agility

[Michael Romanos]

Good questions.
The table 'obstacle' is seldom ised in NZ - not in Starters or Novice events and seldom used higher up the scale (Intermediate, Senior) but it is used in the events where one is going for 'letters' eg AD, ADX, ADX Gold(Silver or Bronze). You must retrain (going back to the basics) Sparky to stay and stay put on the command stay for anything up to 10 minutes. And you must keep as calm as possible at the start position or 'line' right alongside Sparky - and go yourself at the command to "go.'
Taylor is the opposute - he may have up to five events on a competition day and the first is usually his slowest and the most liable for him to knock down a rail. He needs to be well warmed up and tuned in to turn out a fast, error free performance. A lot to do with leg size and a chubby body.
Corgis can get lazy and lose a little interest - hence mistakes and 'lets not do the weave' attitude. Taylor often does his best performance at his last event even when he tries to tell me that he really is too tired and enough is enough. Here is one thing you can try: Immediately before you tell Sparky to stay at the start line, get him geared up by getting behind him as he sits, liftimg his front legs up and holding him close while telling him very excitedly to be prepared to get going fast and furious - in other words, revving him up.
Don't forget Corgis are the best small dog in the USA at agility. Sparky has it within him to be good, very good. Hey. there is no substitute for a fit and fined down Corgi - plenty of quality exercising - an hour a day of walking fast, running and a little more once or twice a week - and keep a lid on his diet.
The days of Corgis suffering back or disc problems should be over with good breeding and strong bones from a great eating programme as puppies and juniors. So anything set for a Corgi size dog in agility will not be a problem or a danger - but I would never work a Corgi as hard and as long as I would say a Border Collie.

[damronrx]

Hi Chip's Mom! This is Alli's Mom in Murfreesboro, Tn. I started Alli at 6mo training along with obedience. It was low key. The obstacles were low to the ground and the jumps basically on the ground. We trained a year and started competing last Sept. Alli has her OA and OAJ titles and jumps 8 inches. (brag , brag! She has placed first every time she qualified except two times she came in second) We love it! My advice is make it fun. Alli shuts down when I get frustrated. MOTC has a great trial the weekend of June 21st at Murfreesboro. We are going to try and tackle the excellent courses. Alli plays dead, too. You have to put a picture on the web. Damronrx

[SparklingSparky]

Thank you Micheal, your advise is very helpful.

I will train sparky on the 'stay" command and slow running 2 hours after dinner.

[Michael Romanos]

Good on you SS. One thing though, this running a Corgi thing. I would never run a Corgi for two hours non-stop or even 15 minutes.
What I mean by running is with the Corgi off-leash so that they can determine when they want to run or sprint or walk or stop or start as the handler is walking. Power walking for 20 minutes non-stop on-leash as part of a longer walk is fine, and walking on leash or walking/running off'-leash for an hour a day is fine and a longer outing once or even twice a week is fine.
If this is not clear, let me know.