Might give WT a go!

[Enzo's Butler]

Seeing Emma's two has inspired me (or put me to shame!) and I'm thinking of giving working trials a go with Rossi, just for fun, I'm not really interested in competing. He is crap at agility, partly because I think he doesn't like the repetition of jumping, but he has a great nose, loves the find-it games we play during our walks and does actually enjoy jumping as long as he doesn't have to do it over and over again.

I must admit it doesn't excite me as much as agility does, but you never know once I get into it I might be bitten by the bug. There is a kennels fairly near Speeds and about 7 miles from me that also does training so once I get a proper car I will apply to join their class. They also do agility and as it's outside I may be able to give Enzo a go, depending on how the trainers feel about his dog aggression.

Once we get the car sorted, some sort of life may be resumed again, depending on the cost of life, though!

[Fogdog]

Sarah,
our experience is that dogs who are there to 'do a job' rarely suffer from aggression.... we are sure that The Woozle was shot over before we got him because of his ability to 'switch off' and simply remove himself from the most dire threats from other animals.
You will find that WT dogs are mainly like t his too - or they couldn't work off lead over such areas.

Can I respectfully suggest you try the classes Sue has mentioned taking Brice to? Where other dogs are used to teach 'manners' or rather 'better body language' to those who arrive wary or 'on their toes' as someone once put it.... these are not vicious dogs, they are simply mis-reading signals and responding more to their own fears than anything else.
http://www.dogcommunication.co.uk/

[Enzo's Butler]

I have been planning to take Enzo to the classes Sue goes to, but at the moment I have no car and no money.

[June Cutler]

Have a go at it, the dog will be using all his skill in the exercises. Wishing you all the best and I hope your car is soon back on the road.

[Lisa Coull]

Yeah do it - I've been trying to inspire people to have a go for ages but obviously have failed miserably So well done Emma Weims really can excel because they love the challenge and are using so many of their natural abilities.

It is a difficult sport as there are so many elements to get right - the training is a challenge to me still after 13 years - especially when there is a specific exercise that is a problem for your dog

FD - sadly there are many an aggressive dog in trials unfortunately but when tuned in to their work they are so conntrolled it tends not to rear it's ugly head. Callie has been stood over during stays and a fight actually broke out during the stays right under Della's nose once, when Diana came to watch us at Enfield

[Enzo's Butler]

I think it was Mully that did it actually so I don't think you've failed. I just felt guilty for not starting him off on something that young when it can so easily be done, but I was determined to do agility with him (I was determined to do agility with Enzo too and he would have been good at it, but he may still get a chance).

[Diana]

I wanted to do lots of things with Cindy - and although we've never made any great accomplishments or even won a rosette, we've packed a heck of a lot of amazing memories in 6.5 years!

We're currently working on retrieving pheasant wings and really didn't expect it to be so, err - well, I thought she'd run off and rip them up but she's been a little reluctant to hold them and eager to hand them over

. I'd love to look at the tracking but I know I would need the discipline of doing it with someone to keep me on target. I might pop a notice on the vets notice board come nicer, more inspiring weather.

[emmasin]

I think it was Mully that did it actually so I don't think you've failed.

aww thanks

I just felt guilty for not starting him off on something that young when it can so easily be done, but I was determined to do agility with him (I was determined to do agility with Enzo too and he would have been good at it, but he may still get a chance).

so easily done ?

I wish, the time and effort both myself and mark put into training the dogs is a bit ridiculous - although I don't begrudge it, its a choice we have choosen to make There are lots of elements of WT and agility that you can do yourself at home or at your local park, but I wouldn't use the word easy

Maybe sometimes the things I post on here imply like the boys are really good at things or that it comes easily to them thats really not the case! The reality actually involves a lot of training and hard graft on all our parts this forum is a brilliant place to get advice about how to start things, Lisa/ June/ G&T for WT info and Wendy and Ann for agility, but you still only get out what you put in!!

Defo look at the threads on tracking and search squares both things you can easily start yourself and get a lot of reward from I am sure your boys will love it and look forward to hearing your progress

[Enzo's Butler]

I know you put alot of time and effort into your training, but you make it look easy! Mully is so young and is doing so much already! I don't think I can count on my husband's help though.

[Fogdog]

I have been planning to take Enzo to the classes Sue goes to, but at the moment I have no car and no money.

does anyone know how much a session costs? or do you have to sign up for more than one at a time?

.........................

FD - sadly there are many an aggressive dog in trials unfortunately but when tuned in to their work they are so conntrolled it tends not to rear it's ugly head. Callie has been stood over during stays and a fight actually broke out during the stays right under Della's nose once, when Diana came to watch us at Enfield

Yes that's why I said "mainly".... I know they're not all perfect but TBH the owners/trainers are also mainly
good with dogs w hich is why they're interested in being there? Conversely, I know there are some of those very same owners/trainers whose lust to win is so great that they trigger bad behaviour in their dogs but they're not in the majority at WT or FT days and most competitors and spectators are 'doggy' people so I was trying to say that Sarah would find herself among people who understood and would help.

[emmasin]

Make it look easy nah I only post what I want you to see

Its not easy in the slighest am afraid its a lot of hard graft and effort....

so today the dogs have been for a free run this morning, I have been at work since 7, come home done an hours training at lunch time, back to work, finish work let the boys terrorise each other for a bit, took mully to the shops for some socialisation, drove 45 mins to training to stand in the cold and dark for an hour to drive 45 mins back - finally time for some tea I think Last week we drove 45 mins to mully's puppy class for an hour, to drive 20 mins in the opposite direction to agility for 2 hours with C - not getting home until 11.15 having been at work at 7am....

This is our life practically ever day come rain or shine....

Yes its our choice and not everybody's choice - but don't be fooled into thinking things just come easily if we wanted it easy we wouldnt own weims

[Enzo's Butler]

I have been planning to take Enzo to the classes Sue goes to, but at the moment I have no car and no money.

does anyone know how much a session costs? or do you have to sign up for more than one at a time?

.

£20 per dog per session or £30 for multiple dogs and I want Rossi to go too, but there is an initial assessment fee. Even if I did have the money I don't have a car at the moment.

[Enzo's Butler]

Yes its our choice and not everybody's choice - but don't be fooled into thinking things just come easily if we wanted it easy we wouldnt own weims

I'm not fooled at all, I apologise for using the word easy, i should have thought of another but couldn't at the time!

[Cathy]

Sarah, have a go, I did it with Tillie just for fun and she loved it. We once did a night track, which was totally amazing, because you really have to trust your dog. I never could compete for various reasons but I loved the training.
Cathy