Dogs love the tunnel in agility
Agility with The B’dos. Dog Training Club resumed its activities in early January. On its beginners’ classes are 13 dogs, one is a “mixed” breed and one is a German Shepherd from the Working Group. I understand the others are from the Gundog group.
Rita, a daughter of Rick Lois who is pictured above and who was imported from the Netherlands, is on a class which is also made up of dogs mainly from the Gundog group.
Rita has been doing agility from the time she was a puppy and sometimes she is exchanged for her littler sister, Rhapsody who also enjoys a run. I don’t allow my Bouviers to do any jumps until they are 18 months old when I feel their bone plates would have fused and it would be safe. I also obedience train my dogs from early puppies in the basis like sit, stay, come, down.
Most of the dogs doing agility in Barbados come from the Gundog group – Labrador Retrievers, and Golden Retrievers but that group is where most of the trainers of The B’dos. Dog Trainers Club own dogs which are also usually show dogs.
For a dog to be successful in agility, it needs to be obedience trained as it will be running off leash with its handler, it should not have structural defects as it will have to do jumps, and obstacles like the see-saw and A-frame.
Some breeds are noted as being easier to train and run in agility, like the Border Collie. Although there are a few Border Colllies on the island, I have never seen them being trained for this sport.
Agility is a team sport and a good handler and a well trained responsive dog can perform at a fast speed doing back crosses, and sequels and go ons with jumps.
Most dogs enjoy agility. Mine in particular enjoy the tunnels.
Tags: Agility
When will the next obedience and agility be held? I have been given vague information. Perhaps someone can give me more exact info.
Thanks in advance.
CJ
A pity you did not get on the January class as it has 13 beginners. The BDTC people can be vague sometimes pertaining to beginner’s agility as sometimes they do not get many persons wishing to start and make up a class. And at the other agility levels, the other dogs would already know the obstancles and be able to do a sequence and run a course. So it would be challenging to toss a newcomer in with the rest of those more advanced dogs. Obstacles like the see-saw, walk way and A-frame for some dogs take time. My dogs love agility and I have been in that sport now for a long time with different dogs at different levels. BDTC is the only training facility for agility on the island so I would suggest you keep in touch with those people (and I will e-mail direct to you the club secretary’s e-mail address). That club usually has a basic obedience classes 3 times a year and also Lisa White does basic obedience at least 3 times a year. To run in agility the dog should have basic obedience training as it will be off leash.