Any ideas for my "flying" dog?

AshleysMom · 01-01-2009, 10:37 AM

Well Ashley is now 13 months old, and from what I read on hear she is too young to start some of the Agility sports.
I had her down in WAY south Texas for Christmas, and John and I took her out in the orchards for a good run ( this girl of mine with her LONG legs just flew up and down the rows in between the orange trees..I have never seen her run so quickly!! ). At the end of the orchard is a 4' -5' irrigation ditch. I was very much against her leaping it, but she HAS to follow daddy where ever he goes, so she soon learned that 5' of water was a piece of cake to jump!
The odd thing..no running leap..she would stand on the edge of the ditch, and basically looked like a frog jumping across. We had 2 tumbles into the water ( which she found very cooling since it was 94 degree's!)
But at her age I am a bit concerned that we should not be doing this due to the bone plates not being settled. Is this a safe thing for her at her age? And also, since she insists on full burns, and leaping, is there some Agility we can safely start her on? ( she has been to 2 obedience classes, does Come, Sit, Stay, and my fav one...JUMP ( bad me I know! ) on command. Please keep in mind I am 5'6 and she leaps as high as me with-out being asked..just for the sheer joy of it....So am I hurting my baby??? I just don't know what to do with my long legged Boxer to keep her happy

samsonsmom · 01-01-2009, 10:44 AM

Linda, that kind of play shouldn't hurt her, but yea, you are right the jumps for agilty need to wait awhile....I've got traffic cones in the back yard that I have started using for both Angel & Flick, basic agility I guess you could say...Weather has been either, too cold, too windy or too wet lately to do much tho...You might want to try that, also a tunnel and a balance beam..Angel seems to have quite an aptitude so far, Flicky, well that's another story

AshleysMom · 01-01-2009, 10:55 AM

Willow..two questions...where do you buy the tunnel, and balance beams, And also..if she can clear 5' of ditch, how high, and how much more pressure would the bars be to her? Seems that that leap across the ditch would put more strain than the running bar leap????
Opps one more thing..how do you get Angel through the tunnel?? I was thinking of either tossing a toy in from the front side..or ( silly me ) crawling in from the back, and showing her I was in there, and it was ok...Dumb questions..but I need to know how to run her through!!
Oh and BTW..we have the command "Leave It!!" down pat too..( you know the one Victoria S did on Presley on Greatest American Dog? ) She will leave beef, cheese, any of her toys alone on her paw til I release her..its awsome to watch!! Also great command for our daily walks..it even works when she spots another dog on the street..she just turns her head and keeps truckin' along...I love that command!

Kona11 · 01-01-2009, 12:00 PM

The place we took Kona for her puppy classes also had agility classes for dogs and pups. We watched both and they were pretty neat. The puppy classes was very puppy friendly, no jumping and the balance beam was only about 3 inches off the ground. They mainly taught the puppies how to run through the tunnel, up and down the ramp and through the cones. We're going to start it as soon as I can get Kona, and myself

is comfortable with the return command.

Maybe they have a class or two in your area.

**Barbs2Ks** · 01-01-2009, 12:20 PM

Having training is so much different then running and playing all by herself, after an hour class, I don't know who is more tired me or Kiah. Although the training area is matted, taking the jumps is jarring so I would wait for a lot of jump training. The two hardest obstacles for Kiah were the weaves and the teeter (she is afraid of the noise); I think my other trainer started her too fast and she was freaked out when it dropped. We are now doing well on the weaves and still having problems with the teeter. There is a lot that you can do as she is getting older.

The first agility class we took was a focus class (clicker training) to get them to think, to learn to watch us, and some of the different things for us to do to prepare them for agility. The second class we got into the different obstacles and the hardest for me, to direct her without confusing her to take an obstacle. Our trainer is big on different names for each obstacle to make sure she knows that it will be different, tunnel and chute, although a chute starts out tunnel like. The third class we started putting together obstacles and worked more on how to lead (from a distance) to the different obstacles. The classes are as much about training me

as it is to train her.

samsonsmom · 01-02-2009, 10:10 AM

Linda, I posted a response, not sure what happened to it

I've seen the tunnels in several catalogs, along with other equip, Dr Fosters for one...As far as the balance beam, I was going to see if Marq could build one with a ramp, no jumping that way, something that I could raise as we go along....With the tunnel, I would toss treats in, you may actually have to get in it as well

Some expand and shrink, so maybe make it as short as possible at first, until Ashley gets the hang if it...

**Barbs2Ks** · 01-02-2009, 10:21 AM

With the tunnel the trainer squished it together at first so it wasn't long, I was at one end the trainer held her at the other and Kiah could see me with the treat. As she got more used to it, the tunnel got longer and eventually they put the turn in it. Kiah does the tunnel well, we did have a problem one time where the trainer put the tunnel way at the back of the course and it was dark, all of the dogs in the class balked at the tunnel that time. I crawled in the tunnel from the other end so Kiah could see me, there were a lot of treats on the bottom, yuk! I was surprised Kiah didn't stay in there and try to eat them.

AshleysMom · 01-02-2009, 10:38 AM

LOL Barb....I can just imagine your Kiah going in..and not coming out the other end..sitting inside stuffing herself!! Sorry I didn't make it over for the Lure course Barb..now I have to find one down here.

Those are both great ideas Willow, and Barb..I think I will have John make her a balance beam ( IF he ever stays home for more than a 1/2 week! ) and go ahead and buy the tunnel. Ashley goes bonkers over her Holey-Roller..so I would think I could start her out with that to entice her through the tunnel.

**Barbs2Ks** · 01-02-2009, 10:44 AM

I have instructions on how to make weave polls and jumps when you are ready.

AshleysMom · 01-02-2009, 10:52 AM

Awsome Barb! Are we safe at 18 months to start that?

01-01-2009, 10:37 AM	#1 (permalink)
AshleysMom Advanced User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 925	Any ideas for my "flying" dog? Well Ashley is now 13 months old, and from what I read on hear she is too young to start some of the Agility sports. I had her down in WAY south Texas for Christmas, and John and I took her out in the orchards for a good run ( this girl of mine with her LONG legs just flew up and down the rows in between the orange trees..I have never seen her run so quickly!! ). At the end of the orchard is a 4' -5' irrigation ditch. I was very much against her leaping it, but she HAS to follow daddy where ever he goes, so she soon learned that 5' of water was a piece of cake to jump! The odd thing..no running leap..she would stand on the edge of the ditch, and basically looked like a frog jumping across. We had 2 tumbles into the water ( which she found very cooling since it was 94 degree's!) But at her age I am a bit concerned that we should not be doing this due to the bone plates not being settled. Is this a safe thing for her at her age? And also, since she insists on full burns, and leaping, is there some Agility we can safely start her on? ( she has been to 2 obedience classes, does Come, Sit, Stay, and my fav one...JUMP ( bad me I know! ) on command. Please keep in mind I am 5'6 and she leaps as high as me with-out being asked..just for the sheer joy of it....So am I hurting my baby??? I just don't know what to do with my long legged Boxer to keep her happy __________________

01-01-2009, 10:44 AM	#2 (permalink)
samsonsmom BoxerForums Addict Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: alabama Posts: 18,239	Re: Any ideas for my "flying" dog? Linda, that kind of play shouldn't hurt her, but yea, you are right the jumps for agilty need to wait awhile....I've got traffic cones in the back yard that I have started using for both Angel & Flick, basic agility I guess you could say...Weather has been either, too cold, too windy or too wet lately to do much tho...You might want to try that, also a tunnel and a balance beam..Angel seems to have quite an aptitude so far, Flicky, well that's another story __________________ --WILLOW---Owned by *Angel 8/8/05 & Flick 3/8/08 Samson, waiting at the bridge 8/27/08 CafePress Store \| Boxer Forums Clothing

01-01-2009, 10:55 AM	#3 (permalink)
AshleysMom Advanced User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 925	Re: Any ideas for my "flying" dog? Willow..two questions...where do you buy the tunnel, and balance beams, And also..if she can clear 5' of ditch, how high, and how much more pressure would the bars be to her? Seems that that leap across the ditch would put more strain than the running bar leap???? Opps one more thing..how do you get Angel through the tunnel?? I was thinking of either tossing a toy in from the front side..or ( silly me ) crawling in from the back, and showing her I was in there, and it was ok...Dumb questions..but I need to know how to run her through!! Oh and BTW..we have the command "Leave It!!" down pat too..( you know the one Victoria S did on Presley on Greatest American Dog? ) She will leave beef, cheese, any of her toys alone on her paw til I release her..its awsome to watch!! Also great command for our daily walks..it even works when she spots another dog on the street..she just turns her head and keeps truckin' along...I love that command! __________________

01-01-2009, 12:00 PM	#4 (permalink)
Kona11 Advanced User Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: San Diego Posts: 735	Re: Any ideas for my "flying" dog? The place we took Kona for her puppy classes also had agility classes for dogs and pups. We watched both and they were pretty neat. The puppy classes was very puppy friendly, no jumping and the balance beam was only about 3 inches off the ground. They mainly taught the puppies how to run through the tunnel, up and down the ramp and through the cones. We're going to start it as soon as I can get Kona, and myself is comfortable with the return command. Maybe they have a class or two in your area. __________________ Dave Kona's Dad

01-01-2009, 12:20 PM	#5 (permalink)
Barbs2Ks BoxerForums Addict Join Date: May 2007 Location: Southern Wisconsin Posts: 11,463	Re: Any ideas for my "flying" dog? Having training is so much different then running and playing all by herself, after an hour class, I don't know who is more tired me or Kiah. Although the training area is matted, taking the jumps is jarring so I would wait for a lot of jump training. The two hardest obstacles for Kiah were the weaves and the teeter (she is afraid of the noise); I think my other trainer started her too fast and she was freaked out when it dropped. We are now doing well on the weaves and still having problems with the teeter. There is a lot that you can do as she is getting older. The first agility class we took was a focus class (clicker training) to get them to think, to learn to watch us, and some of the different things for us to do to prepare them for agility. The second class we got into the different obstacles and the hardest for me, to direct her without confusing her to take an obstacle. Our trainer is big on different names for each obstacle to make sure she knows that it will be different, tunnel and chute, although a chute starts out tunnel like. The third class we started putting together obstacles and worked more on how to lead (from a distance) to the different obstacles. The classes are as much about training me as it is to train her. __________________ “Friends are the family we choose for ourselves” Edna Buchanan Barb, Mom to Keegan (adopted 3/28/0 & Kiah (adopted 5/5/07) CafePress Store \| Boxer Forums Clothing

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01-02-2009, 10:10 AM	#6 (permalink)
samsonsmom BoxerForums Addict Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: alabama Posts: 18,239	Re: Any ideas for my "flying" dog? Linda, I posted a response, not sure what happened to it I've seen the tunnels in several catalogs, along with other equip, Dr Fosters for one...As far as the balance beam, I was going to see if Marq could build one with a ramp, no jumping that way, something that I could raise as we go along....With the tunnel, I would toss treats in, you may actually have to get in it as well Some expand and shrink, so maybe make it as short as possible at first, until Ashley gets the hang if it... __________________ --WILLOW---Owned by *Angel 8/8/05 & Flick 3/8/08 Samson, waiting at the bridge 8/27/08 CafePress Store \| Boxer Forums Clothing

01-02-2009, 10:21 AM	#7 (permalink)
Barbs2Ks BoxerForums Addict Join Date: May 2007 Location: Southern Wisconsin Posts: 11,463	Re: Any ideas for my "flying" dog? With the tunnel the trainer squished it together at first so it wasn't long, I was at one end the trainer held her at the other and Kiah could see me with the treat. As she got more used to it, the tunnel got longer and eventually they put the turn in it. Kiah does the tunnel well, we did have a problem one time where the trainer put the tunnel way at the back of the course and it was dark, all of the dogs in the class balked at the tunnel that time. I crawled in the tunnel from the other end so Kiah could see me, there were a lot of treats on the bottom, yuk! I was surprised Kiah didn't stay in there and try to eat them. __________________ “Friends are the family we choose for ourselves” Edna Buchanan Barb, Mom to Keegan (adopted 3/28/0 & Kiah (adopted 5/5/07) CafePress Store \| Boxer Forums Clothing

01-02-2009, 10:38 AM	#8 (permalink)
AshleysMom Advanced User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 925	Re: Any ideas for my "flying" dog? LOL Barb....I can just imagine your Kiah going in..and not coming out the other end..sitting inside stuffing herself!! Sorry I didn't make it over for the Lure course Barb..now I have to find one down here. Those are both great ideas Willow, and Barb..I think I will have John make her a balance beam ( IF he ever stays home for more than a 1/2 week! ) and go ahead and buy the tunnel. Ashley goes bonkers over her Holey-Roller..so I would think I could start her out with that to entice her through the tunnel. __________________

01-02-2009, 10:44 AM	#9 (permalink)
Barbs2Ks BoxerForums Addict Join Date: May 2007 Location: Southern Wisconsin Posts: 11,463	Re: Any ideas for my "flying" dog? I have instructions on how to make weave polls and jumps when you are ready. __________________ “Friends are the family we choose for ourselves” Edna Buchanan Barb, Mom to Keegan (adopted 3/28/0 & Kiah (adopted 5/5/07) CafePress Store \| Boxer Forums Clothing

01-02-2009, 10:52 AM	#10 (permalink)
AshleysMom Advanced User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 925	Re: Any ideas for my "flying" dog? Awsome Barb! Are we safe at 18 months to start that? __________________