CockersOnline Forum
Cocker Activities => Other Activities => Topic started by: Ernies mum on April 28, 2015, 05:56:08 PM
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Finally I've managed to find a local agility club for Ernie and I . We've got our first class on Thursday evening which I'm very excited about !
The trainer advised to take something to reward/ motivate Ernie so I'm taking a ball on a rope ... Ernie has a love of balls even over treats :005:
Just wondering whether I should walk Ernie as usual at teatime ( he has 3 walks a day ) and if I should feed him before or after the class ( he usually has his tea at about 6pm , an hour after his walk )The class is 7.30-8.30pm .
All advice from other peeps that attend agility would be gratefully received .
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That's exciting hope you both enjoy it :lol2:
I didn't feed Ben much before agility I wanted his full attention once I got there, and I also didn't like him running round after eating.
I wouldn't walk Ernie the first week until you see how active he is once you get there, Ben used to come home shattered from concentrating, running and getting excited, it was about the only time he was tired after agility so he wouldn't have needed a walk as well
Have a great time
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Thank you for the tips bens mum .
Can't wait for the class and I think ernie will love it . The trainer said the classes are very popular with cocker spaniels so she's used to their enthusiasm ... That was a relief :005:
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I'm sure you'll both love it.
I'd be inclined to feed after the class, but then my dogs are food not toy motivated so get rewarded with treats at training.
It's suprising how tired they get just from the brain work & atmosphere
Look forward to hearing how you get on
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good luck and enjoy. We are on our third lesson and enjoying it so far😃. The first one Maisy was mentally exhausted after it big time! I'd feed after if it was me. Our class is a bit earlier than yours but I give Maisy a substantial snack which she doesn't say no to and she has that mid to later afternoon. She still has her 2 walks a day with the second one being a bit shorter than normal just to take some of the edge off her if that is possible!! But also I don,t want her worn out so she is too tired to think and be a polite dog. I'm looking forward to hear how you get on, we can compare notes! We have 6 people in o ur class and being a mid 40 year old, I am the second oldest which I find very refreshing, the agility thing seems to encompass all age groups.
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Thanks everyone . The class went really well ernie was an absolute superstar , only dog in beginners class to clear 4 jumps followed by tunnel at first attempt ....in true cocker style he did a victory lap past all the other dogs and owners at full speed :005:. Instructor said we won't be in beginners class for long .
Can't wait to take him next week , he's fast asleep now after all the excitement :D
Gertie I did find there was a mix of ages but like you mentioned I was one of youngest and I'm 40 .
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Glad that all went well. We are agility novices and had our first inter school competition last Sunday. Here are a few pictures from it
https://www.facebook.com/ProDogSchool/photos/ms.c.eJw9lEsWQyEIQ3fUA4p89r~_x~_gJx0MFtMPAAzeUarluiLEJ~;~_XFFfGwSzRb6ceke9nN~;evKQW1~;UY5muXEY9Oj6GjyVYFvXEeXHqOK8vfqOetCAjX57Jd1bBb~_nj1l8~_6~;MyfNrfqR~;7zlsxvzviNYfDEW~;092p~_~_kG81HCiJ~_aPN~_K3kVFf1OR38e4~;~;e4AvvP8Phd8b~_Rj9NPYX9fV56ef3jPZWWTUL0fJ1fpjaX366wf1ihv5NNM~;Op7z8DvOj7dQ7~_8T1nfH~_~_UL6tX1HdaX6KespN71vXoLfs59C1nNU8~_3nl885xuKfXEPxif8OZ~_4rQNvMvZx7~;G7i~;Wdv2s23Pu6uK9pp3nqyfX1J7Kor9X8dNR7~;Plr~_0~;~_RP~;v31NvZp~;fPO~_7dSOjP8r5Ze~;f4fdltt~_mXy3En3wMfdG~;rPXZ~;xKDzvte2sx~_laAfavM9tdAPpV~;1fVTex9q4f7fAYcP8lfXWxv4b79PVm5mv~_63sd2E~;I7if5ZiXvXyn368V1Ntv3qe76NgXEdaD9~_reufMY8boYD~;89~_3AZ~;XCn38b7tc3J~;SZqkbEf3NfvIoHnfbr8xUsl46M5Hre~;0D86v~_0~;1HIsJg~-~-.bps.a.826174560794928.1073741842.383440885068300/826175834128134/?type=1&theater
https://www.facebook.com/ProDogSchool/photos/ms.c.eJw9lEsWQyEIQ3fUA4p89r~_x~_gJx0MFtMPAAzeUarluiLEJ~;~_XFFfGwSzRb6ceke9nN~;evKQW1~;UY5muXEY9Oj6GjyVYFvXEeXHqOK8vfqOetCAjX57Jd1bBb~_nj1l8~_6~;MyfNrfqR~;7zlsxvzviNYfDEW~;092p~_~_kG81HCiJ~_aPN~_K3kVFf1OR38e4~;~;e4AvvP8Phd8b~_Rj9NPYX9fV56ef3jPZWWTUL0fJ1fpjaX366wf1ihv5NNM~;Op7z8DvOj7dQ7~_8T1nfH~_~_UL6tX1HdaX6KespN71vXoLfs59C1nNU8~_3nl885xuKfXEPxif8OZ~_4rQNvMvZx7~;G7i~;Wdv2s23Pu6uK9pp3nqyfX1J7Kor9X8dNR7~;Plr~_0~;~_RP~;v31NvZp~;fPO~_7dSOjP8r5Ze~;f4fdltt~_mXy3En3wMfdG~;rPXZ~;xKDzvte2sx~_laAfavM9tdAPpV~;1fVTex9q4f7fAYcP8lfXWxv4b79PVm5mv~_63sd2E~;I7if5ZiXvXyn368V1Ntv3qe76NgXEdaD9~_reufMY8boYD~;89~_3AZ~;XCn38b7tc3J~;SZqkbEf3NfvIoHnfbr8xUsl46M5Hre~;0D86v~_0~;1HIsJg~-~-.bps.a.826174560794928.1073741842.383440885068300/826177170794667/?type=1&theater
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Brilliant photos wendell :luv:
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Well we've now been to 3 agility lessons and ernie is top of the class . He absolutely loves it , he's now jumping 3 jumps , a wall , jumping through the hanging tyre , we've started to learn the weaving poles and the a frame . It's the best activity we've done together , I can't recommend it enough ! Ernie is so excited when he's completed something new that he completes a victory lap past everyone at warp speed before returning to me for a play with his ball :005:.
Last week the instructor commented that everything ernie does is done with huge enthusiasm and at at a million miles an hour ... So true cocker style then ! luv:.
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Finally I've managed to find a local agility club for Ernie and I . We've got our first class on Thursday evening which I'm very excited about !
The trainer advised to take something to reward/ motivate Ernie so I'm taking a ball on a rope ... Ernie has a love of balls even over treats :005:
Just wondering whether I should walk Ernie as usual at teatime ( he has 3 walks a day ) and if I should feed him before or after the class ( he usually has his tea at about 6pm , an hour after his walk )The class is 7.30-8.30pm .
All advice from other peeps that attend agility would be gratefully received .
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Well Done Ernie :) I go to my first agility class with Luna on Wednesday, I'm really nervous lol
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Lunabear , I bet you'll have a great time . I was bit nervous about ernies first class but luckily there are other spaniels in the class and the instructor has cockers so she's used to their enthusiasm :005:.
Let me know how you get on .
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Will do :) I know we won't be doing any jumps other than walking over them as Luna isn't quite 1 til the weekend so maybe in a week or two. I need to make sure I stock up on cheese and sausages otherwise the attention will be gone lol
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Well we've now been to 3 agility lessons and ernie is top of the class . He absolutely loves it , he's now jumping 3 jumps , a wall , jumping through the hanging tyre , we've started to learn the weaving poles and the a frame . It's the best activity we've done together , I can't recommend it enough ! Ernie is so excited when he's completed something new that he completes a victory lap past everyone at warp speed before returning to me for a play with his ball :005:.
Last week the instructor commented that everything ernie does is done with huge enthusiasm and at at a million miles an hour ... So true cocker style then ! luv:.
:clapping: so glad to hear you're both loving it.
Will be looking out for a post next year to say you've entered your first show ;)
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So glad you are both enjoying it. I gave up after 3 sessions with Miss J (even though I paid for 8) after it was obvious she just couldnt see the point in jumping over things when with just a leisurely paced detour she had to put no effort in to get to the other side! The tunnel was seen as just somewhere to sit and at the age I am, had visions of somebody posting a photo of my backside sticking out the other side of the tunnel trying to get her out.
Chasing chickens / rabbits (anything that darts) and she is like a superstar greyhound and she would no doubt scale walls to get to them >:D but I havent yet found a class that covers that!
Keep going Ernie obviously is a natural!
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Lunabear , I bet you'll have a great time . I was bit nervous about ernies first class but luckily there are other spaniels in the class and the instructor has cockers so she's used to their enthusiasm :005:.
Let me know how you get on .
Luna did brilliant on her first class :luv: did a couple of different jump sequences on the lowest setting :D very proud mummy here
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Brilliant , well done Luna . Glad it all went well . Keep me posted on how you continue to get on , it will be good to compare notes ;)
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Brilliant , well done Luna . Glad it all went well . Keep me posted on how you continue to get on , it will be good to compare notes ;)
I'm going to see if I can get someone to video our next training session for me to be able to look back on to see where she started at to where we end up later on :)
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So glad you are both enjoying it. I gave up after 3 sessions with Miss J (even though I paid for 8) after it was obvious she just couldnt see the point in jumping over things when with just a leisurely paced detour she had to put no effort in to get to the other side! The tunnel was seen as just somewhere to sit and at the age I am, had visions of somebody posting a photo of my backside sticking out the other side of the tunnel trying to get her out.
Chasing chickens / rabbits (anything that darts) and she is like a superstar greyhound and she would no doubt scale walls to get to them >:D but I havent yet found a class that covers that!
Keep going Ernie obviously is a natural!
Thank you , your post did make me smile >:D
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Well we've now been to 3 agility lessons and ernie is top of the class . He absolutely loves it , he's now jumping 3 jumps , a wall , jumping through the hanging tyre , we've started to learn the weaving poles and the a frame . It's the best activity we've done together , I can't recommend it enough ! Ernie is so excited when he's completed something new that he completes a victory lap past everyone at warp speed before returning to me for a play with his ball :005:.
Last week the instructor commented that everything ernie does is done with huge enthusiasm and at at a million miles an hour ... So true cocker style then ! luv:.
:clapping: so glad to hear you're both loving it.
Will be looking out for a post next year to say you've entered your first show ;)
Thank you I think we're both pretty addicted to agility now so look forward to doing a lot more