Agility tips from one dog to another

First, when the instructor is first explaining the course, break free and run the entire course as fast as you can to check everything out before the other dogs get a chance. This will give you that all-important advantage later on.

 

When you have satisfied yourself that none of the obstacles contains any food whatsoever, tear over to the instructor's bag of goodies and quickly find, open, and devour the bag of bait tidbits that were supposed to be used throughout the class. This will give you energy for the upcoming instructions.

 

(That big sigh you hear coming from the instructor is no doubt satisfaction that finally he has such a smart and ENTHUSIASTIC pupil in his class.)

 

The chute and the tunnels - jump over them several times BEFORE going through. This limbers you up and increases the lung power of your owner.

 

The tire - this is basically a swing, so place both legs through the tire, rest on your elbows, and swing back and forth. Grinning while you do it amuses the spectators.

 

The A-frame - FUN! Run up one side and down the other; then back up and down, then back up and down, then back up ...

 

Well, you get the picture. If you do it fast enough, your owner will get plenty of exercise trying to meet you at the ends to make you hit those "contact" points (whatever THEY are).

 

Oh, and you should stop at the top of the A-frame because you can see all over the neighborhood! Neat! Be sure to bark ferociously to let everyone know that you are King or Queen of the Hill!

 

By now, the bait bag will have been replenished, and all this exercise will have made you hungry, so tear over there and get a snack! See how the instructor runs! GREAT exercise!

 

The see-saw - this one needs taming to learn who is boss. Stand in the center and pounce HARD on it with your front feet, and it will become submissive and go back on the ground.

 

The compost pile - not a regulation obstacle. The trick is to see how much of the lawn clippings you can scarf up before your feet sink too deeply into the decomposing pile. Be sure to JUMP out of the pile, which will scatter the clippings back on the yard where they no doubt should be.

 

The pause table - this one is a bummer - BIG time. You will be expected to actually cease all activity for a few seconds (seems like hours). To pass the time, pretend to start to jump down and then pull back just as your owner starts forward to correct you. HAH! Fools them every time.

 

The weave poles - nothing more than a funny looking high jump, especially when they are set at 45° angles for training. Be sure to get a head start and LEAP over all of them to the other side. (Boy dogs should be especially careful to leap HIGH).

 

(That sigh from your owner undoubtedly indicates the same satisfaction the instructor felt at the beginning of the class)

 

The sunflowers in the garden - again, not a regulation obstacle, but you will find they make much easier weave poles because if you swish your bum just so, they fall down to your height which is where everything should be anyway!

 

(Author unknown)