When to start Agility

[adobesky]

I have been thinking about signing Jack up for some agility lessons & trying that with him to give him a "job" and also to get some of his energy spent. I was also hoping that the agility training would help him bond better with me & help to train that "invisible leash".
There is an Agility club in the north end of the city and I would like to take him there. He is now 15 mos. old. They have an indoor facility available for training and lessons. Could I start now or should I wait until 18mos.? I am concerned about the jumping & wear & tear on his joints.
Yesterday Jack & I went for about a 2hr hike and there were some big downed logs on the trail (like 2.5" high). He jumped those (cause he couln't go under) with a little encouragement from me & seemed happy about it.
Also, in order to compete do you guys know if he has to be registered CKC/AKC or can any dog compete? Thanks.

[mckjen]

Our local club won't take dogs under 1 year. I'm sure others here have more info about labs in particular.

I also know that in our area any dog can compete in agility -no pedigree or registration needed (good news for my shelter girl)

[ZoeysMommy]

Zoey will also be starting agility when she is older She isnt registered or anything either, it will just be for fun, but i think i saw that UKC will allow a limited registration for dogs without papers/pedigrees or mixed breeds? Maybe there is competition there?

[windycanyon]

No problem. An experienced instructor will have classes tailored to the dogs and to their ages. Don't be surprised if you are only jumping 12" at first. You need to learn alot of handling first so you really don't WANT to be jumping them much while doing that.

My 6 mo old will finish a class tomorrow-- she started her class at 4.5 mos (I love to take my young ones before the "ganglies" set in to learn all the obstacles when they no fear, lol!). I will wait until growth plate closure for the next class, but really, we will be so busy w/ obed, hunt test work, etc, I won't have time for the agility for quite some time anyhow. And they remember all that foundation work so well, it's not a problem. Normally I don't get my adults back at agility until they are done w/ CD and JH at least. My most recent "novice" is almost 6 and having a ball! She too really only had a baby class and some fill in work before this past July (has CDX, JH, RN and raised 2 litters, including the 6 mos old!) but remembered it all. Amazing... Anne

[Annette47]

I'll leave it to Agility experts as to when to train, but there are several options for showing, some of which allow mixed breeds in performance events (I think UKC does, how about NADAC or ASCA?). The AKC has even recently approved (not sure when it goes into affect) mixed breed dogs to compete in some performance events (up to the show-giving club). However, if your dog looks mostly Lab, or is full Lab but not registered you can apply to the AKC for an ILP (indefinite listing privilege) number which will allow you to compete in all performance events, just not conformation shows. I *think* the dog has to be spayed/neutered but beyond that you send in a couple pictures and a panel at the AKC determines if the dog is likely to be whatever breed you are applying for. I've seen some pretty far out cases get ILP's in other breeds ....

[ceridwen]

Originally Posted by Annette47

However, if your dog looks mostly Lab, or is full Lab but not registered you can apply to the AKC for an ILP (indefinite listing privilege) number which will allow you to compete in all performance events, just not conformation shows. I *think* the dog has to be spayed/neutered but beyond that you send in a couple pictures and a panel at the AKC determines if the dog is likely to be whatever breed you are applying for. I've seen some pretty far out cases get ILP's in other breeds ....

Do you have any idea how being mismarked would figure into this? Kara looks very lab, but is mismarked. I'm only working with Rusty in Agility right now (and he's got no hope of passing for anything but a mutt) but I'm considering doing it with Kara as well down the road and was curious about the ILP thing for her.

OP, I know USDAA allows mutts for agility competitions. I just started basic agility classes with Rusty and asked the instructor about it.

All the other dogs in our beginner class are ~1 year old, and we'll be keeping all the jumps low and such as a result for this class. Rusty is the only really adult dog (he's 3 1/2 years) and he's picking it up just as fast or faster than the younger dogs actually, I think because he's able to focus better. I'd talk to the club, but I'd think 15 months would be a great age to get started with the basics.

[Annette47]

Originally Posted by ceridwen

Do you have any idea how being mismarked would figure into this? Kara looks very lab, but is mismarked.

How mismarked is she? From your siggy pic I don't see anything that would prevent it ... plus there are purebreds born with mismarks.

I know someone who got a brindle, whippety, 16 inch dog with flap ears ILP'd as a Parson Russell, so I can't imagine that Kara is anywhere near being as unlablike as that dog was un-Parson Russell like (we think it was a Parson Russell - whippet cross).

[Presidential]

http://www.akc.org/pdfs/ilpform.pdf
PAL/ILP

http://www.akc.org/pdfs/mixedBreed/M...cipant_FAQ.pdf
AKC Canine Partners -
The first events offering mixed-breed classes will take place on or after April 1st, 2010.

[gatorblueyes]

Originally Posted by windycanyon

No problem. An experienced instructor will have classes tailored to the dogs and to their ages. Don't be surprised if you are only jumping 12" at first. You need to learn alot of handling first so you really don't WANT to be jumping them much while doing that.

My 6 mo old will finish a class tomorrow-- she started her class at 4.5 mos (I love to take my young ones before the "ganglies" set in to learn all the obstacles when they no fear, lol!). I will wait until growth plate closure for the next class, but really, we will be so busy w/ obed, hunt test work, etc, I won't have time for the agility for quite some time anyhow. And they remember all that foundation work so well, it's not a problem. Normally I don't get my adults back at agility until they are done w/ CD and JH at least. My most recent "novice" is almost 6 and having a ball! She too really only had a baby class and some fill in work before this past July (has CDX, JH, RN and raised 2 litters, including the 6 mos old!) but remembered it all. Amazing... Anne

I agree. I started agility with Rumor when she was five and a half months old. The trainer said we would work with her age and ability. The best thing was that she was the only dog in the class not afraid of anything lol. It was great bonding work with her too.

[Moniker]

Pippa took Introduction to Agility when she was six months old. There was no jumping of more than a few inches. We had lots of fun.

[mayabrowniebear]

I started my 6 1/2 month old pup in agility last month (once a week). It seems to be a great age to start as she’s very eager to try all the equipment and has no fear. We don’t do any of the jumps or weaves. She is a very obedient puppy and the class and instructor are quite impressed as she is one of the best in the class.
Maya didn’t start until she was 18 months, she did have some hesitations on some of the equipment, such as the teeter. It took a little time to get over the fear of some of the equipment but with in a month or so, she was good to go.

[ceridwen]

Originally Posted by Annette47

How mismarked is she? From your siggy pic I don't see anything that would prevent it ... plus there are purebreds born with mismarks.

I know someone who got a brindle, whippety, 16 inch dog with flap ears ILP'd as a Parson Russell, so I can't imagine that Kara is anywhere near being as unlablike as that dog was un-Parson Russell like (we think it was a Parson Russell - whippet cross).

She's got brindle mismarks. The pattern is pretty much exactly like other mismarked labs I've seen pics of (with the brindle in the spots where a rott or dobe would have tan points). I always call her a lab mix on paperwork but everyone who meets her seems to think she's just a lab (albeit a small one). My obedience instructor had trouble matching me to my registration sheet on the first day because it said lab-mix for the dog. He laughed when he figured it out and told me "That's a lab!".

I have had a few people (who see pics, not her in person) think she might be a dobe mix, but it doesn't really fit since she's small even for a lab and dobes aren't brindle. She certainly acts like a lab!

Some other pics, when she's not wet the mismarks show up more.





(sorry for the off topic stuff OP)

[Annette47]

Oh, I would be surprised if that would keep her from an ILP since her body shape is Lab .... mismarks like that occur in the breed from time to time. There was a whole litter of brindle marked labs (and these were purebred) born around here in the past year or two (my trainer works at the vet hospital where the mother is treated and told me about it). You should definitely go for it! And if you can, take the pics in lighting that doesn't highlight it that much

[agilitydog]

I start agility training teh day they come home at 8 weeks old. Now that doesn't mean jumping, but walking on different surfaces, they can play in tunnels.

Obstacles are actually the easy part of learning agility. Sure it needs to be learned safely but there is so much more involved than the obstacles themselves, groundwork, communicatin, you can practice handling maneuvers and run full courses between standards without even having bars up.