Schutzhund and AKC agility either or Both?? - Page 2

We start agility at a young age.  Drama has been introduced to some of the obstacles already and starts her first class next week, she is 8 months old.  We have introduced the jumps, but they are VERY short, as in she could basically walk over them.  They are also on thick pads that are easier on the joints.  I do not JUMP her as I do worry about the joints at this age, but I do introduce the obstacles.  I think it is beneficial for them to learn things like the aframe, dog walk, teeter, tunnels at this age.  I have found that by learning the agility aframe first, they seem to do better with the SchH aframe at a later time.  I hate to see dogs flying off of the top of the SchH aframe, by teaching it in agility first, the dog must learn to come all of the way down.

I do not see any reason that you could not do both.  I have done both with all of my SchH dogs.

Valerie

www.vomhausweinbrand.com

Thanks gsd2727:  Its good to hear from those that do extra activities and what they are and how they got to that point in the dogs life....very encouraging.....

I think a busy dog will be a happy one......I  like what Goose said about the creating a whole new bond.....

And these hard headed ones are hard to get bonded too.....they are not the lovey dovey , climb in your lap and smoochy , you .....they jump for a kiss,,,and  come on   lets go.....

My SchH puppy goes to my AKC club and we are in and out of the CD class as we see fit. Too much heeling for us and a little too much structure but we will get her CD and CDX eventually. I do some basic agility just to imprint her in case we choose to do that down the road. But our main objective is SchH.

My class is very non structured. I just started about 6 months ago. Since starting the class she has become a totally different dog. Our instructor does not make us do lots of OB. Actually my kid knew to walk on a leash and come when called.  We are just now starting to introduce down stays and sit stays. Low pressure. No heeling. And it seems that she learns a lot faster than my guys just around the house as there is another reason for the command but just me telling her. And yes down the road, no matter why, I will expect her to do it. But for now, she learned that if I don't get the headstart....game is not so much fun as I don't do well in keeping up with her. Her cheerleader (me) gets left behind if she does not allow me to lead out. 

On the side I am starting some OB just for fun. This dog will not do SchH. But after watching her in this particular class and observing my instructor, I know my GSD will do great as well and learn a lot of stuff along the way we can channel for protection sport. As Mondio and maybe a bit of PSA are more my cup of tea than SchH, I think the obstacles will come in handy for it as well.