For those new to agility

Lol!  That's a pretty funny blooper reel.  But I'll admit to being scared when that poor dog fell off the dogwalk!

Your video came at such a good time.  I was driving DH crazy today, fretting about how Honor and I were going to do in agility.  But now I feel loads better, as the video proves that anyone can have an off day.
 

lol, how true!!!!

Last June when competing at the AAC Ontario Regional Championships, I watched Susan Garrett mess up and send her dog over the wrong jump!!!  Even the immortals mess up sometimes.

For those of you new to agility, Susan is one of the worlds leading agility trainers/competitors including winning the Worlds at least once.  She's in the class of agility guru's.

Infiniti

Lol!  That's a pretty funny blooper reel.  But I'll admit to being scared when that poor dog fell off the dogwalk!

Your video came at such a good time.  I was driving DH crazy today, fretting about how Honor and I were going to do in agility.  But now I feel loads better, as the video proves that anyone can have an off day.
 

Yeah, I cringed at that and the failed tire jump.  I loved the opening scenes though.  Where the handlers get frustrated and show it.  lol..  Then all the falling, I've done that once or twice.  heh....

The Linda Mecklenburg seminar I went to (she's another top agility handler) included her showing us some stuff with her dogs.  And even there it was not perfect.  So yeah, stuff happens all the time.  :D 

The best thing that any newbie can do is to go to a few trials before they start competing.  Volunteer so that you can watch the whole thing from start to finish.  I guarantee that you'll have a lot fewer nerves because you will see that we are ALL human and that even the best dogs can have an off run/day.

It's actually the elite/excellent handlers who have the highest odds of taking a digger -- simply because their courses have the most twists and turns!  Those outdoor morning runs when the grass is still wet are the worst.

make sure you watch the novice courses, and note just how many dogs get in the ring and never manage to take a single (on-course) obstacle. It'll make you feel better when your "perfect in class" dog bolts out of the ring at his first trial.

 I learned that at my first USDAA trial.  heh.....

mudpuppy

make sure you watch the novice courses, and note just how many dogs get in the ring and never manage to take a single (on-course) obstacle. It'll make you feel better when your "perfect in class" dog bolts out of the ring at his first trial.

I am doing my first sanctioned match tomorrow. It could be interesting. I went to one trial and I was amazed/disappointed at how poorly the excellents ran. Good perspective for me though. I will let you know how I do. I am worried about the facility support beams. I am not too coordinated you know.

i love watching videos on agility :)

i desperately wanna get Zoey into some sort of sport, especially agility.

my only concern is that she's a Jack Russell, and a woman in my training class giggled a little when i said that i wanted to put her into agility, and said "oh, you just don't see too many JRTs in agility. i think it's a focus thing in their breed, that they have trouble staying on task"

should i be worried? hahaha you can see how i'm a little scared now to try lol.

~V~

Not to many jrts in agility??? what planet is that woman from?

If I am not mistaken Jrts are listed 4th for the most popular breeds in agility?  Behind BC's, Sheltie's and can't remember lol.  And if those stats are no longer correct, I think it's easy to say that they are in agility a lot.  They are typically very athletic and very fast with tons of drives but if not trained correctly in the beginning can be difficult to retrain (or at least take longer than many other breeds lol).

Agility is also very good for Jrts, lots of mental and physical stimulation for them.

Lynn

This is one of my Jrts (same dog as in my avatar), showing some nice distance skills and obstacle focus.

Ado

Not to many jrts in agility??? what planet is that woman from?

My sentiments exactly! I have seen several JRT's at my training facility alone. ANY dog can do agility (even danes and st bernards) Go have fun!

 There's a lady in our area who does agility with a Beagle!  Talk about a dog that could get unfocused.  JRT's are common here.  A friend of mine ignored people who told her that Rhodesian Ridgebacks would not be a good breed for competitive obedience - well, hers has his OTCH.  Just go and have fun;-))

I have a student for agility that is a beagle, he now does awesome.  He would have progressed much faster but his owner has an excuse for everything and does not train, even basic inhome obedience, except in class.  And is one that is very hit and miss upon attending class.  She was very proud of the fact the he failed OB.

It took a while but he can fly around an agility course, although they don't compete, it is a pleasure to watch him work.

JRT's are the most common small dog around here, with Shelties the most common med sized dog and then BC's the most common large.  We don't have many extra large but there is a Bouvier, a Great Dane/lab mix and a few goldens.

I've seen a beagle fly around a course in competition and do amazing.  So it can happen, you just have to work to their desires.  ;) 

Sorry to reply to this old thread, in our area, we have 9 JRTs that compete regularly. At our school, there are 4 in beginner's classes and 5 or so in the advanced classes. We also have a brussels griffon, shih-tzu taking classes. At trials, we have poodles, ridgebacks, bouviers, beagles, Pomeranians, foxhounds, brittanys, clumber spaniels, cockers, etc.. basically other breeds for competing for agility rather than herding type. We have a big mix in our area although I think the shelties beat everyone in numbers alone.

I hope to be competing Chloe in the 12" class soon and we just got Scout from the rescue and he'll be going in the 16" class. Both JRTs of course.