Poles Kids
Dog Agility Training for Kids and Their Dog?
Hi,
I own a 16 month old Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier and I am a kid who's really interested in agility. We have started agility classes and know the A-Frame, Teeter, Table, Dog Walk, Chute, Tunnel, Jumps, Tire, and are starting off leash and weave poles.
I would really like to compete in trials one day.... any suggestions for training, starting off competing, tips, tricks, etc?
All comments appreciated!
First, it's good that you're in a class. It's so easy to acquire bad habits early. So good instruction when you start out is critical.
Second, you probably know that most organizations will have a "junior" handler level that you're eligible to compete in. And even if they don't here's the deal--right now you're probably faster and quicker and more agile than 80% of the handlers you'll be going against in Novice and Open levels.
Third, okay, tips for right now....
--before you do agility, your dog is your pet. Never forget that. Show love to your dog every day in some way. Do tricks (which is great prep for agility anyway). Go have some fun--get silly, play tag or chase or "gotcha" every day. Let your dog realize that time with you is the ultimate, the best possible place to be on the planet. This kind of relationship with your dog will be good for both of you and it will make you a better agility team as well.
--get your flatwork down. You can never do too much flatwork. When I started out, I was too eager to get on the obstacles. If I could start over, I'd have spent more time on flatwork and foundation work.
--you compete like you train. Be organized, train at a rocket-speed tempo, keep it short and always end on a good note. That way, you will not teach your dog to pace itself ("okay, we're going to spend an hour now doing weaves") but will learn to always approach the equipment at fullspeed. And by ending on a positive note, your dog will always be eager to do agility. If it's just not working out today, ask your dog to give you some palm touches or a sit-stay and then reward enthusiastically and end the session. And start and end your sessions like you would a run. That way, your dog starts associating your warmup/start activities with "damn--I GET TO DO AGILITY--YEEHAH!" and will automatically get revvedup. For instance, I have my dog do some tricks (weaves between legs), we tug, then at the start line I go "ready? ready? ready? GO!". It's at the point now where when I saw the first "ready" it's like he gets a jolt of electricity.
--subscribe to Clean Run magazine. And visit Steve Schwarz' website (www.agilitynerd.com) on a regular basis. Those are the two best resources out there on a continuing basis for agility.
--train every day. It doesn't have to be long. But for instance, I'd practice weaves EVERY SINGLE DAY. Even if it's just two runs. Practice different entries. Add distractions (smells, toys, sounds). Put obstacles before and after. Each side. From distance.
Good luck!
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How To Catch A Fish - A Simple Technique Even A Kid Can Use
Teaching a child to fish could be one of the best things you could ever do for them. It teaches everything that is wholesome and good, and may occupy them enough to keep them out of bad things like drugs, gangs, etc....It teaches an appreciation for nature and the outdoors, conservation and good stewardship, as well as self-reliance. I could go on and on.
There are a few things to consider when teaching children to fish. First off, their attention span is not very long, and their brain works extremely fast (this is just an average, not for any particular individual). They need to get gratification fairly quickly to stay interested in anything, at least initially.
If things get too complicated, they will lose interest. Children have not yet learned to be afraid of many things, and have an insatiable curiosity, so you have to watch them all the time, lest they walk up and hand you a water moccasin, or a clump of poison ivy and ask "Daddy, what's this?".
When I was a toddler in Tx., I was fascinated by scorpions, and never failed to find some to play with. So keep a close eye on young children. The outdoors are full of surprises for young and old alike. Another consideration is water safety. I have always been an advocate of teaching children to swim as young as possible.
My children could swim very well at age three. They don't have to be able to break any records, just get back to shore if they go in. If they don't swim, it may be a good idea to have them wear a flotation device, even if fishing from shore.
And be prepared for the usual cuts, bruises and abrasions that children are prone to get.
For really small children, You need to be as low-tech as possible, while maximizing the fun. Any angler can tell you that means one thing bluegills and a cane pole. Dig some worms, or buy them at the bait shop, rig up and go get 'em. This way, the children won't have to worry about learning to cast, operating a reel, or anything else but pulling in fish.
I specified worms, because they are harder for the panfish to steal. Crickets can be purloined in an instant. This is a good time to start teaching them how to rig their own pole, and tie knots, bait the hook, etc. But don't be turning them loose with a fillet knife just yet. That will come much later.
When they have been well broken in on bluegills, you can move them up to crappie, especially during the spawn. Stay with the cane poles for now. Start teaching them how to find more elusive fish. When they are proficient at crappie, it's time to move to the next stage.
Almost everyone can remember their first real fishing outfit. Mine was the venerable Zebco 33. I was 5 years old, and had been using cane poles for several years. I caught a 15 pound carp my on cane pole.
Obviously, I couldn't lift it onto shore, so I beached the fish, then physically dove on top of it, and drug it all the way on land, to the sounds of our barking dogs, my brothers and sister screaming for our parents because they though I would be eaten by my catch, and pandemonium in general.
About the Author
Dan Eggertsen is a fishing researcher and enthusiast who is committed to providing the best crappie fishing information possible. Get more information on crappie fishing here: http://www.askcrappiefishing.com/
