Furever Friends Dog Training

20/04/2023

First time on the a frame for pipper today. After an unsure first attempt, she soon found it fun to go over without any problems

01/04/2023

We have some last minute spaces available for tomorrow 2-4pm with guest trainer Amy Bennet who is a world champion agility winner in agility and an amazing trainer.
Space in the 2pm group aimed at young dogs new to agility that haven't done much or doing short sequences. You don't have to have done all the equipment as will be able to adapt where needed to make easier or harder.

If intreasted then book on the link below
https://bookwhen.com/fureverfriends =ev-scki-20230402140000

11/02/2023

I have seen a fair few place do agility on lead or long lines in the past and some are still doing this.
In reality this can end very badly for your dog or even you. If your dog hasn't the best recall, we can work on that and work around your dogs abilities rather than risk their safety.

Read more about this on our website: www.fureverfriendspetservices.com/s/stories/agility-safety-3

05/02/2023

Ever wanted to give agility a go?
Join us on our beginners course starting on 28th February at 11am for 6 weeks where we will introduce the foundations of agility including forward focus so they are looking ahead for the equipment, body awareness so they are aware of all their legs when going over the narrow dog walk, confidence for the seesaw which moves and bangs, going through tunnels which can be scary as it is an enclosed space as well as learning directional cues such as go on, left and right. There is a lot more we will also cover in the 6 weeks.

Dogs must have a reliable recall around other dogs as they will be working off lead, although it will be one at a time, we don't want to be spending most of your turn getting them back.

Message us for more information or book in via our website, limited spaces so all get a chance to have a go and not be rushed.
This is for dogs 10 months and over. If interested with a younger dog or a dog with an unreliable recall or unsure of other dogs the get in touch to arrange a 121.

www.fureverfriendspetservices.com/agility

01/02/2023

Through play and basic forward focus, Buzz has worked up to being able to navigate round with me stand still and just verbally telling him which way to go and he looks for the next peice of equipment, which is helped by verbals in the case of the weaves

01/02/2023

2023 training days for agility and scentwork with guest trainers

Saturday 18th March
Jumping course running- aimed at lower grades to get used to running courses in new environments and can set up someone taking your lead, judge standing on the course etc. Each dog will get 2x 10 minute goes to attempt the course, break down the course, practice skills etc.

Sunday 2nd April
Agility with Amy Bennett
Focusing on skills and short sequences
Sessions for young dogs, puppies and those not competing yet
Grades 1-4
Grades 4-7
Grade 4 welcome to choose either session depending if wanting to work on harder skills or re visit some basic skills

Friday 7th April
Agility with sam lane
Focusing on skills and short sequences
Sessions for young dogs, puppies and those not competing yet (session full)
Grades 1-4
Grades 4-7
Grade 4 welcome to choose either session depending if wanting to work on harder skills or re visit some basic skills

Saturday 15th April
Scentwork with Wendy Clay
Beginners session for dogs new to scentwork or not done a lot
Advanced session for those ready to compete or already competing

Friday 14th July
Agility with Sam Lane
Focusing on skills and short sequences
Sessions for young dogs, puppies and those not competing yet
Grades 1-4
Grades 4-7
Grade 4 welcome to choose either session depending if wanting to work on harder skills or re visit some basic skills

Monday 28th August
Agility with Amy Bennett
Focusing on skills and short sequences
Sessions for young dogs, puppies and those not competing yet
Grades 1-4
Grades 4-7
Grade 4 welcome to choose either session depending if wanting to work on harder skills or re visit some basic skills

Saturday 16th September
Agility with Selena Bray
Focusing on skills and short sequences
Sessions for young dogs, puppies and those not competing yet
Grades 1-4 (session full)
Grades 4-7
Grade 4 welcome to choose either session depending if wanting to work on harder skills or re visit some basic skills

All agility sessions will have the choice of the 4 oc heights plus micro height. Contacts are wooden with rubber - seesaw won't be used but others may be depending on the trainers course (course running will just be jumps, tunnels and weaves)

All bookable on the following link, some are full and others only have 1 or 2 spaces left
https://bookwhen.com/fureverfriends

31/01/2023

31/01/2023

This is how we can use toy drive to start putting bits if equipment together.
Starting off easy with 1 peice of equipment then moving onto 2 with the toy for them to focus on and then eventually removing the toy but they will of had to positive association of going forwards to get something good so will still do it and we can throw them the toy.
We can then move onto even longer sequences, again with the toy out as we've made it harder with asking them to go further, but once they've starting understanding the new criteria, we can do with the toy away and throw out once they have done the sequence we have asked for

29/01/2023

You can start some training with your puppy and young dogs before they can do any equipment. One of these things is building toy drive which will help with forward focus when doing equipment and putting together sequences.

24/01/2023

Jumping course grades 1-3/4. Each dog will get 2 turns of approximately 10 minutes. The course will have jumps, tunnels and 6-12 weaves.
Jumps have choice of micro, small, medium, intermediate and large.
You can do what you want in the 10 minuities when it is your go, you can do the whole course, break down to work on a certain section, work on distance or anything else in your time.
I will also be able to stand on the course too if you wanted to practice a real run with a young dog in a new environment with someone new around the equipment and only with a few other dogs around so not too distracting.
£10 per dog, max 4 dogs. Saturday 18th March 12pm. Book you space on the link below:
https://bookwhen.com/fureverfriends/e/ev-s0uh-20230318120000

13/01/2023

13/01/2023

Scentwork is a great way to mentally tire out dogs and sniffing is a natural behaviour for dogs.

It is a great low impact activity and a calm activity so perfect if you dog often gets excited as the sniffing can help with calming them and get them concentrating on something positive.

It is also a great activity for any dog to have a go at if they love to learn and are high energy as will help bring down the energy without walking miles each day, which in turn will make them fitter and need longer walks to get tired.

If you want to have a go, scentwork UK instructor Wendy Clay will be doing a beginners workshop on Saturday 15th April

https://bookwhen.com/fureverfriends

07/01/2023

Scentwork UK instructor Wendy Clay will be at our field on Saturday 15th April for the day teaching.

9-11am Beginners to scentwork
11:30-1:30 Advanced (for those competing in scentwork UK)
2-3pm level TBC

Dogs noses are really sensitive and using it to sniff is natural for them as well as mentally tiring for them without being highly active so perfect for all ages and those that may have injuries as can be adapted so searches are all low down when needed.

Book in to secure your space, limited to 6 dogs per group and we can give dogs space if they are nervous or reactive. Outdoor venue near Stevenage SG2 7ED

https://bookwhen.com/fureverfriends

07/01/2023

We are starting to introduce some harder turns for pipper in agility. This week was the start of round the back of jumps but we kept pretty easy for both her and owner so round the back was the easier option but we will start building it so it isn't always the easier option

07/01/2023

Send a message to learn more

01/01/2023

Tomorrow our new contacts will be arriving at the field meaning we will be able to introduce these to those already in classes and 121s over the next few weeks.
We still have our jumps, tunnel and weaves we will be using so will be able to make some harder and longer courses with these pieces of equipment and able to get them doing courses you would expect in competition, if that is something you decide you want to do one day, if not we would be able to do the courses just for fun and a challenge for you.

Send us a message to find out more about booking a space for a 121 where we be able to assess if they would be able to join any of our current classes, or if 121s would be better suited at the moment

www.fureverfriendspetservices.com/agility

29/12/2022

What can be done at home before agility classes without any equipment?

Some of the equipment can be daunting for some dogs. Especially the tunnel which is an enclosed space which some dogs aren't keen on, it also feels strange under their paws due to the material as well as being pretty noises which amplifies inside the tunnel, and dogs have more sensitive hearing than us which is why some dogs aren't keen especially if they are unsure of new noises anyway.

So what can be done at home?

You can set up different areas for your dog to walk over. This can be carrier bags, bin bags, foil, cardboard boxes, wrapping paper etc.
Place some treats randomly on and around the set up and let them explore at their own pace. Some dogs will walk on these items without a problem, others may take a little longer to warm up to to idea.

Don't force your dog at anytime though as this can make them even more unsure of stepping onto it. Just encourage them with some treats or a toy if that's what they prefer. Some may find it easier if you pace some treats on the bags, boxes etc and then step back away from it and they explore in their own time.

If they don't go on straight away, don't worry, if possible leave it out and leave some treats on there so tneh can go over as and when tbeh want to explore and if it is there for a few days they will be happier with it just being there so when you do go back to it and encourage them, they may do it.

This will also help them learn about where all their paws are for when things like the a frame, dog walk and seesaw are introduced.

This isn't something you can do just if looking at doing agility. It is perfect for puppies to build confidence around different surfaces and noises things may make when they step on it. Which things like gravel would or a bridge that may make some noises or have a little movement as they step on it

28/12/2022

What can you do to practice agility without any equipment at home?

One thing that will always come in useful in agility is a good wait as it will mean we can get ahead of them at the start o we have be ahead of them if it is a straight line to start with an a little trickier sequence further on. This means we can get ahead and let them catch up with us where we can help with the trickier section so we aren't always trying to catch up with them.

By practicing waits in different places, this will help when it comes to agility. Practice at home to start with whilst starting to teach this so it isn't too distracting and then progress to a quite field without too many other dogs and people close by and then build up so they will wait no matter the distractions around.

If you make it harder by going into a more distracting place, then don't go as far from them to start with and don't expect them to wait for as long. If you are making one part harder, make other parts easier. Only make 1 of the Ds (distance, duration, distraction) harder and make the other 2 easier before you build this up again.

03/12/2022

Charlie and Ted gave the course a good go today. The final go, there was a change of dogs so where both slightly different to handle that what the handlers where used to, Ted is more manic so needs a little more calm and quicker responses to where to go and Charlie normally needs more motivation.
It isn't until we do some with another dog, we relise what we may (or not!) be doing in certain areas and what we could change to help them more

03/12/2022

Rodney came for his first agility session today and did very well. He got distracted at times but he's never been in the agility field before so all smells different and nearer the hedges and trees so different noises from there and leaves falling as well as loads of birds flying Iver today to distract him. But he started building association of going through the jump wings results in a tasty treat and going through the tunnel is what we where after, not jumping on top.
Also some awareness if where he was placing his paws on the dog walk plank whilst it was on the ground so he's happy and confident walking along that before we put it up so its higher.

19/11/2022

Charlie and Teddy tackling this week's course. Both did very well, a few areas we will be working on over the winter including some more distance work so they can do more of the work seeing as they are both speedy when they want to be

11/11/2022

Pippa did well after a few weeks off. Working on some distance as well as progressing weaves

07/11/2022

Charlie and Ted did some good work at the weekend. Working on some distance with them - perfect for winter so we don't slip too much over the wetter months.
We introduced them to a blind where the cross behind their handlers and loose sight for them for a couple of seconds. Very hard for a lot as they need to have the confidence that the owners will be getting out their path but also the owners know they won't be taken out!
Also some layering to finish off the session. A straight line which they have done before but this time the handlers where the other side of the weaves so they had to really listen to if they where being asked to go straight or come in to do the weaves

22/10/2022

Saro, Dashs mum came today to have a go at agility. She was very good, managed to start getting the hang if the weaves after only a couple of goes

22/10/2022

Ted is getting the hang of the weaves, he was a little eager at the end and needs a little help when coming at speed into them but doing very well considering he's only just starting to do them in longer sequences which means more speed