What to shoot for

[danyp1]

Originally posted by DNeff
Actually many facilities offer puppy agility now.

Thanks for the tip I have not seen any here. I will have to look some more or does anyone know one in san diego area?

[Rott-Wiley]

Dawn, we have one here that I put my then 9 month old girl through and it was great. All the dogs in the class were the same age and we all came from the previous basic obedience class.

danyp1, I would think that anywhere between 18 months and 2 years of age would be a good time to start them. Unless we're talking about a late maturing type of dog, then I'd wait.

[DNeff]

Originally posted by danyp1
When would you say that would be? 1-2 years?
I was considering agility as well but the club here want solid ob. first. They also have a test you have to take before you can join them. But when would it be ok for a rottweiler to start agility?

For an intact dog the growth plates close about 18 months. A neutered dog will be a bit sooner. To do serious agility work (meaning full contacts, upright weaves and full height jumps) you should wait until the plates close.

Puppies and young dogs can start ground work, tunnels, contact behavior (w/o contacts) as soon as they 8 weeks old. Jumping can come later - six months and older. It should be kept to a minimum and height should be well below the elbow.

I strongly recommend puppy agility classes, both for skill building for later agility work, coordination for a large breed and confidence work.

Dawn + Osa
U-CD Cammcastle's Mystic Riven CDX OAC OJC OGC OAJ NA TT CGC
http://members.aol.com/dplantier
http://members.aol.com/rottweilerworld

[DNeff]

Originally posted by danyp1
Thanks for the tip I have not seen any here. I will have to look some more or does anyone know one in san diego area?

Here's a great place to search for agility classes:
http://www.cleanrun.com/agilityinfo/...clubsearch.cfm

Dawn + Osa
U-CD Cammcastle's Mystic Riven CDX OAC OJC OGC OAJ NA TT CGC
http://members.aol.com/dplantier
http://members.aol.com/rottweilerworld

[danyp1]

Thank you for your replies. Sam is female/soon spayed. She is only 5 month now so I still have a while to go agility wise. But I like to plan ahead. She will be doing basic ob. in January and my first goal is the CGC. Agility would be more for fun not really for competition. We already are nightly visitors to a park where she does tiny jumps and kids tunnels and stairs. She even tries to go up the toddler walls with the pumps in it but I do not let her. I`m concerned for her because of slipping. So I think the puppy one would be good for her after the CGC. She has so much energy and wants to please.
THanks again.

[danyp1]

Originally posted by DNeff
Here's a great place to search for agility classes:
http://www.cleanrun.com/agilityinfo/...clubsearch.cfm

Dawn + Osa
U-CD Cammcastle's Mystic Riven CDX OAC OJC OGC OAJ NA TT CGC
http://members.aol.com/dplantier
http://members.aol.com/rottweilerworld

Thanks will check it out. :)