Agility

Agility is a newer sport to the dog fancy. Introduced at AKC events in the 1990's it has a strong history here in the state of Texas and Kord and I recently joined the ranks of agility enthusiasts.

As we have learned, agility capitalizes on the athletic ability and partnership skills of a team composed of one dog and one handler. Teams progress through an obstacle course composed of a combination of A-frames, dog walks, teeter-totters, crossovers, tunnels, shoots, weave poles and jumps, interspersed with tables or other marks for static exercises like sitting, lying or standing. The obstacles themselves are difficult enough but to increase the difficulty level they also throw in the element of time management with each team racing against a clock and the other competitors in their class. The dog with the highest score in the shortest amount of time is High In Trial. Though other dogs can also earn qualifying scores toward various agility titles by completing the course with few errors and good time.

Standard schnauzer owners are generally encouraged to wait until their dogs are at least two years of age before beginning agility training and as with anyone contemplating a truly athletic endeavor, should be examined by a veterinarian (or medical doctor ;-)) prior to initiation of a training regimen.

As our boy is a little under the recommended starting age, we will likely take it slow and work on agility as we have time between obedience courses for now. But stay tuned for photo's and videos of this and other dog sports in the coming year.

Obedience

Obedience training is ESSENTIAL for standard schnauzers. Many will say that its strongly encouraged but in our house we believe that it is a requirement for happy co-habitation.

Standard schnauzer are very intelligent, high energy dogs who will make their own fun if you don't find a job for them to do.

We started Kord in a basic obedience class three days after he arrived in our home. He was 14 weeks old at the time. Although I grew up with lots of dogs, my husband's family re-homed their small dog shortly after he was born and didn't get another until he was in college. So we decided to take the basic obedience class together and get our small family off to a good start. We LOVED it. It was something that we did together and because we both went to class, we both learned the skills at the same time, in the same way, and were able to be consistent in teaching and reinforcing our dog. Kord graduated from that first class in about 6 weeks.  Then he was off to a Cainine Good Citizenship class for another 6 weeks and earned his CGC certificate at about 7 months old.

Even though my husband no longer attends class with us, obedience is still very much an activity that we enjoy as a family. Kord and I have continued on in a series of courses designed to prepare us for obedience competition and my husband and son help with weekly homework and proofing practice (our two year old really excels at distraction :-)).

Kord and I wont enter our first obedience competition until sometime next year but this has been a great way for our whole family to enjoy spending time together.

If you haven't thought of it before please consider enrolling in a class of some sort with your family dog. There are all sorts of programs, for all different levels of experience and you are sure to find something that you and your family will all enjoy... With the added benefit that training will help to make your family pet happier, healthier and even more pleasant to live with.