fbpx

Check out our new merch today!

July 1, 2015

Summer School

As you may have heard, Penny somehow converts dog food and water into rocket fuel. NASA, take note Penny gets plenty of off-leash exercise but she’s at that age where she’s pretty much tireless. For the past couple months I’ve been looking into a few
As you may have heard, Penny somehow converts dog food and water into rocket fuel.

NASA, take note

Penny gets plenty of off-leash exercise but she’s at that age where she’s pretty much tireless. For the past couple months I’ve been looking into a few different options to help Penny channel her “creative” energy.

My first thought was to feature her as a stunt-dinosaur in Jurassic World but unfortunately those plans fell through

Penny’s an eager student when we’re training so I decided to look into a summer training course. Nosework isn’t really Penny’s speed/style, and while I hope to take her lure coursing this summer, there simply aren’t enough opportunities to make it a regular activity.

We naturally landed on a class that would rely on my dinosaur’s natural proclivity for forward and upward movement

A class which also utilizes Penny’s ability to squeeze into tight spaces

So that’s why we’re kicking off this holiday weekend with Penny’s first agility class at Chicago Agility. The eight-week course should provide an excellent outlet for Penny’s energy while helping us build better communication.

I know a number of you have experience with agility, so any tips/advice you have in advance of tomorrow’s class would be greatly appreciated!

Comments for Summer School

  1. Emmadog says:

    Have fun in agility! Katie, yes, my sweet senior sister, was actually asked to leave class the second week in Germany. She was so wild and only wanted to disturb others and play, so it was a short career. Hope Penny does better!

  2. Kismet says:

    Good luck training the tyrannosaurus regina.

  3. Shalini says:

    Agility is SUCH a fun way to bond with your pup! Have fun penny baby 🙂 <3

  4. Jan & Rusty says:

    Boy am I looking forward to the pictures of Penny in Agility Class!! My Rusty did an agility class several years ago. I can’t say he was too fond of the cloth tunnel thing. One time I had to go in there to get him out. I have no doubt Penny will zoom through that. She’ll zoom through all of it. In addition to being the class clown.

  5. Shana and Hobbes says:

    Hobbes and I have been going to agility class now for over a year and it is so much fun. The entire class of pups are all young and about the same age, ~3yo now. They have all had their share of adventures and zooming around rather than focusing on the activity at hand but they have also come SO far. I did make/buy some jumps, weave poles and a tunnel for at home practice and that has really helped a lot. It is interesting to me how absolutely exhausted (mentally as much as physically) they are after class even though they spend a good portion in their crate or pen waiting their turn to go. Hobbes has been to 2 agility trials now; he ran amok at both on all of his events until the last event of the 2nd trial where he finally completed a run, got his first Q and placed 3rd. It was so exciting and we had a big party afterwards with lots of treats!!

  6. How exciting, good luck can’t wait to see how she does.

  7. Connie Taylor says:

    I have a feeling Penny will amaze all of us and graduate “Cum Laude” from her class!

  8. coastingnz says:

    Can’t wait to see the pics! She’ll be awesome!

  9. Can’t wait to read about your experience with agility. They say Shelties are naturals but there isn’t any good agility classes near where we live.

  10. My sister enrolled her “hyperactive” Shih Tzu in agility classes and he loved it – AND it calmed him down significantly. Good luck with Penny the Energizer Bunny!

    Hugs, Pam and Sam

  11. Ellen Quilty says:

    Nikki and I did six months of agility classes when she was about Penny’s age.She was a very good girl and did everything that was asked of her but her heart wasn’t in it.The dogs that excel are the ones with a lot of drive plus at 80lbs she was too big to use some of the equipment comfortably.While lightning fast when chasing squirrels or playing with another dog she was the slowest dog in the class-as well as the biggest.The instructor said that the only reason Nikki did agility was because she loved her Mommy!It did however cement us as a team and strengthened our bond.Now we do nose work which she loves. Penny however sounds like a different personality type and will probably love it.Have fun!

  12. Ogee says:

    Better thoroughly exhaust that girl first! Can’t wait to hear how she does (and how you survive).

  13. Khoi and Neeka tried agility at a club fun day. They loved the A frame and the dog walk; anything to climb and look down on the wee folk. The tunnel took some time. Treats didn’t work. Once Neeka realized there was food in there, she was loitering around after other dogs went through. Khoi just didn’t care. He went through eventually, but it wasn’t his thing. I want to get him into lure, but there aren’t any within 50 miles of us. Guess we have to stick to live bunnies and birds as well as rock climbing. i hope Penny has a blast. Can’t wait for pictures. She’ll make a lot of fast friends.

  14. fredrieka says:

    Penny and do not forget, Eko is awesome too, and Penny could train by jumping over Eko

  15. Good for you! Agility is amazing when you see speedsters like Penny running the course. Sam always give me that “run? no way, Jose–do I look like American Pharoah?” look. But you can see in each participating dog that love for movement and pleasing their owner look in their eyes. So cool. Best of luck channeling the rocket dog!

  16. Oh, this will be fun – can’t wait to hear about it.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Follow Us on Instagram

@markingourterritory