thats brill!! go you

some great stories on here. definately going to give it a try

It was the other way round for me - I got a collie pup because I loved them and then decided to do agility to keep her stimulated. She's now nearly 14 and still competes in veteran classes and still enjoys it. It's her bit of 'mum' time to herself which I think is important when you have multiple dogs.

Of course, by then I was hooked, both on collies and agility and, like a previous poster, wish I had found it years ago! It was a bit of a shock when I enquired about buying my fourth collie and was asked how old I was! It makes you realise that all good things must come to an end at some point and that you should do what you love doing while you are still able (and worry about the cost later!).

I had Len first then started agility when he was 2 years old & now its a complete Passion!!! I am an Agility Addict!!
I also have a Papillon that does agility.
Lots of ABC dogs at our club ranging from Poodles & Papillon to Old english sheepdog & Dalmations! Also One of our club members has a Doberman who is now in Grade 6!

What is on your wish list?

english bulldog, french bulldog, pug, alaskan malamute, boxer, and great dane although to be honest i like a lot more breeds than that like alot of the working and gundogs, and i like alot of the heavier breeds like the newfie, which i now cant do agility.

I have seen one orr two Boxers competing at shows and also a Pug x Chi There are also allot of gundog breeds, spaniels, retrievers and pointers. All the pointers I know are pretty speedy!

will see what happens then i know im going to end up with loads of dogs anyway might take one from each group and do something with each of them

yep me too!! so many more breeds I'd like! as well as loads more collies!!

Do dogs have to do (Formal) obedience training before they do agility???

How old do they have to be????

x

It depends on the rules of the club you join (or private trainer). They obviously need basic obedience or you won't get anywhere and, if you are in a class, you will just annoy the other handlers who are wasting their money standing watching you trying to catch your dog! At our club, new members are usually assessed before being allowed to join.

It's not recommended that a dog does any agility until around 9/10 months of age and then only very low jumps, tunnels and lowered contact equipment. At KC shows, 18 months is the earliest a dog can compete but some unaffiliated organisations allow dogs at 16 months to do basic baby courses.

However, there are lots of things you can do with a younger dog like teaching directional commands, making sure they have a solid wait, circle work and lots of socialisation so they don't freak when faced with hundreds of excited dogs at an agility show!