Kowai

I have one and it worked great with the dogs!

I've had my unpapered Staffy for almost 8 years now and I've never encountered problems with council.. I don't know if I'm just lucky or what.. I guess when you own these dogs you just have to, HAVE TO, make sure that they're trained and socialised.. Zach isn't perfect, but he's an incredibly friendly dog and I've never had a complaint about him. If your dog doesn't cause trouble, you'll usually avoid it. While I call Zach a Staffordshire Bull Terrier, as thats what he was sold to me as from Pets Paradise (I know ), he is actually quite taller than a Staffy though not as tall as an Amstaff. He has the looks of an Amstaff I would say but just not the height. Most people ask me what he's crossed with.. As far as I know both his parents were Staffies but most likely unpapered themselves so who knows where the cross comes in or what it is! When I bought him I was young and had no idea about BSL or puppy farms.

Lol Kapo is so off with the fairies.. I wouldn't call it independence.. Just I donno.. Shes focused on everything at once that its hard for her to focus on/listen to me.

I think Zach is just too well housebroken! I recently bought a Dog Patch Comfort Station which is pretty much a tray of grass that dogs can use as a toilet. Anyway Kapo has taken right to using it, but Zach just refuses to - the toilet is out on the balcony but I think that Zach is just too well housebroken and he doesn't want to use it. Any ideas on training him to wee there? I bought some pheromone drops to make him more interested but so far no luck - he just holds and holds until we eventually take him outside to the park for a wee.

Whatever you do don't just let them have their way! Do everything you can to prove your dog is NOT a Pit Bull! This makes me so angry to hear!!! Its disgusting!! Threaten them with legal action! To think about it.. If someone had my Zach I'd bloody be in there giving them an earful til they gave him back goddamnit. If your dog is registerd as a Staffy, bought as a Staffy then WTF

Sounds more to me that its people in Sydney's West that are more dangerous... Educate them first on responsible dog handling rather than blame the dogs!!

RIP Tyra.. :D

We were told from the beginning that we weren't allowed to assume what level we were at and had to go through every level, including foundation even if we had prior experience or felt we were better.. My boyfriend and I aren't about to go demanding that we be promoted, but its very disheartening to not be noticed at all. I understand that the club is extremely overcrowded and it can be hard to notice everyone.. Its just demotivating, thats all. I'm not attacking any trainers personally, I havent even named anyone.. I'm just saying that in general there seems to be negativity and it makes it intimidating to approach anyone. My boyfriend has told me that he has been yelled at infront of the whole class and then during the class has had things said about him and/or his dog aloud. I can understand to an extent - sometimes my boyfriend and I are late to class, fair enough. However due to work we can't always make it on time. (Often we've had to rush straight from work, pick up the dogs, miss dinner and go!) However I think a quiet word would've been enough and not yelling (and made my boyfriend to feel embarrassed). My boyfriend recently, when noticing he had this particular trainer, refused to attend the class and instead took his dog for a walk while I had class. It must be really frustrating to have a lack of instructors.. Hopefully you guys will be able to run the club a bit more easily with more people. That is what he has told me. (About new members) Maybe he is confused about that, but he has told me many times he is frustrated by having to go back to the beginning every few weeks... Maybe its a change of instructors not being sure of where the class is up to.. Anyway he has told me that just when he gets to practice, I guess more interesting stuff, suddenly the next week they're back to the start again. I admit I don't watch the class as usually I'm busy with my own dog. Sometimes for us attending class many weeks in a row is impossible - we have lives, jobs, school, homework etc. We try but its not always possible. There are times when I miss my obedience club training, but I am not held back because of it. We can't practice all the time at home because we cannot afford equipment - thats why we go to agility training. I tell my instructors everytime why I will not allow Zach to do weaves - he has knees at risk to injury and a weaving motion will aggravate that. The vets have said he can do jumps but no hard impact (jumping from a height) but no weaves. I will not risk my dog to tearing his cruciate ligaments just to be promoted and nor should I have to - there are competitions where there are no weave poles involved. I have been yelled at before for 'doing my own thing' while weave practice was going on. I'm writing here because I am seeking help to find a different club. I didn't post to be malicious, but was just stating personal experiences. Currently I am trying to participate in agility at my obedience club when I can make it. If people are saying negative things about the club then maybe things should change (and hopefully thats whats happening).. I don't feel like at the club I really have a voice to say anything.. Not everything is bad, when you get it the training is good and Zach has had -alot- of fun with agility and the other dogs there. I've had some great trainers but its just not consistent enough. I've had some great times and accomplishments.. I guess what I'm saying is people should go, and try it, and see if it works for them, but for me, regrettably, I need to look elsewhere.

2 years? OMG ! And it's a sad state of affairs when clubs are 'picking and choosing' who they want. We had an intake at Agility Dog Club earlier this year but then decided that we needed to stop for a bit to look after our existing members - mainly due to comments like the ones made by the OP. We were finding that those who turned up regularly to the Foundation class and put in the work at home were not spending long periods there, so there was space for an intake every couple of months, but the next class up was becoming huge as that is probably the class where the most is taught so it is common for a longer period of time to be spent there. The philosophy at the moment is that once we have everyone moved up from the Foundation class (which we almost have) then we can use the Instructor rostered on to take that and split the next class in half, using the extra ring. We are also introducing a comprehensive Instructor training program so that eventually the classes can be restructured and more levels offered, leading to smaller class sizes for all. But we really struggle to find Instructors - 2 more have resigned over the past few weeks due to rising petrol costs and everyone else is stretched thin. And yes, I agree with you about advertising when there are no vacancies. We still have all the planned new member nights listed on our website even though they are not going ahead which is pretty silly I think. So, roll on my big shed ! I know that my boyfriend who is in the foundation class is getting extremely frustrated - to the point he no longer wants to go - because he's been stuck in the foundation class for so long and feels he's never going to get out of it. Every few weeks he's stuck to starting all over again with the new people, and he feels that his dog Kapo isn't being stimulated enough. He's said when he starts to feel confident and that he and Kapo are doing well they have to start at the beginning again.. I really think the agility club should have a foundation class -and- a class 1.. So a class for complete beginners and then another class for people who are continuing but not quite ready for class 2. I feel his frustration too in a way.. I've felt like I've had some great training nights and that I'm ready to go up to class 3, but whenever that happens I have a trainer that doesn't notice or doesn't know me and my dog well enough to promote us.. There also seems to be this negativity from the trainers - like they're kind of not approachable - that you can't ask them about being promoted up or being assessed.. My boyfriend has also complained many times to me that he is constantly harrassed by this one trainer (I always forget his name) and made an example of in class. Sorry to sound so negative.. I know theres many issues involved with a club and it'd be so hard to run with a lack of trainers and too many people wanting to join.. Just though I'd say my thoughts on it though. I'd love to stay - infact I feel bad about not really going anymore, but the issues make it too frustrating/difficult.. If something changed I'd definitely be back.

Only the nicest of grass will do! :D Zach prefers wide-bladed, tall grass for eating! Yum yum!

Thanks guys I might actually check out what Nadac has to offer.. It looks like though theres not many clubs that offer it.. Its more that you just train on your own and go to the trials? I think it'd be better for Zach especially as he has trouble with his knees and I'd rather him doing a tunnel course than something that could hurt him :D Overcrowding seems to be a -huge- issue with the agility clubs..

Hey guys Was wondering if anyone can give me a list or tell me about any agility dog clubs in Victoria? I'm currently a member of the Agility Dog Club of Victoria (in Altona) but my boyfriend and I aren't really enjoying it there so we'd like to find a new club, preferably near Werribee but we're willing to travel. The problem with the club we're at is just the late hours, overcrowding and not really any consistency with the trainers so its pretty impossible to be promoted.. My poor bf has been stuck in the introductory class for so long he's just frustrated and never wants to go anymore. (Due to boredom) Argh its frustrating.. I know that my Obedience club at Werribee runs Agility but I'd really like a club dedicated to it. If not I guess we'll just stick with the Obedience one.

I've been doing agility for a little while now.. But I havent seen a trial yet! I'd love to go in the National one if I knew I'd be up to scratch Anyway got any info or videos on novice competition? Whats expected?

I think theres an even in Melbourne on the 10th isn't there? I donno if I'll go.. Last time Zach didn't seem to enjoy it so much.. I need to train him more before we try again.. But I don't know if we'll pursue it

The Brighton one is awesome :rolleyes: I drive from Werribee to go there!