Growth Plates

[gypsy84]

Just wanted to know at what age do the growth plates set so you can really start doing hard running or agility?

 

Lisa

[Tassie]

Hi Lisa

No expert knowledge here, but I noticed you hadn't got a reply, so here's some thoughts for a start.

 

AFAIK, the timing of closing of growth plates varies with breed, size, and individual dogs. Your vet should be able to tell you when this has happened for your dog.

 

As a general rule of thumb, 12 months would be a reasonable time to start having a Border Collie learn the fundamentals of jumping, on lowish heights. Hard running, I'd be easing into from about that time - being guided by the dog's response. I should say that I'm over-cautious and a worry-wort - but my view is that I want my dogs healthy and active well into their senior years, so I tend to take a conservative approach. To me it's worth waiting a few extra months at the beginning and maybe getting several extra good years later in the dog's life.

 

As far as agility goes, you can be laying down really good fouindations right from early days, with relationship building and ground work - focus, hand targetting, etc. Susan Garrett has just been giving a puppy camp over in Oz, and I was just reading about the fact that she says early foundation ground work and relationship building cannot be too strongly emphasized.

 

In terms of jumping, I really like the Chris Zink/Julie Daniels book - it's called something like Jumping from A to Z Teaching your dog to soar.

 

I've forgotten how old your pupper is?

[gypsy84]

She was born on the 22nd of October, so she's around 4 1/2 months now. I've already taught her "over" (don't worry - just jumping over a broom handle on the ground) and "through" a barrel we have with the bottom cut out, sort of like a short fat tunnel. And she knows "up" to climb up on things (giant snow hill in our back yard, and a mini home-made a-frame).

 

Also I've never been in agility club or anything, my first dog was an english setter that we just trained and played around with in my back yard with home made jump and stuff I'm going to look for agility clubs in Winnipeg for Gypsy once she's a bit older, but what's a club generally like? I suppose I'll look into it a bit right now

 

Lisa

[Tassie]

Lisa, I'd be looking at clubs now, to see how they train, and what age they start etc. It can be a good thing to have some socialisation opportunities, and some basic obedience, as long as the methods are positive and motivational.

 

The things you've been doing with her sound great. You can put a number of different sized poles down on the ground and have her walk through them - different spacings - to help teach her rear-end awareness. I like teaching pups to hand-target very early - useful for all sorts of things. Finding out what 'floats your pup's boat' is good to do - what sort of treats and toys does she like - which does she like most. Teaching her to play tug with a toy with you is great - becomes a powerful motivator later on, and can be used to help the pup go away from you. It can also be a reward for a nice recall.

 

Which reminds me, recall is also a fundamental thing to teach. You'll need it whatever you do.

 

Do a search on the net for puppy foundation agility - I'm pretty sure there are some good things there.

 

English Setters are great - a friend has two - but I think you'll find you've got a bit more engine on your hands in a Border Collie. That said, don't forget that 'settle' or 'quiet time' is important too, especially for a pup.

[gypsy84]

I've already taugh Gypsy her basic commands, and some extras too. So far she knows sit, down, come, stand, stay, heel, (we're working on offleash heel right now but she'd rather explore ) spin (left & right), rollover (left & right), paw, other paw, hi five, double hi five, wait (for food, treats, toys etc), stop (moving), and give, plu the ones I listed before. We're also working on "dead", "crawl", and "bow". She's definitely the smartest dog I've worked with and picks up on things so quickly, but she's also quite laid back for a border collie - from what I've heard. Saying that, yesterday she beat my sister's dog (rottieXhusky) in from the backyard, and he is FAST. Also she does have an excellent recall, she loves the dog park and will run off with a pack of other dogs, and as soon as she hears her name she'll instantly spin around and run back full speed.

 

She's also VERY food motivated, and when it's out she won't think about anything else. Which is good for basic training, but I bought her a big soft tug rope so I can use that as a reward for agility, and then she won't just be thinking about her stomach the whole time.

 

I was googling a bit and found this: Hi-Flyer's Agility. For those of you who know a bit more about agility, does this seem like a good club? It says they've got a 6-month waiting list, so I suppose it's good I'm checking things out now

 

Anyways I should get to sleep, got a lab early tomorrow

 

Thanks for the advice,

Lisa

[Tassie]

Hi Lisa

 

That all sounds great - seems like you're setting a great foundation. Just had a quick look at that Club's website, and it seems like a good place. The description of their methods sound promising, and it's also good that their instructors go off to agility camps. Certainly worth checking out, and with that waiting list, the timing would be just right.

 

Your girl sounds like she's doing great. Just be ready for the teenage rebellious stage - sometimes round about 7 - 9 months they will start asserting their independence, and things like recall will go right out the window. But they do get back on track again.