sheena Posted October 30, 2014 Share Posted October 30, 2014 Agree re shelties - some great ones around, some nervy ones, and yes some downright lazy/switch off ones (training vs temperament? who knows!).... Most of the competitive ones are still "soft" in regard to training however (very responsive, easily corrected) so if that is not what you are into then perhaps not a sheltie :) All the shelties I have met at agility trials have been very vocal :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bridgie_cat Posted October 30, 2014 Share Posted October 30, 2014 some of the are :laugh: ... still depends on the individual Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercedes Posted October 30, 2014 Share Posted October 30, 2014 Great pic of Em TSD!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Spotted Devil Posted October 30, 2014 Share Posted October 30, 2014 (edited) Ha! Who can resist a Spaniel face eh! She was actually quite determined to bring it inside (mess!) so I stood at the door until she put it on the ground (old puppy lesson). As soon as I opened the door she grabbed it and made a dash inside :laugh: Then we did some training and she was content. Edited October 30, 2014 by The Spotted Devil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hankdog Posted October 30, 2014 Share Posted October 30, 2014 Viszla. I have a friend with a bunch of them and they're great. Large enough to be there but light enough to be portable. Trained correctly they have an off switch and I think they're a nice balance between being focussed and keen but not very annoying. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Spotted Devil Posted October 30, 2014 Share Posted October 30, 2014 Yes, I like the Vizsla too - beautiful! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kavik Posted October 30, 2014 Share Posted October 30, 2014 Viszla. I have a friend with a bunch of them and they're great. Large enough to be there but light enough to be portable. Trained correctly they have an off switch and I think they're a nice balance between being focussed and keen but not very annoying. Vizslas are lovely and there are quite a few doing well in agility, but they are generally a 600 height dog :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
megan_ Posted October 31, 2014 Author Share Posted October 31, 2014 Can't really go past a border collie or mini poodle! Can get smooth coat border collies if the fluff bothers you. I want Elsie too! Em is beautiful , and I've seen her fly over those jumps. I'm envious of the relationship that you have with her TSD. This gives me a lot to think about. I like some BC 's, but there is sooo much variation out there and I've seen a few reactive "sporting" ones. I just don't have the nerves to have another reactive dog. The ones I like I really like though, so we'll see (for those in Vic I love Katie's Plug). I also lurve W/L mals. I don't think the bigger ones are ideal for agility, but there are done super agile ones out there (dog crush on Wiz too). I don't think I have the skill for one though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kavik Posted October 31, 2014 Share Posted October 31, 2014 Can't really go past a border collie or mini poodle! Can get smooth coat border collies if the fluff bothers you. I want Elsie too! Em is beautiful , and I've seen her fly over those jumps. I'm envious of the relationship that you have with her TSD. This gives me a lot to think about. I like some BC 's, but there is sooo much variation out there and I've seen a few reactive "sporting" ones. I just don't have the nerves to have another reactive dog. The ones I like I really like though, so we'll see (for those in Vic I love Katie's Plug). I also lurve W/L mals. I don't think the bigger ones are ideal for agility, but there are done super agile ones out there (dog crush on Wiz too). I don't think I have the skill for one though. Yeah if I was going to get a working line Malinois I would get a female and cross fingers it is on the smaller side :laugh: There is a lady with a young show line Malinois (who also has Turverens) and her Mal is only as big as Kaos (57cm, so a 600 but not huge), which would be manageable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huski Posted October 31, 2014 Share Posted October 31, 2014 I also lurve W/L mals. I don't think the bigger ones are ideal for agility, but there are done super agile ones out there (dog crush on Wiz too). I don't think I have the skill for one though. Yeah if I was going to get a working line Malinois I would get a female and cross fingers it is on the smaller side :laugh: There is a lady with a young show line Malinois (who also has Turverens) and her Mal is only as big as Kaos (57cm, so a 600 but not huge), which would be manageable. Some of the show line Mals are smaller than the WL. Wiz isn't small (she is about 30kg) but one of her female pups is slightly shorter and I don't know if she will grow to quite the same height. Wiz has a great off switch too but she is a LOT of dog. IMO Mals are the ultimate sport/working/competition dog, but they realistically have more drive than most ANKC competitors really need. Wiz would have significantly more drive than any BC (for example) I've ever met, but a good BC has more than enough drive to get the job done and be competitive and the temperament is probably more suitable for the average ANKC competitor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kavik Posted October 31, 2014 Share Posted October 31, 2014 I also lurve W/L mals. I don't think the bigger ones are ideal for agility, but there are done super agile ones out there (dog crush on Wiz too). I don't think I have the skill for one though. Yeah if I was going to get a working line Malinois I would get a female and cross fingers it is on the smaller side :laugh: There is a lady with a young show line Malinois (who also has Turverens) and her Mal is only as big as Kaos (57cm, so a 600 but not huge), which would be manageable. Some of the show line Mals are smaller than the WL. Wiz isn't small (she is about 30kg) but one of her female pups is slightly shorter and I don't know if she will grow to quite the same height. Wiz has a great off switch too but she is a LOT of dog. IMO Mals are the ultimate sport/working/competition dog, but they realistically have more drive than most ANKC competitors really need. Wiz would have significantly more drive than any BC (for example) I've ever met, but a good BC has more than enough drive to get the job done and be competitive and the temperament is probably more suitable for the average ANKC competitor. 30kg is rather a bit bigger than I would be looking for in an agility dog :laugh: Diesel is around 31 or 32kg! Kaos is 18kg, Nitro between 16 and 17 last time I weighed him. I have seen a couple of smaller Groens as well, females that again were the same height as Kaos. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kavik Posted October 31, 2014 Share Posted October 31, 2014 (edited) What would really tempt me is a small 400 height Kelpie or Koolie. Avoid the crowds in 500, and without the disadvantages of the 600s. Edited October 31, 2014 by Kavik Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aussielover Posted October 31, 2014 Share Posted October 31, 2014 (edited) If you're only looking to do agility you don't really need a super high drive dog. A dog with moderate drive but light and fast can be very successful. Border collies have a better build for agility than malinois. I love mals but they're not ideally suited to agility being a heavier dog. Ideally I'd want a 14-20kg dog for agility as it is a pretty high impact sport. My lab is around 25/26kg and while she is fine now, it's unlikely she will last as long (in agility) as a lighter dog. 400/500 dogs generally have the fastest times and best manouverability. Border collies seem to vary greatly in temperament so getting to know breeders you like is important. Edited October 31, 2014 by aussielover Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mita Posted October 31, 2014 Share Posted October 31, 2014 In agility you can't go past a border collie, sheltie or kelpie if you want to be competitive. I was also going to say a kelpie or a border collie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kavik Posted October 31, 2014 Share Posted October 31, 2014 (edited) If you're only looking to do agility you don't really need a super high drive dog. A dog with moderate drive but light and fast can be very successful. Border collies have a better build for agility than malinois. I love mals but they're not ideally suited to agility being a heavier dog. Ideally I'd want a 14-20kg dog for agility as it is a pretty high impact sport. My lab is around 25/26kg and while she is fine now, it's unlikely she will last as long (in agility) as a lighter dog. 400/500 dogs generally have the fastest times and best manouverability. Border collies seem to vary greatly in temperament so getting to know breeders you like is important. This :) Malinois are more upright in build than BCs, and a good BC does have the best structure for agility. The Koolie or Koolie X (not sure which) that I posted about earlier is not the highest drive or the fastest dog on the circuit, but they are certainly one of the most successful (if not the most successful) team in NSW. So why don't I have a BC - they just don't do it for me like Kelpies do :laugh: Edited October 31, 2014 by Kavik Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aussielover Posted October 31, 2014 Share Posted October 31, 2014 Are you referring to Ag ch kellie Kavik? She's 3/4 koolie 1/4 BC She's 10 now I think and still competing at a high level. Which goes to show a dog with good structure can last a long time. Unfortunately I expect Mindy's agility adventures will not be quite as long and I'd be happy if she's still lightly competing at 7. But if it's your passion it makes sense to get a dog with the right structure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nekhbet Posted October 31, 2014 Share Posted October 31, 2014 Border collies have a better build for agility than malinois. I love mals but they're not ideally suited to agility being a heavier dog My 34kg male can spring over a 4 foot jump without touching it or a big run up. They're meant to be leaner dogs, there are some finer boned lines lines out there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kavik Posted October 31, 2014 Share Posted October 31, 2014 Are you referring to Ag ch kellie Kavik? She's 3/4 koolie 1/4 BC She's 10 now I think and still competing at a high level. Which goes to show a dog with good structure can last a long time. Unfortunately I expect Mindy's agility adventures will not be quite as long and I'd be happy if she's still lightly competing at 7. But if it's your passion it makes sense to get a dog with the right structure. Yeah I am referring to Kellie - she is awesome! :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kavik Posted October 31, 2014 Share Posted October 31, 2014 Border collies have a better build for agility than malinois. I love mals but they're not ideally suited to agility being a heavier dog My 34kg male can spring over a 4 foot jump without touching it or a big run up. They're meant to be leaner dogs, there are some finer boned lines lines out there. It's the turning that makes it harder for the bigger dogs. Lots of turning in the higher level courses, and the spacing means there is not as much time to turn the bigger, powerful dogs that jump higher and longer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
megan_ Posted October 31, 2014 Author Share Posted October 31, 2014 Yeah the courses are getting more and more technical (twisty and turny). We did a seminar the other week and the advanced courses had only one or two straight jumps Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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