Going to agility class after dropping out of basic obedience?

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Member Since
07/18/2011

Barked: Wed Sep 19, '12 6:47pm PST


	I have a very smart, athletic adolescent poodle, and I would like to train him in agility for fun at some point. But we started a basic obedience class a while ago, and it was miserable. He was excited with all the other dogs around, so he whined during every class, loudly and almost constantly. He had learned to do almost everything that the class covered when he was much younger, so there was nothing for him to do except practice stays and heeling in our little area for the whole hour-long class, and of course whine. I also get really self-conscious trying to train with other people around (plus, during the class, stressed out because of the whining). I'm also a horrible student, in that I prefer to work through things on my own when I don't have to try and do exactly what I'm told to do. My puppy has learned all his basics plus a few things like stopping and jumping on command easily from my clicker-training him at home, so I at least think that my training works well. He's definitely trainable, and maybe I'm a decent trainer, but together we're just a social wreck. We did several classes that went like that. I came in late one day with my dog who immediately started whining while surrounded by all the other consistently quiet and calm dogs (even the younger puppies!) who were there to learn, and I couldn't stand it. I just walked out so I wouldn't have to deal with it again and ruin everybody else's class, and I've skipped two classes since then out of the seven week program. My mom said that I should keep going and that he would eventually figure out that it was time to work, but I think that it would be a self-reinforcing cycle if I was always nervous and he didn't actually have any work to do while he was there. Was she right, in that he would have calmed down just by going to that class over and over again? And would it be appropriate/a good idea to try an agility class when he's older? My thought there is that if he has something interesting to do he'll automatically become more focused on that than his surroundings. I'm probably not right though, or they just won't accept someone who didn't finish the basic obedience class, so maybe I won't ever do agility with him. Edited by author Wed Sep 19, '12 6:48pm PST

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Moose

I love sitting- in laps

Barked: Wed Sep 19, '12 7:31pm PST


	This was Moose at puppy class. Although he was just a 3 month old pup, he could not focus for the life of me. He thought it was playtime and pulled and pulled to get to the other dogs. Halfway through each class, Moose wore himself out and couldn't focus even more. Six week of classes was no fun. Hoping to get better results, I enrolled him in puppy class 2. About 3 weeks had passed between the end of the last class and the start of the next session. He was aroun 6 months old at that point. Same thing. While all the other dogs sat quietly, Moose pulled even more to get at the dogs to play. And again he wore himself out and the last half of each class was me just sitting. I dreaded going to class. I gave up. I bailed on the remainder of classes and just worked with him at home. But, in regard to the agility question- I don't know if a class would require an actual basic obedience certificate. Of course those who know will pipe in. My suggestion to you is to work hard on more basic obedience skills and get your dog to a point where you can take him to an agility class. Call and ask an instructor of an agility class what they expect. I would think your dogs overall behavior is what's most important.

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Kodiak

The cheese ninja

Barked: Wed Sep 19, '12 8:01pm PST


	That sounds familiar. Our basic ob class started off miserable. I was spending about 75% of the class trying to wrestle Kodiak into his corner. He also was a very quick learner and extremely food motivated, so thankfully the 5% of the time he was actually focused on me was enough for him to learn. At the suggestion of the teacher one day when I was especially beside myself, chewing helped him a lot. We'd get him a bully stick and he would stop trying to yank us towards the other dogs and lie there quietly while she was giving instructions. I know self control is important, but if I were running a class, I might let the dogs meet briefly at the beginning. It really does seem like a lot to ask them to just ignore a room full of strange dogs. Can you look for reviews of agility teachers, and find someone who has good classroom management? I think you want someone who can help you when you feel overwhelmed, and I think experience is probably a pretty good indicator. A lot of agility teachers are also reactive dog trainers, who I'm sure are not the least bit fazed by whining.

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Bella and- Daisy CGC

I'm a Meanie

Barked: Wed Sep 19, '12 8:04pm PST


	Actually, agility requires even more concentration and focus than basic obedience. There are people and dogs all over in some some classes working on different things, its loud and there are a ton of distractions. It tends to be high energy so if you aren't able to calm your dog in a basics class, in agility might be even harder. The reason they require you to have completed basic obedience is because your dog generally needs to be able to sit while under high distractions, stay, heel, ect.

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Lupi

I\\\'ll do- anything for a- treat!

Barked: Wed Sep 19, '12 8:59pm PST


	Yeah, agility requires a lot of self-control. I know at our classes, we weren't allowed to let our dogs socialize or even sniff each other. And eventually the dogs are working off-leash as well, so they really must have obedience down pat first. I would work hard on ignoring other dogs, and maybe set something up in your basement to teach your dog some basic ability.

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Rexy

I dig in mud- puddles!

Barked: Wed Sep 19, '12 9:22pm PST


	I agree with B&D and Lupi. Agility classes will require more from you and your dog than basic OB will. Pup will need to be able to focus on you despite some pretty intense distractions, and as Lupi has mentioned, eventually agility progresses to off-leash, which requires good focus and a decent recall. Honestly, your OB classes sound like they were not fun at all. Did your trainer not try to address your concerns? Would it be possible to try a class under a different trainer and see if that helps? IME, most agility classes will require basic OB, and if you can't produce proof of training, then it's very likely that the instructor will make it a requirement that they meet you and your dog to assess just where you guys are at. In my area, there are two types of agility classes offered. A "recreational" agility class that is designed to introduce owners and dogs to the concept of agility and quickly has the dogs learning the obstacles, and a more competitive type of class, where there is weeks of flatwork and jumpwork. I'm in my third set of these classes, and only in this third set of classes have we really started to sequence (and then jumps only). Finally, if you are into reading dog books, "Control Unleashed: The Puppy Program" by Leslie McDevitt is a great read. Lots of info on building focus and impulse control.

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Farley

Farlekiin the- Dragonborn

Barked: Wed Sep 19, '12 10:39pm PST


	I've had Farles in agility classes for ummm.. 19 weeks now, and I am STILL trying to teach him to relax in the classes. He loves other dogs and is great off-leash, and on-leash around calm dogs. But in agility, as soon as the dogs start running, barking, and making noise, he gets extremely overexcited and it is very hard to calm him down. (I run him HARD with the Chuckit in a field first, for at least 45 minutes before every class, which can be hit or miss- sometimes it helps but he's so high energy it sometimes doesn't make much of a difference at all). As was stated, agility requires even more training and focus, ESPECIALLY for a highly-distracted dog. Having Farley sit or lay down as the other dogs are running around is his definition of TORTURE. Some agility classes do require that all dogs be crated while a dog is doing a run, which is a great idea in my opinion. It would make it easier for highly-distracted dog to focus. However, things are not always as we'd wish them to be (dogs in Farley's agility classes are leashed while waiting for their turns, but never crated). So, when we are waiting for our turn, I put a good amount of space between him and the extra-distracting dogs (any loud, fast dog), and we work on having him focus on me instead of the other dogs. I let him offer the behavior of looking me in the eye, and then I mark that behavior and reward it. Reinforcing focus/eye contact on you with distractions around is a great way to allow that behavior to become more frequent. We also sit off to the side and play little games so he can keep busy and earn little rewards instead of focusing on the other dogs. He is still a little mouthy and howly but he has been getting better. I did try using a small dose of Melatonin before class to try and help him calm down a bit, but I didn't really notice a change with it. Agility is a highly stimulating, loud, exciting environment, but if you have the patience and persistence to work your dog in that environment, it can be done. As suggested, Control Unleashed is a good book to pick up as it is especially useful for dogs that have trouble focusing on the task in overstimulating environments. Definitely pick up a copy if you can. Good luck!

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UCH Onyx TT

Do you even- lift?

Barked: Wed Sep 19, '12 11:54pm PST


	Since being around all the other dogs is too much for him right now, I'd work on training around distractions on your own first. Focus is generally something that has to be taught. If he has great focus in the house, go into the yard and train there. Then a quiet park, around a few people, around one calm dog, ect. ect. Gradually build up to the point where he can focus on you even with other interesting things around. Once he's there, I'd enroll in another obedience class before trying agility. As others mentioned, agility is a step above basic obedience, and it really helps to have basic OB around distractions down before starting. Edited by author Wed Sep 19, '12 11:57pm PST

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ARCHMX Asher RL1X RL2X RL3X RL

we will dance in- the ring without- words

Barked: Thu Sep 20, '12 3:39am PST


	I am also on board w B&D and Lupi. Agility requires control and focus. In fact, our first agility class is called Control for Agility. Have you seen Dr. Karen Overall's protocols for relaxation? http://www.dogscouts.org/Protocol_for_relaxation.html It may be a good investment of your time to work through them.

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Cohen CD RE- ADC FDCh-S- CGN HIC

The Monster

Barked: Thu Sep 20, '12 6:40am PST


	At my school we normally suggest people attend 1) our basic obedience class, 2) our advanced obedience/practical class and 3) our focus/off leash class before we put them into agility level one. As others have said, agility takes a great deal of self control and focus, and from your descriptions of your class experience, that's something you and your dog need to work on. Don't fret though - you can create some pretty amazing self control with some basic exercises (like Asher's post above). You can also consider doing some reading on your own, so pick up Control Unleashed by McDevitt. But don't shy away from group classes because of your bad experience. Consider it useful feedback that working with you around distractions/other dogs is what you need to work on most.

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