Ramp Up for Training

[MyPemCharlie]

When Charlie gets older, I want to get him in possibly Therapy Dog work, and some sport (Agility, Tracking, Flyball, Rally or Freestyle). The sport chosen will depend a lot on his trainability and personality...(my trainability too ).

In preparation, I spent a heck of a lot of hours this weekend looking at local dog training sites. Holy Cow, Corgi owners! Have prices ever gone up in ten years since my last dog. I'm looking at $30-$80 and hour for basic obedience, which I can teach myself. (Ten years ago, I paid about $10 per hour for puppy and basic classes.)

So I called several of the trainers this morning. All said that I could do the basic training myself and get his CGC without formal "class" training. I'm hoping we can start in intermediate-level obedience classes by January.

Meanwhile, between now and January, Charlie and I have our work cut out for us. He learned Sit, Down, Wait his first three days with me. We have only been doing minimal leash work in the front and back yards. In ten days, Charlie is fully immunized and we'll start heading out in public for more leash work and socialization. We're going to a "Small Dog Meet Up" in early November...his first formal play date. There is not a Corgi-specific group in town, and the "All Dogs" group doesn't have anything scheduled. We also have to work on his attention, and lots of work on recall.

For those of you who have your dogs in sports or therapy work, I'd like to hear from you what sport you chose, why you chose it versus other options, and any tips you might offer in preparing a puppy to compete in that sport.

Just another interesting note from my weekend research. We have a local "Dog Scouts of America" Troop in my city. Dogs earn badges just like Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts and there are Dog Camp Outs with training and badges. That looks pretty cool, but I spoke with the local troop leader this morning, and she told me although there are 25-28 local members, she has had almost no luck getting anyone to attend any events. Anyone here whose Corgi is a Dog Scout?

[Michael Romanos]

Orgainsed dog training in New Zealand is a heck of a lot cheaper. What you pay in the USA for one hour, we pay for a whole term or year. For example, Taylor's agility training and monthly NZ-wide special competition course costs me $60 for a full year - that's up to three hours every week.

[MyPemCharlie]

I think it's just my city, not all the USA. Since I put my last dog through training ten years ago, the prices have gone through the roof (or woof!) Must be too many dogs and not enough trainers here.

Anyway, if Charlie and I can master the basic obedience commands at home, we're way ahead. There is one training facility which charges $65.00 per month flat fee for unlimited sports training (after the basic obedience skills). Still 10x New Zealand, but less than the per hour rates for just the basic classes. From their website pictures, they have a nice indoor agility course, and one of the trainers is a Corgi owner.

[MyPemCharlie]

I'm still researching different sports that I may want to get Charlie into when he's older (and we get through the long and winding road of basic obedience skills). I was looking into Freestyle (dance) this morning and couldn't find any Corgi Freestyle videos, but found this Freestyle video of Attila and Fly just amazing!

YouTube - Gladiator dog (canine freestyle)

I'd still be interesting in hearing what sport you may do with you dog and why you chose the particular sport!

[Michael Romanos]

Certainly Corgis can do dancing and some do - but I must say that a bigger more leggy dog or a lighter bodied dog are more suited to this activity. However with some dancing competitions it depends on the handler and what she/he can invent or tryout as a routine because some routines and 'tricks' are not suited to a Corgi while other would be brilliant.

[MyPemCharlie]

A couple weekends ago I was looking into Freestyle. This weekend I was looking at Flyball. I have to luxury to live in a city where, no matter what sport Charlie and I may chose, there are several local training groups.

Anyway, on Flyball, I read that the height of the hurdles is set 4 inches below the height of the shortest dog on the team. They allow dogs to start as young as 9 months old.

I don't want to do anything that would hurt Charlie's growth plates, or skeletal structure. What age should I wait to get him into any sport which includes some jumping?

[Michael Romanos]

Flyball has the same regulations in New Zealand as agility. I wouldn't put a Corgi into flyball until he/she was ar least 18 months old.

[MyPemCharlie]

Well, I just spend most of the morning calling around dog training places in town. I can't believe how hard it is to find affordable training here in a large city.

I was trying to get in touch with a trainer the last two weeks who had Obedience classes starting tonight for a $200.00 fee. She didn't return any of my phone calls until last night. She has not updated her website, and the course has been cut by 33% of the sessions for the same price. Plus she told me she didn't renew her license to issue CGC certificate at the end of class. She also required 4 classes of "Sit", "Down", "Stay" basics which Charlie already knows. If I wanted to start Charlie at the next level (attention, walk on loose leash, etc), I could pay her $75 for a private evaluation (to make sure he knows how to sit...). Skip that.

This morning, I called at least a half dozen places to try to find someone in town who does the CGC test. A few people have yet to call me back, a few won't test without taking their expensive training. I finally found one training center who does CGC test about once every 3 months for a reasonable $7 or $15 (the receptionist couldn't remember the price) fee.

So <sigh> I'm going to continue with Charlie's basic obedience skills on our own, and see if I can get his CGC early next year. I need to find a few folks in some of the dog groups I have joined to help me work him with distractions.

If I can get his CGC certificate, then I can start him in less expensive intermediate to advanced courses and pre-agility.

Just frustrated and venting....

Seems like finding trainers was easier and (a lot) less expensive 10 years ago with my last dog.

[Vannette]

check thru your city parks dept

[fogebotom]

Go to the AKC website and there is a listing of CGC evaluators. You can contact the ones in your area. Have you checked with the local kennel clubs? Ours does the testing when we can get a group of dogs and people together and just ask $20 to cover paper work fees and such.

Good luck,

[MyPemCharlie]

Yes, I looked at the AKC evaluators' list. Thought I'd hit a goldmine with about 15 listings, but I could only find a way to contact about 3 of 15 by phone and didn't want to have to send a mass email. Anyway, I did find the one place that will test for either $7 or $15 without the formal classes. I think that contact did come off the AKC listing...but I called so many I'm not sure... : )

[MyPemCharlie]

Two more trainers called me back today. Both offer a 4 session CGC course for $95-$100. I remember paying about $6-$10/hour ten years ago...now $25/hour. Oh well. One of the places also said I could just bring Charlie for the CGC test for $10 if I train him myself.

The other trainer is the lady I took my rottweiler to ten years ago for puppy kindergarten and an advanced obedience course. I told her my main concern in "self-training" Charlie is trying to proof train him with distractions. He's great in the backyard, but I know dogs don't necessarily transfer their knowledge to a strange location...especially with people and other dogs around. I have been taking him to some parks for walks and training and we're trying to get to some dog playgroups which should help (if they quit getting rained out!). Anyway, this trainer suggested she might let us attend only the "distraction" portion (2 of 4 sessions) of her training for half price. I'm feeling a little better now with more info.