[bpeery]

does anyone on here do agility and if so how are your beagles doing??? :thumbup:

 

[Murphys Dad]

I don't do agility with Jersey, but it is something I've been thinking about and looking into. I too would love to hear if there are other's here who have any experience with it. Jersey loves to jump and run, so I think it's something she'd enjoy. As long as she isn't afraid of the equipment.

 

[Ashley Hellen]

Barking mads beagles do agility and do well at it

I am sure they will be along with some advice about it.

I would say dont do agility with a dog until it is a year old or more as they are still growing and have soft joints and you dont want to stress their immature growing bodies with injuries!

 

[cheerio]

I do agility with all of my dogs. However, I can only underline what Hellen Louise posted. You must consider the physical developpement of puppy when starting this high impact sport.
The general rule is as follows:
1- between 12 weeks and 6 months: tunnels only.
2- At 6 months: He can start A-frame
3- between 6 months to a year: the dog can jump a hight no higher than his elbow;
4- At 9 months: The dog can start the long walk
5- At a year: he can start the weave poles;
he can also start the long jump.
6- between 12 months and 18 months, he can jump no higher than his shoulder;
7- as of 18 months, the sky his his limit...well not quite!

Jumping and climbing (the A-frame) can seriously affect the developpement of the joints. Remember that Beagles are prone to elbow dysplesia.
Weave poles affects the wrist and the spinal cord.
The reason for waiting to start the long walk is partially the climb, and also because there is a high risk of falls.

Having said that, do consider agility. Beagles love it and I am sure you will too. Ask Barking Mad! Oh, there is how ever one condition to doing agility with a Beagle, you have to post pics!

 

[janna]

I did agility with Hunter when she was old enough and she loved it. Casey has had puppy class,where they only did tunnel, and a skateboard. When she is old enough I will take her to agility too. Cherio is right about the development of the puppy, and beagles do love it, it is alot of fun

 

[jassy]

What did they do with a skateboard? I am always looking for interesting things to try to do with Maggie.
Connie

 

[conniew]

Georgia did agility last summer and adored it. :bounce:
it is funny that Cheerio said to avoid certain aspects when they are a puppy....
Polly just jumped up and grabbed a container of turkey off the counter and had herself a little snack. so much for trying to keep her from jumping....

 

[janna]

Jassy , we started out by clicking and treating when the puppy would touch the skateboard, then when they would move it and finally, with 2 paws on the skateboard and 2 paws on the floor they would "skate" Casey loved it and we have a small skateboard that we got at Walmart for five bucks.

 

[jassy]

Thanks Janna, sounds like a fun thing to try with Maggie. We have done a little clicker training already in obedience so she has the concept of what the sound means.

 

[iain langman]

We do agility with our beags, Bonnie who is 10 this year is a very steady agility beag last time out she had 3 clear rounds out of 4 runs. She is a bit slower now but tends to get placings on a regular basis.

Willow who is a speed merchant but not reliable on the course, we are trying to retrain her at the moment as she is in control on the course and we should be the ones in control, on the odd occasion we do get round together then she tends to win the class, so if we can retrain her she will be a top agility dog.

Rasha is only 14mths old and is being trained at the moment, we are focusing on waits and contacts at the moment, she is coming on well for a beagle puppy her first show will be in May, so watch this space.