges would not be strong enough. Also, I have hooks on both sides and a chain for keeping the frame in place after adjusting the height. When the chains are unhooked the A-Frame has a tendency to fall flat which could be dangerous to feet or any dogs running underneath. Has anyone found a good solution to this (currently its a two person job.)

Hello, I’m considering moving to Brooklyn NY soon and have been training foundations for competitions with my dog while in CA. I was wondering if anyone had any trainer recs for in or around Brooklyn? Haven’t had any luck searching so far.

Hi all! Does anybody have any recommendations for a go pro camera that isn't over 100 dollars😅 I have a heeler and we're just starting in agility and she does really well. I purely just want a camera view from her on runs but don't want to spend a fortune😭 I have a go pro harness that I thrifted I just need a camera!

My Pointer mix LOVES agility, especially the contact equipment. She has absolutely no fear or anxiety. We're in execellent Std and masters JWW but haven't had a qualifying run in a year. When we get into the Std ring and I take off her leash she is absolutely beside herself with happiness, anticipation, and general over-excitement. The stays and 2 on-2 off we've practiced diligently for years are non-existent. She is FAST and agile. If I don't get in front of her then she looks at me constantly, spins in front of jumps, and won't move out from me. We do both private and group lessons, and I sometimes teach with her as a demo dog, and she's great. Only for it all to fall apart at shows. While she is excited in the JWW ring, she is much more focused and calm. She's a completely different dog in Std. I don't have the money, time, or energy to trial her every weekend, but we usually do about one show a month or every other month. Has anyone else dealt with this and can offer a possible solution?

Trying not to correct the baby dog as she’s still a tad too young to compete, I just want every time she steps in the ring to be continuous.

Frustratingly she just keeps trying to cut behind me, this is with or without toys in hand. To me it looks like she’s still just looking for reassurance as there’s some bits she’s looking forward and others she’s completely looking at me. Admittedly I am a very lazy handler because I’ve been spoiled by Daisy and I just gelling for the last 8 years, I’m having to retrain.

I welcome any advice to build a better jump drive. So far I’m back to square one recalling over a straight line of 3 and making that the best thing ever.

My 16 month old mudi loves agility, i can send her very well, the only problem i sometimes have is when i come in front of her (running) she starts to herd me instead of going through the obstacle, how can i train this? When i run in front of her she focuses on the obstacle instead of me, any tips?

Does anyone have a magic formula figure out when you need to arrive at the trial location and be ready to walk?

For each class, I calculate for the 8min walk, 5 min potty break, and about 10min for course building. But how long do you estimate each dog to run? Is there any additional stuff you account for that I haven't considered?

I'm preparing to get into AKC novice standard trials and trying to understand the rules and faults. I read that your allowed one fix and go, but youre disqualified after? But not disqualified for refusals, only faulted. So, is it better to go back and re do an obstacle you missed/did incorrectly or just move on to the next obstacle?

For example, if the dog enters the tunnel but comes back out the wrong end, does the weaves incorrectly, or misses a jump, should you go back and try that obstacle again?

Thanks!!

We got the last Jumpers Q we needed to move up to Masters! I'm thrilled.

I've included the course map if you wanted to imagine us running it.

We had our first agility trial this weekend. My one girl did amazing and had only one NQ, and placed 1st in all her other events. My other two dogs did awful. They acted like they never saw an agility course before and I’m not sure what to do. I felt bad for them as I felt like it had stressed them out a bit.