Dog Community

This Will Be Fun & Interesting!

Posted : 11/17/2008 8:04:58 AM

I have been asked to start handling a friends dog in agility. While I am very honored I am apprehensive too. I still consider myself a novice handler who has a really good dog.

My friends dog is a young Cardigan Corgi. That in itself will be interesting since Belle is huge, and now I have a little one. Her name is Chloe, and she is fast. The owner is weight challenged and can not run, and she wants to go for Chloe's MACH. So far she only has 2 novice jumpers Q's. She has not run standard yet, they want her stronger before she really starts on the contacts. I am not sure exactly how old she is but she is young.

I think it will be fun, I worry about "messing" up anothers dog I know I probably won't. I do know she will make me a better handler because she will be so different than Belle. Chloe already has some willingness to work distance, cross behinds work better than cross in fronts, things like that may make me better with both dogs.

Tonight I work Chloe in class she is entered in the same trial coming up that Belle is. I guess if all goes well we will be running there.

This could be a lot of fun! We will see.....

JackieG

Posted : 11/17/2008 9:24:34 AM

I think it can only help you to handle someone else's dog. The first time someone asked me to run their dog in a Hunt Test it was so last minute that I didn't have time to get nervous. I had never met the dog or the owner! It went fine and it happened many times over the years. It really makes you focus on your skills and timing.

KarissaKS

Posted : 11/17/2008 10:09:27 AM

If you get to work with her in class you will be fine! I think running other people's dogs is SO interesting and a great learning experience. I've stepped in to run my friend's Golden Retriever at a few trials for various reasons and I always have a blast and learn something. She handles very differently from Luke and it gives me a chance to work on my timing & cues.

I hear you on the difference in handling big vs. small dogs! That was one of the things I looked forward to with Kaiser -- to see how different it is. I definitely have to handle my two boys differently, but part of that is just because Kaiser is so green. Believe it or not, I think Kaiser is the faster of the two on course. I'm spoiled with Luke because he has such great distance (so I can generally stand in a small area and send him around the course), whereas with Kaiser I'm running my butt off trying to keep up with him.

The hardest part about running someone else's dog is the general lack of bond -- or their having TOO strong of a bond with their owner. My friend's Golden runs really, really well for me when her owner isn't at the trial. When her "mom" is there, though, we have to do things just right or she won't run for me at all. We learned that my friend MUST be near the start/finish line/entrance to the ring or the dog will run off trying to find her. I have to keep her attention prior to the run with treats and I have to be the one to take her out for her frisbee reward or she just won't connect with me.

I love watching Cardi Corgies run agility -- you'll have a blast, I'm sure! Be sure to report back how it goes!

Jewlieee

Posted : 11/17/2008 10:24:33 AM

I can't wait to hear your story about how it goes!