Open Tunnel
$215.00
All Tunnel fabric has been treated to be UV Resistant, Anti-Fade & Anti-Microbial.
Lattice Wing Jump
$119.00
Pole colors available are: red, blue, green, yellow, orange, violet or black. Wings are available in white only.
5' Panel Jump
$139.95
Panels are composite material and ready for stenciling or appliqué's.
Full Racing Set Color
$605.00
The colored racing set meets all NAFA rules and regulations. Made of 100% Sintra® and even more durable than the standard racing set due to the thicker uprights.
Flyball Box
$200.00
Unpainted $200. Painted $250.
PVC Tire Jump
$130.00
Select 2 colors for tape used to wrap the tire: red, blue, green, yellow, orange, purple, black or white.
Viaduct Jump
$295.00
Thinking about trying out for the world team or entering the International classes just for fun ?
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DOG TRAINING TIPS & ARTICLES
Over 130 different dog breeds compete in the major dog shows. There are
the big national events such as the Westminster in the US or Crufts in the UK,
as well as dozens of well-attended regional shows in every state and county.
Whatever your breed, and whatever his gifts and talents, you can probably find
an event to participate in. Even if your dog is never going to fly around the
agility course or break the flyball team record, there are obedience trials,
conformation trials, herding, hunting and field trials, disc dogs (Frisbee)
and even musical freestyle, where you dance with your dog.
Whichever activities appeal to you, the first step is always some basic
training for the two of you in the fine arts of handling and being handled. In
this article we will look at the basics of Conformation.
Conformation
There's a good deal more to developing a show dog than simply acquiring
a pedigree dog and teaching him to sit or stay. Within any breed there are
dogs that are closer to the 'ideal' than others. This 'conformation' is an
important first criteria. Conformation refers to structure, the specific
arrangement of parts - legs, tail, head, ears, etc - that determine the dog's
appearance. Since this is difficult to judge in young puppies, it is no
accident that show dogs are often the offspring of other show dogs.
Once you have a fine example in hand, you're ready to begin a dedicated
training regimen. Daily for several months or years, the trainer teaches the
dog 'the basics' and then more advanced behaviors. Sit, stay, heel, and so on
are covered, of course, but with a keener eye toward precision than usual. A
show dog has to hit a mark (a specific spot in a show ring), pose ('stack')
exactly, and walk in sync with its handler; and all this in a huge public
arena with thousands of people watching.
As with any training, it is wise to begin young. Along with the basic
behaviors, you'll need to teach the dog to be calm in the face of much
handling. Judges will inspect eyes, teeth and other body parts along with the
coat and general posture. Bathing is one of the best ways to begin this
process. Teach the dog to enjoy having its feet moved, its gums exposed, ears
fondled and so forth. This should be pleasurable for the dog and fun for you.
During and after the bath, practice posing ('stacking'). Four feet on
the ground, one foot raised, standing and sitting, and other postures will all
be added to the repertoire in due course. In every case the dog should hold
the pose precisely and for as long as you wish.
When you leash train the dog to walk, the goal is to get him to follow
you precisely whichever way you choose to go at any given second. Start with
normal walking/heeling, and eventually move on to sharp direction changes.
Many handlers use a clicker to teach the dog to follow when executing a
change. You can also give a quick, sharp tug and release on the leash. Of
course, the tug should be in the direction of your turn. At all times the dog
should be directly at your side, never ahead or behind.
Graduate to walking on a very loose leash. Before long the dog should be
able to follow along at a brisk pace and sense immediately when you change
direction. He should turn in perfect coordination with you and resume the 'at
the side' position. Gradually increase the speed of the walk until you work up
to a slow trot.
Just as important, the dog must stop at the precise moment you do. With
clicker or tug and release, the dog will learn to follow your lead. He will go
when you go and stop when you stop. He will be still for as long as you are
still. Before long only the lightest indication by the leash should be
required.
As with any training, lavish praise and a sense of joy in the activity
is enormously helpful. Show dogs are above all fit. A big part of your
training will be to develop your dog’s physical stamina for the events, which
can sometimes require long days.
Exercise and endurance training will also ensure that your dog presents
as close to his physical perfection as possible for the shows. Winning show
dogs have a lively demeanor and a can-do attitude. They exude robust health
and clearly derive great enjoyment from their training as well as their
events. You should too, otherwise the large investment of time and money -
you'll quickly discover - will not be worth it.
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