Working Around Other Dogs.

hi, i will be competing with my new dog next year (in agility). Due to where i live its hard to get her to dog training classes, so for most of her training i have worked her at my rented field, once in an indoor barn (where she was fine) but it wasnt noisy. My pet dogs watched and my daughter played around with her dog whilst she run, she wasnt distracted. As well as this she has 1-1 private lessons and at show she can watch the agility and the second i ask her she can focus 100% on to me and play in a noisy indoor arena and in a out side venue.

Will she beable to work her agility the same way she does at the field, at the private lessons even tho shes never actually done the agility around strange dogs? Will she focus etc? How will i know she wil beable to focus and perform the same as she does elsewhere?

Cheers

Nik

Hi Niki
Welcome to the forum!
Whereabouts do you live?
Its very difficult to tell without seeing your dog but I would ask your instructor for their advice and also ask if he/she can recomend a group you can join even if its just for a couple of sessions? I dont see any reason why your dog wouldnt if it is focussed on agility and you? If you dont have problems eslewhere with attention etc, you should be fine, however I would always want to test things out in a less 'full on' environment where I can train if I need to before competing....taking your training on the road is quite important for the dog to generalise some of his skills from one setting to another which he will need to do when he goes in the ring. Let us know where you are, perhaps someone can then offer some suggestions in your area?
There are also UKA and some unaffilliated shows which may be a good place to begin as alot will allow you to do training rounds (which you cant at kc shows) this is a good learning experience for you and the dog.
The other thing you could do is perhaps book to go on a training day there are loads over the winter at lots of different levels too....that may well give you an idea of where you are at in terms of being ready for the ring too.


Good Luck! and dont forget to let us know how you get on.