Agility Tips?

I'd suggest a few private lessons to help you figure out what she knows and get you up to speed.  Then the trainer can assess what class is the best fit for you.

Agility is lots of fun, but can be stressful.  Fortunately there are a lot of books out there and many videos on "how to do it" - but you cannot train yourself - you need to find a good instructor/class/school to help you.  SInce you won't be getting the dog for a little while, read, read, read and watch videos so that you get a picture of what goes on - how to work with the dog - how to handle your own body, etc.
GSD's are not too patient with our mistakes, so you want to be prepared before you work with the dog.  Go to a few class sessions w/o the dog - very informative!  Also, working at a trial is a wonderful experience and you will learn a great deal.
 
Good luck - you will have a lot fun and get tons of exercise!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Dianeg

Going to watch trials and classes is a good way for you to prepare before you get your dog.  By becoming familar with the obstacles, lingo, watching other handlers and how they cue their dogs is a good starting point. 

I agree with agilebasenji about the private lessons once you get your dog.  By taking a couple of privates you will be able to get a better feel on how far along your dog is and how you are as a handler.  Agility is a team sport and I think some privates lessons to start off will be a good way to get a feel on how the both of you work as a team.

Good luck!!  Word of warning....agility is highly addictive!! []

Having a height card doesn't necessarly mean that the dog as competed but it probably has.  Most people don't get measured unless they actually have competed in the ring.  As to finding out what the dog has done if you have the dogs registered name or the registration number their record can be looked up on-line. 
 
Agility is just as much about the handler knowing what to do as it is the dog.  Usually they learn together but it sounds like in your case the dog might be ahead of you.  Going to watch conpetitions and observing the way people handle their dogs is of great benefit in learning how to do it yourself.  Usually the people have a steeper learning curve than their dogs.  Advanced beginners might be a good place to start as in that class you learn as much as the dog.  Teaching the dog to work with you is very important and just as important as your handling and the dogs ability.  Simple obedience can really further the building of the relationship between you and the dog.  The suggestions of a private lession or 2 will really help determine where the dog is.

Word of warning....agility is highly addictive!!

Boy is it! So much fun. Hope you enjoy your dog.

Having a height card doesn't necessarly mean that the dog as competed but it probably has. Most people don't get measured unless they actually have competed in the ring. As to finding out what the dog has done if you have the dogs registered name or the registration number their record can be looked up on-line.

How do you look them up?  Her name is Alta Tollhaus Krieger's Lamb Chop.  They said she showed UKC but had an AKC height card.  I'm not really up to speed on all the various titles and kennel clubs, etc., so hopefully that's enough info.

I would say the dog is definitely ahead of me!  I'm taking beginning obedience on my own, just to see how formal training goes, assuming she knows all of those commands already.  I do want to continue with obedience because it can only help build our relationship and keep her socialized around other dogs.

Search idog forum member "Xeph" for some interesesting posts on agility and patience with a GSD []

Thanks, timsdat, for finding her number!

Here is more info I just got:

"Yes, the owner that took her and trained her did train her for "basics" in weave poles, I have seen her negotiate them...she is not fast through them as she is still building confidence, she is great with tunnels, jumps, A-frame still needs confidence work on teeter & buja board...but she has a good foundation..it has been several months since she has done it, but it will come back to her"

I'm also told she's about 60 lb and 21".

Private lessons are the way to go right now.  Don't even worry about competing until you have some handling under your belt.  It might take a year to get you both on the same page.  Take the time to get to know her and bond with her.  Don't push. 

What breed is she?  60 lbs. at 21" sounds heavy.  I have a 21" E. Setter who is 38 lbs, and a very muscular 22" E. Pointer who is a whole whopping 45 lbs.  Not a rib showing!  Sounds like getting her fit may be part of the process.  Keep it fun![]

What breed is she? 60 lbs. at 21" sounds heavy.

<< That's her right there, she's actually very small/petite for the breed, but strong and muscular.  60lbs was just a guess from a friend of the breeder, so it could be different.

I can't wait to try private lessons!  I'm not that competitive, so I wouldn't even mind if we never competed.

ETA:  Here's a pic of her full body

Ooo! An Alta Tollhaus dog!  Good lines
 
Looks like she's in good condition   60 lbs for a 21 inch bitch isn't that heavy ^_^ Good proportion.  I wouldn't doubt the person who guesstimated guessed a bit high, but I will say GSDs will surprise you with their weights!
 
Strauss is 27" at the withers and weighs 87 lbs...people think he weighs more.  Nope xD
 

Search idog forum member "Xeph" for some interesesting posts on agility and patience with a GSD []

I'm speshul xD
 
But seriously, if you didn't read my post about my frustrations with Mouse and agility, I honestly suggest you do so. 
 
Keep in mind that while the dog is adjusting, if you tell the dog to do something that you KNOW for sure it can do, and it doesn't, just chock it up to "I'm a new handler, we haven't established that bond yet" type deal.  GSDs see no reason to do something for somebody who is not their person.  Until she understands that YOU are her person, should could very well give you the doggie finger xD
 
It's clear when a dog knows how to do something and is blowing you off, and when a dog just DOESN'T know.  If I send Strauss off with Dave, and Dave tries to send him through the weave poles, and Strauss doesn't do em...it's because Strauss isn't acknowledging Dave as his handler, because Strauss DOES know how to weave.  If I send Strauss off with Dave to work on discriminations, and Strauss keeps taking the wrong obstacle, it's because Strauss doesn't understand (we've just started discriminations in class).

Ooo! An Alta Tollhaus dog! Good lines

Looks like she's in good condition 60 lbs for a 21 inch bitch isn't that heavy ^_^ Good proportion. I wouldn't doubt the person who guesstimated guessed a bit high, but I will say GSDs will surprise you with their weights!

Yeah? They are good ones?  That's what the rescue person told me, that they are one of few she'd recommend, but she owns and co-owns some of them so of course she'd say they are the best.

I think she said "55-60", and even then it's a guess because the dog isn't with her.

So assuming that this is a bit of a timid dog because of her past and I'm new at agility, how long should we wait before starting lessons?  Is it better to try pretty quickly so she has something to do?  Or wait until I have complete control?

She's a beauty!  It wouldn't hurt to start her now as long as you keep it fun!  Grace, my pointer was practically shut down when I adopted her.  The one thing that opened her up and started to develop her confidence was agility class. She LUFFs it.

It will help you in communicating and bonding with your dog, which in turn will help in the rest of her training.  It is 100% positive.  Just  don't over task her.  Learn to read the "I've had enough, talk to the paw" look that they get when they are done.  Even though it's fun, it's also hard work for them.

So assuming that this is a bit of a timid dog because of her past and I'm new at agility, how long should we wait before starting lessons? Is it better to try pretty quickly so she has something to do? Or wait until I have complete control?

 
As long as the lessons are fun, I wouldn't wait at all for some private lessons.  I'd suggest no more than a 30 minute lesson once a week or every other week.  I think doing this would be a real asset to building your relationship with your new friend.