Why i LOVE agility

[AgilityPup]

Hehe. I agree, I couldn't run my sisters do at a trial (I do here at home), because I have to chalenge him TOO MUCH! He *needs* someone to be a head of him going faster if you want any speed at all.... But, for fun trials his is awesome... Usualy doesn't knock a single bar!

With Zoey, I run as fast as I can, and shes STILL ahead of me - mind you I can't run very fast for very long , but we have fun - thats all that counts!

 

[doberkim]

This is a great thread!!
Those high drive sink'n fast dogs regardless of breed come with a price, sometimes a very high price unless your a pro. Meaning it takes LONGER to train them and the training had better be COMPLETE. It is not uncommon for those dogs to take twice + as long to prepare for competing. Which costs more in training fee's etc but to run such a dog BEFORE it is ready will cost more in NQ's and bad habits that have to be retrained.
As a handler, you HAVE to be fit or at least have some excellent distance skills, obstacle discrimnation etc. That type of dog demands a handler to have high skills, if you don't well...........
The skills required of both the handler and the dog are much higher. Oh yeah, your timing had better be bang on as well, if you are late giving a directional by 1/1000th's of a sec it often results in a OC. You often have to tell those dogs 2-3 obstacles ahead to where they are going.
Unless you are a Pro, the Q rate and Titling rate is *usually* much lower than a slower Steady Eddie.
I have never had the luxury of running a slower dog, it was always all or nothing. I would never trade it, I would take the lower Q rate and the OC's any day because when it does come together and you lay down a flaming fast clean run that brings your fellow competitors to their feet cheering.......there is not another feeling like it. Of course its often very common to almost drop to the ground after those runs trying to breath. Oh yeah, try to remember that run..............its hard because you just don't have time to think, let alone remember it , you don't have time for a mistake and if you do make a mistake....you certainly often don't have time to fix it. lol.

There are certainly the pro's and con's of each style of running, it just depends on what you want or what you are capable of as a handler.
Or more importantly how much you are willing to wait, train and be dedicated to training such a dog while your friends are already out there running their dogs and Titling.

Just a few thoughts..........

Lynn

I just wanted to quote this because it is SO TRUE in any sport - it's great having a dog with insane drive, but it DOES come with a price. My dog is much more sensitive to things and it's taking him MUCH longer to prep for ANYTHING - not because he cannot do it, but because he's SO SMART that he picks up on all my mistakes and I need to be twice as clear to him what I want, or he does what he wants or what he THINKS i want.

A slow, steady dog isn't necessarily bad in any sport - you can be quite successful and even get a MACH and an OTCH on a dog that isn't flashy and drivey - because these dogs are consistent, easy to control, and easy to direct!

 

[mrose_s]

talk about more drive bing harder. mac will make a great agility dog but her super high drive makes it really hard for her to concentrate. everythign has to be REALLY fast to keep her interested.

 

[doberkim]

talk about more drive bing harder. mac will make a great agility dog but her super high drive makes it really hard for her to concentrate. everythign has to be REALLY fast to keep her interested.

My dogs drive doesn't prevent his concentration - in fact, it's almost the opposite. When we are working, he is so eager to do everything that he wants it done 1000% - we work on left turns, he sees the cones coming and starts his left turn before I even start to cue it. When we work on attention from a distance, the slightest pause and my dog sees that from across the room and will follow that signal (pausing to look over my shoulder resembles the crouch and run game, for instance). He's so sensitive to my handling that me glancing too much at him pushes him out of heel position.

For me, a dog with extreme drive requires a VERY clear and experienced handler, more than anything - for starters, there's much more besides that tho. He may be a lot easier to motivate, but he requires very clear and direct instruction and very precise handling.