Ruby and agility

Ruby Red · 12-06-2009, 08:52 AM

At long last, I managed to drag Graham along with me to take some shots. These were taken at our Saturday agility class – Ruby in the bottom/beginners class there too! LOL!

I LOVE the picture below - I’m laughing my head off because Jakey, got so fed up waiting for me to tell him what to do, that he used his collie initiative and ran off over the jumps by himself - he completed the course back to Graham and left me behind!!!!!

daisy'smom · 12-06-2009, 08:57 AM

What a cool agility course! Looks like they are having loads of fun!

AussieGirl · 12-06-2009, 07:15 PM

Thanks for sharing them, looks like RUby is having a ball! Jakey's story made me laugh - what a clever boy.

KeeperBoy · 12-06-2009, 07:54 PM

Border collies crack me up. I just LOVE them. Our agility teacher has three (all have been on the world team but one, who is only 3 and went to nationals this year) and her dogs are in their kennels and Keepers is running they will get upset if Keepers is doing something wrong. They know it and it's like they are saying "JUST TAKE THE DAMN TUNNEL ALREADY". One day I will have a herding dog, they are just so cool.

Spyglass Sally · 12-06-2009, 08:36 PM

That looks like a lot of fun and a great workout as well!

Ruby Red · 12-07-2009, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KeeperBoy

Border collies crack me up. I just LOVE them. Our agility teacher has three (all have been on the world team but one, who is only 3 and went to nationals this year) and her dogs are in their kennels and Keepers is running they will get upset if Keepers is doing something wrong. They know it and it's like they are saying "JUST TAKE THE DAMN TUNNEL ALREADY". One day I will have a herding dog, they are just so cool.

Yes, I know what you mean, I think Jakey gets a little peeved watching Ruby [and me!] going wrong! Herding dogs are great but they can be hard mental work – always one step ahead of you and think they know better then you sometimes as well! That said, they are such easy dogs to work with and train – Jakey will work because it’s his nature and because he just loves anything mentally stimulating – with Ruby things more of a ‘challenge’ should I say?

KeeperBoy · 12-07-2009, 01:04 PM

It's almost like training two different species. OUr agility trainer has also had dalmations (a non sporting breed) and so it's nice to have someone with an understand of different motivations. Herding dogs want to herd because that's what they want to do. Keepers and Boo like to make me happy and want a cookie, it is so different.

What gets me are the idiots who get border collies and then don't do anything with them. They are the best dogs but only if they get tons of stimulation. Our trainer's dogs herd, track and do obedience, conformation and agility. She laughs when people talk about how mellow they are.

Ruby Red · 12-07-2009, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KeeperBoy

What gets me are the idiots who get border collies and then don't do anything with them. They are the best dogs but only if they get tons of stimulation.

I couldn’t agree more with you there! What winds me up BIG TIME, are people with b/cs who spend hours chucking a ball back and forth for them and think that’s all they have got to do to ‘stimulate’ them – aggggghhhh! makes me soooo angry – I see it all the time and I just feel so sorry for the dog - what a waste! plus, the dog will not settle down once it gets back home because it still hasn't had anything to think about or challenge it. The stupid owners don't seem to understand this - even when you try to explain it to them...........!