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Yeah for Star!!! She "graduated" from basic agility yesterday! What a relief! Nervous, protective, defensive mother-of-lab that I am to my little "Spark-o-matic" 2000! We all got diplomas and special homemade "cookies" tied with bows. All the dogs were so sweet and we all reveled in each other's successes. Luckily, the class is held at the kennel where I work and we can use all the equiptment and practice over the winter Let's just say when Star was good, she was AWESOME; when she was bad, usually when she was tired at the end of class, she was really bad!!! (e.g. "I think it's easier to go UNDER the tire than through it!") Star says she's going to work on making Mom a better handler, and then her "Star" will really shine! Thanks for listening!
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Hey that's great!!! Congratulations to both of you!!!!!!
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Congrats to you!! In January, my daughter is taking my 3 yr. old GSD, Shiloh, for beginning agility training. We're looking forward to it. Shiloh loves to play and I think it's going to be a lot of fun!! The class is at 8:30 at night, though. I hope she's not too tired http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/wink.gif!
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[This message has been edited by Sudilar (edited December 11, 2000).]
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No worries, Sudilar, once the dog gets an idea of what's going on, most of them get really revved up for an agility session. It should also help teach her to pay better attention to you because you'll be telling her what fun thing to go on next. Just start low and slow and you'll be amazed. Agility is one of the reasons I used to use a tunnel as a socialization exercise in my puppy classes. Some of the puppies would really balk at going into it, but once through, 99+% of them LOVED it. I even had one student that went and laid in the tunnel during the rest of class. He was a riot. I used a child's play tunnel for the class and it was big enough for most of them (except the English Mastiff and the Great Dane). Try it anywhere. Good Luck on classes.
Congrats, Tats, that's really something. I hope you keep up either through continuing classes or some competitions. It's really awesome to see some of these dogs do their thing.
[This message has been edited by ktreva52 (edited December 11, 2000).]
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Thanks guys! Yes, we hope to continue! Star does love the tunnel and "chute," after overcoming some initial hesitation the first class. Some of the dogs are sooo funny going through it. Laying inside it as you say, going half in, running out to get a treat, etc! But, by the end of the last class, everyone was doing well and having such fun. It's so great for socialization and exercise. I highly recommend it for all types of dogs and all ages. Thanks again for the encouragement!
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Well, as I read this, I am so jealous and angry with myself for not doing more research on these things! Live and Learn! Next time I would continue obedience, do agility etc..not that Cody is terrible-he's clever in so many ways- but he would have benefited from all this fun stuff! I asked him if he wanted to be like Star and he just kissed, kissed, kissed me so I'm content! I'm so proud of Star, I feel I know her personally! http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/biggrin.gif
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Thanks girlfriend!! Ditto! Me and Star feel like you're a real soul mate! She sends you guys big sloppy ones. I think Star might benefit by being a litte more like your Cody! Right now the "girls" are sitting on the pool cover enjoying a "velvet bone!" Mom gets some quiet computer time! Karen, I think Cody could still do agility, no? Dogs were all ages, sizes, temperments. One little Viszla (sp?) was sooooo scared; no confidence. But by the end of the class he was having such fun and managed even to go through the tunnel! Tell Cody Star thinks she's in love!
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Thanks, Ktreva, for your vote of confidence!! I think we are going to do fine. Shiloh will problably love it so much that I'll have to buy the tunnel and set up the weave in my backyard!! http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/smile.gif Since, I can't run so fast, I'll be the observer and I'll let my daughter do the running. This is going to be so much fun! I really can't wait! http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/smile.gif
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***Save a life, ADOPT***
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Agility really is alot of fun. Graham just graduated his first agility class too, but they did not give us any neat gifts or anything. The place I took him, and I am taking him back to, was only $75 for 6 weeks which is a great price. Most of the other places were over $100 so I guess I shouldn't expect any cool graduation gifts for him.
They did strongly recomend we buy (or build) some of the more difficult obsticles as soon as the snow melts and the ground's not too slippery. I would like to continue this with Graham. I never had enough money to get his obedience titles, although it would have been easy because he's so smart. So agility it is. I am going to continue it, and eventually get Graham his first title http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/smile.gif
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Adoremydogs-Yipppeeeee for Graham! I'll bet he'll be a real champion in no time! Give him a big high paw from me and Star. Star's class was only 60.00 for 6 classes! I always thought everything on the east coast was the most expensive! I know you can buy the tunnels through the "tunnel man." He has a web site under agilitiy equiptment. Many of the doggy daddys in my class have built the jumps with pvc pipe; they're pretty easy and cheap to put together. The tetter-totter and "balance bean" too are pretty inexpensive to build if you know someone who is a bit handy with a few tools. I wish you guys GREAT SUCCESS!!! Please let me know how you guys are doing. AND, when Graham graduates his next class, I'll bake and send Graham a whole box of homemade doggy cookies!
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Congrats, Graham. Good luck on your next agility classes!! Isn't it great fun?
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***Save a life, ADOPT***
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Sorry I am so late with the congratulations for Star and Graham on their success at Agility. And Tats, thank for the clicker training suggestion to get Hannah to come. That is one thing I haven't tried with her. Ktreva, thanks for all your input as well. I have used them all in the past and some in the present. "What a good dog" is a much used phrase around here", and we have 15 ft. 20 ft. and 50 ft. leads as well as the light weight clothes line. But it all boils down her knowing when none of those things are attached and if there if something else of interest at the time the command is given. Lately although we still practice daily, I have gotten sloppy about enforcement. She's not a hard dog to live with most of the time. One stradegy that we have recently been employing is to call, give her ample time to obey, then just shutting the door and ignoring her. Our door squeaks when it is being shut, and now I have noticed a lot of the time, when she hears that squeak, she comes a running.
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Thank you everyone for the congrats...Tats, congrats on Star's "shining" performance in agility http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/smile.gif Isn't it fun? I wish I had gotten my yellow lab Beener into agility, but I am not sure if he'd like it. He was one of the unusual cases, he did not care for obedience training, although he'd hang in there for me. I only took him to beginner class, he just did not care for it, don't know if he would have liked agility or not. I think he would have.
Tats, a WHOLE bunch of homemade doggie cookies??? Well Graham LOVES you now! I told him that just because he did not get a doggie diploma or a special doggie cookie with this agility place, that does not mean he's not a good dog! He told me to tell you that it was as sweet as sugar of you to offer to send him such a yummy graduation gift http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/smile.gif He wagged his stubble http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/smile.gif
Ok, it's bragging time now http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/smile.gif Graham, surprisingly, was the only mutt in both his class and the class before his (which I arrived early to watch every week). There was even an American/Canadian grand champion Rod. Ridgeback in my class, as well as a full border collie and Graham, once again, outdid his entire class! He won best in class in every obedience class, and he was by far the best in his agility class once again! The trainers told me (in private, so we would not upset the class) that Graham could have skipped the next class and placed well in the class after the next one, but I needed more training (correct ways of handeling him) so they told me I should do the next class so I am able to learn all that I have to learn (I've been outsmarted by a dog!!!)
The last class (graduation) they had us run the dogs through all the obsticles (in the weeks previus we were split into teams, and only tackeled 2-3 at a time), and, to my surprise, Graham knew the names of all the obsticles. I was closer to the middle of the arina and I would call out the name of the obsticle and Graham went right to it! He knew the teeter, "climb it" (a-frame), table, tunnel, "walk it" (dog walk), shute and all the jumps by name. I called out what he has to do next and he ran to it without me next to him guiding him http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/smile.gif My husband went to the last class and he was beaming with "proud daddy". He had never before been so proud and impressed of a dog. Graham had not shown fear once of any of the obsticles, but I did not know he actually knew the names of them all!
Sorry, had to brag about my boy. He was the only mutt and he was the best. I am determined to get his first title in agility because, not only is it oodles of fun, but also he makes mutts look good. I am not against purebreds, I absolutely love purebred GSD's, but when a "throw away" mutt does so well, it might promote more mutt rescues. I am so proud of him. He's so exceptional and I am SO lucky to have been the one to see him first and adopt him out of that aweful prison he was in.
P.S. Su, my agility class started at 9:30 PM, I hated that it was so late, I am an early bird, but I came to the class yawning every week and as soon as the class started I was wired! I ran and sweated and was more awake and alert then ever! My next class starts at 8:30 and I know that, once again, energy will intoxicate me and I'll, once again, be as awake as if it were a bright, sunny morning http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/smile.gif
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Congratulations Graham!
Love Daisy and her Mommy
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AdoreMyDogs!!! I'm just gonna CRY!!!! Nothing gets me more emotional than seeing anyone show how proud they are of someone they love, then SHOUT IT TO THE WORLD!!!! What a fantastic job, Graham. Nothing can stop you now. (Unless your Mom falls asleep in class!) I love all dogs, but "All Americans" are just the best. Their hearts are the biggest. Their eyes say, "Hey, look at me. Here I am. I can do it all." You must be soooo proud. No diploma or special treats needed here. No doubt Mom and Dad's pride, joy and love for their special kid knocked him over! I couldn't be happier for you. I know the joy you are feeling in seeing Graham "soar." My spirit soars with you. Still want to send you guys some treats; maybe some No-Doze for Mom!
