More Boxers Needed!

larrygs · #1 13th August 2010, 08:28 AM

Layla and I have been getting agility training at a large facility with many classes. I received the membership list today listing handlers and dogs. I WAS SHOCKED. Of the 160 members, many with multiple dogs, THERE ARE ONLY THREE BOXERS! Plus, I think Layla is the only one currently active.

Boxers need and love exercise, mental stimulation, and engagement with you. I also think they like to show off. Agility is perfect for all this. It also great off leash training. Yes, in the beginning there is so much energy, and well, boxers do get wound up. However it gets better as they learn to focus on you and becomes great fun.

I can understand how Border collies dominate the sport. However I have wondered why there are not many boxers doing agility trials. You would think boxers could do pretty good. We are still learning, but clearly at a rate faster than anyone in our classes. Perhaps there is a road block up ahead. Or perhaps boxer owners just don't see it as something their kids can do.

So if you have any inclination, give it a try, you may come to love it. It would be nice seeing more boxers having fun in the ring.

RockyCody · #2 13th August 2010, 09:31 AM

I second this!

It is so much fun and my dog LOVES it. He was a nightmare the first 2 weeks but has been doing great now! He's such a star.

I Love the bond we have together from doing agility training - he's always been a mama's boy but is now WAY more obedient at home too.

It's a great experience and I think that boxers COULD dominate the sport, if we allowed them to try!

Find a class near you and sign up!

johann · #3 13th August 2010, 10:36 AM

I'm waiting until my leg is healed enough to run....then we start agility. Right now we are limping our way around rally courses. I bet boxers could be really dominant in agility if more people gave it a try.

I was baffled at all the border collies and labs @ our 1st rally trial. Everyone (including the judge) said "I've never seen a boxer do rally before".

whiskers · #4 13th August 2010, 08:46 PM

I'm still waiting for a class I can go to! The only place nearby that offered classes at a day and time I can attend didn't have any openings for their next session. I'm on a waiting list though... just hope I'm not waiting too long. The other place I want to go to, we took the prerequisite "sports foundation" class, but unfortunately their agility classes just aren't offered at a time that I can go.

I have bought some PVC pipe though, hoping I can make my own lame little course and at least do some very minimal things lol.

myjasper · #5 25th August 2010, 05:13 PM

Jasper is only 14 weeks tomorrow but i found this site that gives a list of parts and everything to make a agility course on a budget. since i have the space im think im going to have DH help me build it.

Build Your Own Agility Course For Your Dog

their is a course close buy but the class would be about the same cost as building my own just thought i would share

DiverDiva · #6 12th September 2010, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whiskers

I'm still waiting for a class I can go to! The only place nearby that offered classes at a day and time I can attend didn't have any openings for their next session. I'm on a waiting list though... just hope I'm not waiting too long. The other place I want to go to, we took the prerequisite "sports foundation" class, but unfortunately their agility classes just aren't offered at a time that I can go.

I have bought some PVC pipe though, hoping I can make my own lame little course and at least do some very minimal things lol.

Out of curiosity, where are you located?

Don't worry about a 'lame' little course, that is how we all start!

CoraBoxer · #7 13th September 2010, 08:26 AM

I just have this feeling that if I took her to one, she wouldn't care about any of the obstacles/courses and want to run after other dogs/people. The pre-req for everything here is recall/obedience cause its off leash from the start almost. We're working on it cause I want to get Cora into something like agility. Where you're going can people come and watch the classes? Just curious.

johann · #8 13th September 2010, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoraBoxer

I just have this feeling that if I took her to one, she wouldn't care about any of the obstacles/courses and want to run after other dogs/people. The pre-req for everything here is recall/obedience cause its off leash from the start almost. We're working on it cause I want to get Cora into something like agility. Where you're going can people come and watch the classes? Just curious.

We're doing off-leash rally classes, not agility, but it's the same concept....lots of other people and dogs around to visit. Johann has gotten a lot better since we first started. But, I let him drag a thin leash so if he tries to go visiting (or attack the cones which is much more likely), I can intervene quickly. He gets super yummy treats that are only for Rally classes and has a Rally only kong wubba.

Are there any foundations for agility type classes around you? At my training center it is ok to do that level with the dog mostly on leash (or dragging a leash) because it's getting the dog used to the obstacles and not focused on speed at all. Most of the foundation classes (around me anyways) works on getting the dog to focus on you...but it takes getting out there and trying it for them to realize they still need to listen.

larrygs · #9 13th September 2010, 03:19 PM

Our training facility actually requires you to visit before signing up to be sure you have an idea of what it is all about.

For us the intro level for agility began on leash then slowly transitioned to off leash. For example, they would do heeling or an obstacle off leash, but immediately go back on leash. At least that was how it was with Layla. Over time one obstacle, becomes a sequence of two, and so on until we now can do 15-20. When we are done she comes to me to get rewarded and back on leash.

As said, they learn to focus on you and doing the obstacles. The off leash control actually becomes much easier. They really begin to make a distinction of when they are working vs not. LOL, plus don't underestimate the power of really good treats. However when we are not working, I cannot trust Layla off leash at a distance yet. Far too many distractions. Perhaps some day.

One great benefit is her off leash control outdoors at home got markedly better as we learned agility. We don't have fences, yet she will stay in the yard helping me do chores.

johann · #10 13th September 2010, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jaxon

Larrygs I have a question. (I can't get the place to call me back) This place mentioned Rally and then Agility as 2 seperate things. So now I'm confused. It also mentioned that companionship thingy that it had to be done first. I guess the quesiton is what is the difference between the 2

My previous post was poorly worded...I meant that the temptation to run and visit other dogs is the same in agility and advanced rally classes (off leash). The sports are not really similar, though I do think a lot of dog/handlers (in my area) cross over and do both.

Agility is obstacles- jumps, tunnels, weave poles, a-frames, teeters and courses made of these obstacles. Agility is probably far more fun for boxers than rally is, though it looks more challenging to me.

Some day I will be able to do agility (have a bum ankle/leg that is slowly healing).

In the meantime, I started doing Rally with Johann. It's a lot of fun and rather addictive....I planned to do 1 class and never compete. We're starting our 4th course next week and doing our 2nd show this weekend. You know what they say about best laid plans.

Rally is a (more) fun version of competitive obedience. Rally is a course of 18-20 signs/instructions that you have to follow. Level 1/novice is on leash (signs range from sit-down-sit, come front, return to heel, pivots, turns, and 360s), level 2/advanced is off leash (more interesting signs, heeling thru food bowls while off leash, leave dog and recall, and can have 1 jump). Level 3/expert is also off leash, but the signs are more complicated/intricate than level 2 (leave dog then run away and recall dog to front position; backwards heeling for 3 steps; 3 different jump commands/types; 180 degree pivots left and right).

If he's had some basic obedience and is decent at heeling/sitting/down, you should be able to jump into a rally level 1 class if you were interested. That level (at least at the place i train at) is very basic and mostly about learning the rules of rally and working on focus.
I'm guessing the same would apply to a foundations agility class....could you schedule a time for the trainer to "evaluate" your dog and see what level classes she'd be appropriate for? That's how I got to skip the companion dog class (had done it at a previous facility) and go right to rally.

larrygs · #11 14th September 2010, 07:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johann

....I planned to do 1 class and never compete. We're starting our 4th course next week and doing our 2nd show this weekend. You know what they say about best laid plans.

LOL, my plan was to go to the first class only for the purpose of watching my DW and Layla. Yes I know what they say about best laid plans,...

Great discription of agility and rally. You can also look at videos on youtube of agility or rally at different competition levels. I have found it valuable and fascinating to watch others.

One common thread with agility or rally seems to be the connection you build with your dog. It is hard to believe the distracted, high energy, clowns our boxers can be, actually doing this stuff. The beginning is a challenge, .....uh well ok perhaps more than just the beginning. However once you get going you appreciate they are indeed "working dogs" in they own kind of style.

We are having fun, and most of the time I am very proud of our girl. ( LOL, and at other times,....)

johann · #12 14th September 2010, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by larrygs

LOL, my plan was to go to the first class only for the purpose of watching my DW and Layla. Yes I know what they say about best laid plans,...

One common thread with agility or rally seems to be the connection you build with your dog. It is hard to believe the distracted, high energy, clowns our boxers can be, actually doing this stuff. The beginning is a challenge, .....uh well ok perhaps more than just the beginning. However once you get going you appreciate they are indeed "working dogs" in they own kind of style.

We are having fun, and most of the time I am very proud of our girl. ( LOL, and at other times,....)

Most of the times I'm proud of Johann......when he decides to redecorate the course and attack the cones, not so much.

He gets bored with the level 2 courses and decides to amuse himself. At least we provide laughs for everyone.

Was DW sad that you took over agility with Layla? I brought my DH to a tricks training workshop with Johann and he took over completely.

Doesn't help that Johann loves him more than me