HazelNutMeg
Trained
We Make a Hell of a Team!
Posts: 335
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Post by HazelNutMeg on Mar 20, 2004 17:48:54 GMT -5
I want to get Coal in for a check up this spring some time (gota find out from my parents when we can), and I want to find out from the vet that he's all sound to do Agility this year... is there anything i need to ask? Anything that needs to be looked at in paticular? My last dog never got an Okay, she was my first with Agility and I was very new at it, and taught by horrible teachers and wasn't planning on getting her in a trail because, well I couldn't. So, I want to do everything perfect and good with Coal. I already introduced him to a couple obsticals last summer when he was just a baby, got him on the teeter, well his front feet anyway, then once while I was holding him and the board got him to end of the board as I let it move down gently, I didn't want to scare him. We have pictures of it too, he's so little and cute! ;D he LOVED the tunnel too, and was even learning to go through it on command, I was just playing around then and getting him use to being around the equipment, this summer I plan on actually training him.
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Post by Aussienot on Mar 20, 2004 21:19:56 GMT -5
The main things that can get stressed in Agility are the hips and knees, and to a lesser extent, the spine. The jumps and the weaves are the really body-taxing exercises.
Labs often have problems with the Jumping because of the weight ratio versus soundness of hips and knees, but BCs are usually built for agility. It's an excellent idea to have a vet check to start. There are muscle stretching warm up exercises you can do with your dog, and general fitness is one of the most helpful things you can do for your dog. Make sure to keep him muscular and thin.
Agility is a great idea for him, as it is an enjoyable outlet for energy and it builds teamwork and communication with the hander.
My Finn is absolutely fearless, which means he's also careless. Last week he ran up the teeter with such speed and strength that when he dropped it, the free end hit the ground so hard that it bounced him up in the air, and he landed back at the start of the teeter again. He shook his head and did a Scooby Doo 'whaaaaat?' then did the teeter again. It could have been serious, but everyone cracked up.
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Post by Brooke on Mar 21, 2004 0:25:01 GMT -5
Hahaha! Even I cracked up from out here
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HazelNutMeg
Trained
We Make a Hell of a Team!
Posts: 335
|
Post by HazelNutMeg on Mar 21, 2004 13:03:33 GMT -5
Thanks! Yes, I love agility! My last dog was like your Finn She actually broke my teeter because it hit the ground so hard and fast!! It probably needed a new board anyway because it was getting a little tarnished anyway. She cracked the end of it doing that, and then my little cousin thought it was an actual teeter totter and broke a huge chunk right off the end of it Hazel's biggest problem on the course was she'd run ahead of me and make her own course, she thought I was too slow Coal is more caucious and worried around things he doesn't know, so I hope to introduce him slowly and easy to the obsticals, I figure once he feels comfrotable on them he'll be really good! Just chasing him around the living room he's so agile and quick, and has this long tail which works well for balance So I just know with lots of good practice he's guna be awsome!
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HazelNutMeg
Trained
We Make a Hell of a Team!
Posts: 335
|
Post by HazelNutMeg on Mar 21, 2004 23:52:52 GMT -5
Found the picture of Coal on the teeter for the first time! Now everyone feel free to Ooo and Awwwe ;D I love this pic, he's just so adogable! ;D
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Post by Brooke on Mar 22, 2004 0:15:34 GMT -5
OH! Another black lab right through my heart ;D I'm such a sucker!
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Post by Willow on Mar 22, 2004 9:42:14 GMT -5
(sigh)....Me too!!!! ;D
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HazelNutMeg
Trained
We Make a Hell of a Team!
Posts: 335
|
Post by HazelNutMeg on Apr 3, 2004 14:14:19 GMT -5
Thanks guys! I just love that picture, he's soooo cute with his big paws and long legs Still trying to set a date to get into the vet Every time I bring it up with my parents they say "yes, sure we can bring him down sometime" so I'm guessing now I gota ask "WHEN?" Will let ya'll know when I DO get him down how it goes ;D
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