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FAQs - Agility
Does my dog need obedience to start
agility classes?
Basic obedience is helpful for any Beginner
in Agility. Aireborne Agility does not require formal obedience to start agility classes. Entry level classes are
initially work with the dogs on leash and gradually move to total off-leash work to help keep the dogs
focused.
How old must my puppy be to start
agility?
Aireborne Agility allows puppies as young as four months
old who have completed vaccinations to start agility training. However, Puppies are not allowed to jump obstacles of
any height. Puppies are taught on low, safe age appropriate equipment.
Can my child work our dog in class?
Aireborne Agility welcomes junior handlers as long
as a parent is a sideline cheering squad. Aireborne Agility is proud to be part of introducing agility to future generations.
What happens if the weather is bad?
The covered, lighted arena where classes are taught
permits training in inclement weather. Aireborne students are notfied via Aireborne Yahoo Group web site should classes
need to be re-scheduled due to bad weather.
How long before we're ready to compete?
On average, most dogs and handlers need at least six
months to a year before they are ready to get their feet wet at agility show-n-go's and matches. These are events
that carry no titles, awards, or prizes but are a great warm-up before actual competition. Aireborne Agility Instructors
have found that teaching the dog the agility obstacles is the easy part. The more challenging part of agility training
is teaching the handler how to communicate the signals in a timely fashion. As with most things there are exceptions
to every general rule of thumb. Some dog/handler teams are not ready nearly that soon and others are ready then or sooner.
Can I start more than one Dog at
a time?
Aireborne Agility recommends that unless you have already
taken a dog through agility classes that you start and focus on one dog at first. Once that dog is in the intermediate
level, starting the second dog will be a lot easier on everyone. A first time agility handler has lots of new things
to learn and since different dogs work differently switching back and forth between the dogs shortchanges everyone.
How can I tell if my dog will like
agility?
Because Aireborne Agility starts all of it's students
on equipment that is low and safe we can spend most of our time having fun with our dogs. Training methods based on
positive renforcements means that the dog has lots of opportunities to earn rewards such as toys and treats. Why wouldn't
they like agility! New students are encouraged to visit classes and watch our training in action.
Can both my husband and I work our
dog in a class?
This really depends on the dog. Some dogs are
more responsive to one spouse than the other. If this is the case, then it can be frustrating for both the dog and the
handler to maintain focus in the training. If your dog is equally responsive to each of you, then switching back and
forth isn't a problem. Keep in mind though that you will need to pay for two working spots in a class.
My dog is six years old. Is
that too old for agility?
It is almost never too late to start training one's
dog. However, common sense tells us that if our dog has health problems then care must be taken to assure that the dog
is not pushed beyond it's limits. The older the dog, the more care we must take in maintaining its good health.
Please talk with an instructor about any health concerns that you may have for either you or your dog.
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