Agility in the 'real' world

[MaggieRoseLee]

I'm loving all the 'real' agility photos on the other posting, but now would like to see photos of how we prepare our dogs for agility by cleverly using the real world.

Let's be creative! So if your dog is in a crowd (like a trial!), or in the mud (like a trial) or a picnic table (like a table at a trial) or WHATEVER...............

And please try to add why you are comparing it to Agility preparation, a little bit of verbage for those of us who are a bit slow and may not get it right away (what me???? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/08_rolleyes.gif" alt="" /> )

[DancingCavy]

Practicing jumps:

Getting up on the 'wait table':

[grmnshpd21]

Here is Molly in a down stay on the "table" on our walk in the forest preserve.

[agilegsds]

Shortly after I brought Piper home from animal control, she decided that the picnic table was a pretty cool place. Took about 5 minutes to train her sits and downs on the pause table after that.

[Amaruq]

Hmmm I did notice that you did not put a limit on this one. I am sure you will regret that!

Well before you beginning any type of training/exercise program it is very important that you stretch to help prevent injuries.

Tika doing warm-ups



We all know that handlers are usually the ones at fault for our dogs not having a perfect run. We always claim that our dogs forgive us and love us regardless of our mistakes. I am not so certain that this is true.

Tika razzing her handler



Those pesky straight dog walks are always hard to train. We start out on the low ones that are not straight to make the transition that much easier.

Tika on the pup walk






After she mastered the puppy walk we move on to the big dog walk with the additional moss and snow coverage to help on those weather ridden outdoor trials where things get slippery.



The bridge which is used in one of the non AKC trials but I get easily mixed up on which is which.



(to be continued)

[Amaruq]

Tika training for the broad jump



Our "tire" jump happens to be leftover from the stone age. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/08_rolleyes.gif" alt="" />



Aframes with the nice smooth surface with foot hold are overrated.



Training for the higher jumps. Our are not the forgiving type of jumps though.





The "slide run" is always a good idea to work on traction and making sure the all paw drive is in working condition.



and the Pause Stump



Phoenix showing a pause on a tree that can simulate both the A Frame and the entrence/exit of the dog walk.



I can't seem to find where I hid the tunnel pictures that we have somewhere..... Possibly continued later. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/03_wink.gif" alt="" />

[MaggieRoseLee]

Oh my gosh Amaruq, those are EXACTLY the kind of photos I was looking for. I know when people are starting out in agility they don't know where to take their puppies, or have a small yard, or can't afford equipment................. and you just did a great job showing how we can work around these issues!

And you did a great job with the captions. Love the pause 'toothpick'.

The only thing newbies do have to remember is to not rush to overwhelm a younger dog, and obviously not to injure them. But it's amazing how agile our dogs are and how well they can do.

[DancingCavy]

I gots some more to add! Just took 'em today. And this is with my 'I don't like new things' dog. She did EXCELLENT! Did everything I asked without being shaken up.

The draw bridge (which, I honestly didn't even think she'd get on, let alone walk across):


Up on the slide (We couldn't go down the slide because all the ladders up to them weren't dog-friendly):


We do have agility classes out here but Ris' trainer doesn't think she's ready (I've been trying to prepare her on my own). Then again, I didn't think Ris would jump up onto the slide either. Especially after the first time when she slid off backwards. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/10_eek.gif[/img] She still went back up when I asked without a second thought.

[Amaruq]

[ QUOTE ]

And you did a great job with the captions. Love the pause 'toothpick'.

The only thing newbies do have to remember is to not rush to overwhelm a younger dog, and obviously not to injure them. But it's amazing how agile our dogs are and how well they can do.

[/ QUOTE ]

I love the toothpick picture too. She is so darn bidable. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/03_wink.gif[/img]

In all of these pictures the dogs were adults. But I do start them on a smaller scale as pups and if I am by myself I do not get many pictures as I am making sure I am right there incase they are unsure or were to slip or fall. I always keep it fun and reward them frequently. KC was usually the one to DRAG me to new things. She about a year old when she first found the "swirly slide". By the time I got to the ladder she was already about to the top. By the time I got to the sharp curve she was already taking a header off of the slide. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/02_frown.gif[/img] By the time I got back around to her she was already going back up the ladder. While I was trying to figure out why the park was spinning in circles from trying to catch up with her she was sliding back down the swirly slide. Even after falling off and landing on her shoulder she bounced right back up and went back to the slide. Apparently she realized what she did wrong on her first trip because she went down several other times that day with no issues. She doesn't usually "walk" down that one she sits on her butt and slides just like the humans. She is even pretty good about waiting for her turn in line. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/15_ssst.gif[/img]

[tawnyhill]

I actually don't have photos though I did do a movie of it a long long time ago and sent to America's Funniest home video and this was before agility even existed but Tawny did all the playground equipment including the ladder which was an actual rung ladder. A few years later along came "real" agility and she never had any fear of any of the obstacles because of her agility in the "real" world. Such wonderful memories you have brought back of our wonderful girl. That being said even though agility was around for her girls I still taught them all at the local playground to do the swing bridges and climb the ladders and slide down the slides. I actually just watched these old movies the other day and I laughed when I realized Tawny actually would lay her arms down on the slide and pusshhhhhhh to get a good speed going....