Gauging a dog's ability

[Courtknee]

Is there a way, just by evaluating a dog at home, to tell if he will be good at certain events? I'm just curious. Napoleon loves to run around, jump over things, and especially run on things that make noise like leaves. I would LOVE to see if he likes agility and I do plan on doing so - I might be getting a new job with daytime hours and more $$ so then I could! I also plan on taking him to do earthdog this fall. No idea how he will do with that! I will love him no matter what of course, but I used to show horses and would love to do fun competitive things with Napoleon now too.

[kpm_tex]

If you think or would like to find out if he would be interested in agility I'd suggest that 'test drive' class my instructor has... if you can't make it in the evenings you might be able to work something out for her to meet you during the day.
For earthdog it's had to judge how a dog will go... does he like to go into small dark spaces? You can get one of those cylindrical cement forms at Home depot to get him used to going down a tunnel. Does he hunt around in the back yard at all looking for mice or other critters? Getting a rat and seeing how he reacts to it might give you a clue too :D
You can always come out when we do Earthdog in Red Oak this fall and enter him in intro to quarry. I thin Zandra knows someone down near her who gives instruction of some sort on Earthdog too.

You might also want to look into Rally Obedience.. sort of a combo of regular obedience and agility.... I've thought of looking into that.. but we do enough right now!

[Courtknee]

I signed up for that test drive class last fall but then Po was sick and we couldn't make it. :( I saw that she has another on May 23 and I am going to try to go to that one, I think.

I've honestly thought about getting a rat, but poor rat!!! :) His hunting instinct doesn't seem too strong to me, but then again, I really have no clue. Basil loves to chase ANYTHING - birds...cats...squirrels...bunnies...even butterflies. Po chased a bunny the other night, and likes to sniff around in the yard once in a while, but I think his favorite activity is running around and getting other dogs to chase him!

[Schatz's Mom]

I would love for Schatz to attempt Earthdog but there is nothing in my area! :sob: He always has his nose to the ground and if he finds a hole with a scent he has his head in it in no time. It sounds like Po would be great at agility. After seeing the video of him with the zoomies I'm convinced he would do well!

[TessieMom]

Good luck with the "test drive" class. Tess started beginners last night and totally impressed everyone. She could care less about all the treats, just loves the praise. She shocked the instructor so much that she asked if she wanted to work in the advanced beginners class after the beginner's class. She has not done a teeter yet or the chute (collapsed tunnel) extended, but loves all contact obstacles (A-frames and dog walks are favorites). Once she learns the teeter, we will probably just move into the second class since she can already do straight sequences and work off leash. I can call her off without any trouble because she is so focused on me. She slept like a log last night...

[Cindi]

Rena!!!!! Isn't it fun when they respond?

Cindi

[TessieMom]

Yes! I think Tess will be the star and Lucy is the clown. Competition class lasted until 10 tonight.... I am exhausted, so is Lu.

[bev]

Are there any dashie races ect in the Niagara area around Niagara Falls and ST Cathrines my 3 dogs love run and do earthdog things I would love to see them do something they love .

also anyone herad of eye see clear drops for cataracs in dogs my 9yr old dwarf doxie has cataracs now :(

[doxunzX3]

My Zor and Con are doing the zoomies right now. Plus they just came in from being outside. I would love to take my guys too but when you work shifts it is to hard. Plus I can't keep up with them.
Don't worry to much about the rats. They know that they are safe in a cage. Just make sure they have their tails inside of it.
Years ago when I took my first doxies to den digging they got a little carried away. My Ozcar broke 2 different cages. Plus my Zauber tried eating the siding off of a pole building at a trial. The owner said they have seen mice around. Dah! I freaked when all of a sudden he was pulling on the bottom of the panel.
I can't wait to hear how you both enjoy it. :thumbsup:

[Charleston&Dave]

Its very interesting that this post came up at this time. I have been starting to gauge Charleston on how well he'll do in field trials and earthdog. I have started to take him into the woods behind my house to "find the bunny". The first time I took him we saw a rabbit and he went nuts, barking and pulling on the leash wanting to give chase. Needless to say I calmed him down and took him to the area where the rabbit was. Sure enough he found the scent and traced it back to the den where he proceeded to go into the den looking for the bunny. I let him play a little, but always keeping him on the leash and not letting him go too deep (down to his back paws). Since then he has showed me eight different dens. The funny thing is that he only goes nuts around 3 of them. I guess he know which ones are abandoned.

Dave