Honestly, asides cutting and putting on sticky back plastic I can't take the credit really.
The jumps are pre-painted skirting boards and the tyre jump is just a case of slotting together the right lengths of pipe.
Get yourself a plank to practice with. Coco hated the dog walk to start with and it took us two sessions to get her to walk on it. Then we practiced at home using a scaffolding plank (left behind when the builders did our extension) which we propped up on some bricks just so that it was a few inches off the floor. I've had the plank out today propped up the patio steps to try to get her to do a wait at either end as she tends to rush her contacts. Some trainers use a touch command as described above, our new trainer prefers to work on a learned 2 on 2 off behaviour with a pause before continuing, so I've been clicker training 2 paws on at the bottom of a slope today.
Actually, already have a plank - it's called Rufus.
Went to free taster session at local agility club and Rufus turned into a whirling dervish on the end of a lead. Jumping up, trying to escape, lunging at every passing dog. Total nightmare and so embarrassing we left half-way through.
He raced through the first set of jumps and crashed through the tunnel before hurling himself across the room and skidding into another dog. The instructor muttered something about him being a really fast dog once he gets the hang of things and is less 'excitable'.
Am now back home with large glass of red trying to calm my shattered nerves. Not sure I could face it again unless one or both of us goes prepared with a large dose of sedative.
Sounds like a brilliant agility dog in the making!!!
Do go back! I found that Luna got better and better at ignoring the other distractions around her.
An easy jump to practise on in the garden is a pole from a sweeping brush or mop balanced on plant pots/bricks or similar! Get him to go 'over' then reward and praise. It could get him used to keeping an eye on you rather than rushing ahead!
Thanks Sarah - I am sure Rufus had a great time but I think I need to wait until he is calmer and more mature before we go back there. The noise and activity levels were huge - lots of barking (just the dogs) and calling. Rufus is used to being with just me and he concentrates really well when there are no other people/dogs around.
I found the whole experience really stressful and I couldn't wait to escape. Last night I was seriously considering advertising Rufus on e-Bay, perhaps as a straight swap for hamster.
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum You cannot attach files in this forum You cannot download files in this forum
before we go back there. The noise and activity levels were huge - lots of barking (just the dogs) and calling. Rufus is used to being with just me and he concentrates really well when there are no other people/dogs around.
