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What would you want from a breeder of your future agility/obedience pup?


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I've had several people who enjoy agility want to buy pups from me, including a couple great 4-H kids who are doing really well with their young dogs now in both stock work and agility.

 

Through word of mouth and people who've seen my pups, I'm getting lots of inquiries from people wanting Border collies for agility. (I'm a farm person, former obedience person, no agility experience.)

 

What's an agility trainer's dream list for a pup/breeder? Just curious!

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Same here. I am currently taking an agility class with a "Lassie" belonging to a friend. I am not sure what the agility people want in a dog. In this area I see way too much emphasis on speed and see the dogs rush thru a course, often making mistakes due to just not thinking. i know many people around the country and know this is not an isolated attitude. My experience with herdiing dogs is that they need to think or they will get themselves into trouble, often resulting in injury.

 

As for 4Hers. I usually try to talk them out of a BC since I don't think most families are ready to handle such high energy. Of course there are exceptions.

 

I guess one of my pet peeves when around the BC's in 'veersatility' sports is that the dogs lack 'focus' and often have so many behaviour problems I just find it annoying.

 

Pam

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  • 2 weeks later...

I train my dog in agility although when i took her on I did not have training in mind just that I wanted a dog then I ended up taking her training and now I am hooked and hoping to get a BC to train in obdience!

 

In an agility dog I would look for a dog that works better for praise appossed to treats. Probably look for (in a pup) a dog who loves toys as these are the best training aid possible and can give you an indication of energy any willingness to cooporate. Most important is confidence!

 

Maybe you could put some tunnels out for young pups in order to socialise them with strange objects like this.

 

The see saw is another differcult item to build confidence are but your a braver person than I am if you attempt to socialise 8 pups with this sort of obstacle! Ha Ha

 

Hope I have been of help!

 

PS; Speed is not the most important thing but they must have a sound structure with powerful hind legs (i know my dog is very muscley due to agility) speed comes with confidence, they provide the speed once we have painstakingly built the confidence! smile.gif

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Personally, I want a dog that is happy to work, for praise or food or because it wants to, and good solid confirmation.

 

I have a resuced BC that is from working stock. (Parents and grandparents work cattle). She is in my home as a pet and agility dog. I choose her out of the litter of four because she was calm while the group of people were sitting around doing nothing, BUT when we got moving and asked her to pay attention and learn some things she absolutly came alive! She always wants to please me!

 

I would say that form and willingness are the big factors.

 

Chrysta

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