I have been thinking for a while about starting some agility classes with Harls and she is now 18 months old with a clean bill of health. We haven't done her second set of xrays for her joints (first was done during her spay) because at the moment we no concerns, we being the vet and ourselves, and our vet is against having her under anaesthetic unless necessary. There was absolutely no cause for concern with her 7 month scans and although she wasn't fully developed we are trying to not be paranoid. On the heels of that unnecessary explanation I am feeling the need to ask whether I am putting Harley at risk with agility classes? I know that many people have done classes and still do and their dogs enjoy it very much. I phoned about the classes and the trainers are different people to the obedience trainers I have classes with at the moment but it is at the same club. The trainer was very hesitant about me bringing a labrador because they are too heavy. He asked me how big she is and I replied that she is more the working type than show type and we have been careful with her weight but he still was doubtful and then did a pop quiz about how much I know about dogs shoulders (I will admit that at this point I was a bit irritated) and I emphasized that I am just wanting to do classes for fun and fitness and she can jump over a pole on the round for all I care. Besides she jumps off our bed at least 5 times a day and lands on her front legs (a cheeky me wanted to say that I thought all dogs landed on their front legs). But now a seed of doubt has been planted. And I don't want to "see if it will hurt her".
Well, it's a high-impact sport, there's no doubt about that, so of course it's not risk free. But then, the same could be said of gundog work. Labradors are designed for jumping - the better the dog's conformation, the fewer problems this will cause their joints over the long term. Obviously, the lighter the dog, the better. I think you've mentioned before about Harley being predisposed to getting a bit soft around the edges, so I would probably want to ensure she was at her leanest before starting any jumping. As you say, you can keep her on the lowest jump height if you're not concerned about competing. For Shadow, agility definitely improves his quality of life. Not because it's bad without it ( ) but he adores it. That is definitely worth the inherent risks in my mind. I'd rather that than have him live a sedentary, boring life wrapped in cotton wool. The only thing I'd say is, if this guy is going to be negative about it during classes, maybe you should consider a different club? Oh, and in the UK some clinics do joint X-rays under sedation rather than GA. That might be something worth looking into if you wanted further X-rays in the future. I have some videos of us doing agility if you'd be interested in looking at how a Lab copes!
Hmmmm... A couple of my friends do quite high-level agility, and they both say it is very hard on the dogs' joints, and you have to be terrifically careful. Lighter, faster dogs (like border collies) are naturally more suited to competition agility work, but if all you want to do is the training, then maybe this is just the wrong club and the wrong trainer?
My trainer also has concerns with labs doing agility if they are too heavy and rarely allows labs in her agility classes. Quinn is fine featured/smaller bone structure and was quite lean when we were doing agility. Since we had done other classes, the trainer knew her build and allowed her to join agility. That being said, you can keep jumps etc very low and minimize the impact if it is just for fun and learning. Beginner agility is fairly low impact anyway, learning body awareness, cone wraps, beginner weaves, learning to be comfortable with tunnels and see saw, low jumps. If you still have concerns with joints, what about a tricks or scent work class? As the human trainer I liked both those classes better than agility given my novice training skills! I would say Quinn liked agility better though (especially tunnels and jumps).
Harley loooooves agility and is very, very fast. She is on the medium height jumps and I won’t go higher. She has some issues with muscles in her legs / hips but X-rays were clear so our vet couldn’t see any reason not to do it. She has regular massage which helps. We do it for fun too and there are quite a few labs who go to the training school that I do. Harley is 28kg and quite solid and muscular, but is very agile. I don’t see why you couldn’t do it.
Thank you for the input! I think I will go have a look at what the class is about before I take Harls. I definitely don't want to compete but the school I am at doesn't offer a tricks class but I did think I spotted what may be a scent class in the one field on a Saturday. So I will inquire about that. To be honest I don't think agility will be a serious interest for Harley, her instinct is not to jump over things and in many ways she is a cautious dog. We have been so careful about her not jumping for frisbees etc so that I why I want to be cautious about this too, but also the trainer got my back up a bit - not because he questioned a labrador for agility but the more than patronising anatomy lesson he gave and when I discussed it with DH I understood that I don't want to NOT go to the class because the guy was a bit of a prat on the phone - he isn't even the main trainer. But I also want to know that the seed of doubt is not disregarded. I don't know how seriously this club takes agility but I doubt it is going to be high level competition. I may be wrong but I doubt it. I am keen to try a rally course actually so I will inquire about that. Thanks again for the info.
Flyball is another option, as is Flygility. Are there any other clubs in your area that offer those? Rachael's boy Oberon competes in Flyball, and he's no slinky wee thing (I'm not calling you fat, Obi!). I can't blame you for being pi**ed at that instructor, he'd have got my back up too. If the agility section of your club is that biased against Labs then I'd look elsewhere.
I think it would be nice to have non-competitive agility classes. It was fun in the beginning. Jubilee enjoyed trying out the equipment at her own speed, but neither of us responded well when we had to rush around in a big hurry. I’d like for us to be able to just play around like a playground.
Comes back to that same old thing again - feeling a rapport with the trainer! It can make such a difference. There are so many things do to with our dogs , I think rally could be fun. I'm hoping to do some fun agility with cassie, but she loves jumping and is not particularly cautious, although I don't know what she'll think of the tunnel,
OH took Harvey to beginners agility. Harvey loved it, but OH found it far too fast. To be honest, Harvey did go at it like a bull in a china shop! They now do indoor agility, otherwise known as "doggy gym", which they both really enjoy. Lots of low level jumps, weaves, balancing for core exercises and even a dog treadmill.
Oh gosh, I think that will be the one I will take cassie to ! If to fast for mrs@uncle bob will be for me too. I may need a youngster to come along too !
I took Harley with to watch some agility at the show at our club. She became very excited so we went for a walk. I just have to say...oh my golly gosh - the blinking border collies!! They are so intense and over the top. And many just not pleasant dogs to be around. I am SO a labrador person.
I have to say this is the main reason I am not keen on agility - the dogs are encouraged to become very hyped up and intense - the opposite of gundog training, with its emphasis on calm focus.
Yes, I know what you mean, I hadn't thought about this before. I took Plum to flyball and the three other dogs there were collies and they were barking the whole time they weren't performing. I think Plum was a bit non-plussed as she sat quietly looking on. When you watch flyball at Crufts the waiting dogs are going bonkers. If agility is the same it's probably not for me despite the springs in Plum's feet!
I think that depends very much on the club. Where I go, dogs are encouraged to be calm. Lauren Langman and Sarah Stremmer both advocate for calmness in their sports dogs; being over-aroused just isn't healthy or productive. Of course you need enough arousal for speed, but that shouldn't mean the dogs are frothing at the mouth and screaming hysterically.
AAhhhhhh!!! That was awful! The people are lovely, they adore theirdogs but all the barking drove me nuts. No one was encouraging the dogs to yap and bark but no one was stopping it either and it is all very exciting for dogs. I felt like I have lost 5 months of training with Harley and I am actually very angry at myself for going. I should have known after watching the show that it would be super stimulating. I am exhausted and I feel like I was a bad dog owner tonight. After being hauled around almost constantly I pulled her back from going after another dog. And I wish I can say that I only did it once. I did it three times on different occasions. I feel like this brought out the utter worst in me. I am so incredibly disappointed in my poor decision making and also worried that I have done damage with Harley, to Harley.
Oh @Harley Quinn , oh dear. Thing is though we don't know unless we try do we? I'm not surprised the barking drove you nuts it would me too, if that happens when I take cassie I won't go again. Try not to beat yourself up , I doubt it will cause lasting harm to Harvey, you have done so much with her and have the bond. I get where you are coming from though, I often have the feeling that I might pull a string and unravel the work i'v put in with cassie
Inspired by @Lara and The Pig and after typing myreply to @Nibbler's Mum I decided to give agility class one last try. If only to ensure a pleasant experience for Harley. My plan was to go for 15 or 20 min, click and treat for the smallest behaviour and hopefully assuage some of my guilt for getting frustrated and pulling at her harness last week. When we got there we found fewer dogs and a much calmer environment. There was still a barking BC but for much shorter periods of time and only the one. The energy of the dogs was much lower and I was determined to be much calmer. Long story short, I took my own advise and took the pressure off both of us. We stayed for a bit, tried some of the exercises and had a nice time. Harley had a great time. She even worked off leash for a bit and stayed with me (mostly). And there was only 1 Frenchie there.
