Aly's Dog Agility School

06/08/2024

First place for Nick and Finn at Grade 6 for another jumping round. Just 3 agility wins to go.

18/05/2024

1st place in 5-7 jumping today at Roseland show. One down, four more wins tog to get to Grade 7.

10/03/2024

At long last Nick and Finn finally won their elusive agility win at Barnstaple show in Devon today. The win now takes them into grade 6. Luck was on their side as Nick did make a meal of steering Finn around the course with a few directional errors, but worked hard to keep on the right course and got the win!

25/02/2024

1st place in grade 7 jumping for Baggie at KST agility show yesterday. I’m so proud of him, he just gives his all every time we step in the ring.

28/01/2024

A lucky First place for Nick and Finn today in Grade 5 agility.

14/01/2024

16/09/2023

Lovely day at Roseland agility Club show held at Stithians and Baggie won a combined 6-7 jumping round.

13/09/2023

Interesting read regarding the XL Bully.

For those who believe we are not true animal lovers because we don’t all rush to vehemently defend a dog breed citing the bullsh*t line that I’m sure you’ve all heard many times before 👇🏻

“iT’s AlL aBoUt HoW yOu RaIsE tHeM”

How you raise them (nurture them) is only a very small part of it, the HUGE part is about what they are, (their nature).Their genetic make up. What they were bred to do. Nature vs. Nurture.

The fact is that different breeds were developed for different reasons. We have all different types of dogs known for a variety of different things. We have herding breeds, guarding breeds, gun dogs, sight hounds, our scent hounds, companion dogs etc etc. All of the dogs within these groups were bred for a purpose. Whether that be our Cavalier King Charles Spaniel which was bred to be lap dog and is of course a companion dog or our German Shepherd Dog which belongs to our guarding group and was bred to herd and guard livestock, their breeds were developed specifically for a reason.

Now let’s look at the breed that is hot topic at the moment. The XL Bully. After yet another vicious attack on a child by an XL Bully, there is call for the breed to be banned. I say ‘breed’ very loosely because they are actually traditionally a mix of the already banned Pitbull Terrier, the American Bulldog and the English Bulldog but the XL Bullies of late are made up of lord knows what. Commonly there is Presa Canario (guarding) and Cane Corso (guard dog, war dog and skilled hunter) also thrown in the mix to create these huge, imposing, genetic disasters that we (in the UK) now know as the XL Bully. The people that are breeding these dogs generally are not at all interested in the health or temperament of the dogs they’re producing since it is size and colour that sells. Therefore these dogs are just thrown together without a second thought for the outcome. The outcome very often is completely unbalanced, genetically modified dogs that are bred to be the biggest they can be with no onus put on their health, their joints are f*cked meaning they often live in pain, they are bombs literally just waiting to go off.

And then we come to the people that own them. If you are looking specifically for the meanest, biggest, baddest looking dog and you’re not bothered about the health or the temperament of said dog then you’re just as much of a d**k as the people that are breeding them.

So you take these dogs that have the potential to be completely unhinged and you put them in the hands of someone who simply wants a status symbol and you might as well have just handed them an AK47 because they won’t take the time to research and understand the dog they’ve got. They will regularly spout that it is in how you raise them, they will have no boundaries and they will walk these dogs off lead completely ignoring the fact that they have a dog that is GENETICALLY pre disposed to aggression.

You wouldn’t take a border collie and walk it through a field of sheep and then wonder why it is herding them. You know that they are doing it because regardless of whether they’ve ever seen a sheep before in their lives it is inherent. It is in their genes and this is no different.

The XL Bully in the wrong hands is a weapon and until we start cracking down on the breeders and putting consequences on the owners who allow these dogs to go out and attack innocent people there will be no end to it.

If they ban the Bully, another breed will come along, and another and another. If you want to own a large and potentially dangerous dog you must be held accountable when things go wrong. Handle them with care, put the time in to them, undertake specialist training, give them an outlet, learn how to own one safely and you’ve nothing to fear and you’ll end up with a really lovely dog. Be a dick and ignore your dogs breed traits, show them no respect, don’t take any special measures when nurturing them then you might as well just take your AK47 and open fire basically.

13/08/2023

Lovely weekend away at Pawsability show, Somerton.

Dear Finn produced two winning jumping rounds today and a clear agility round on Saturday. He always saves the day with his consistent clear rounds.

Despite some lovely courses I just seem to be below par for both days, our best round was 6/7 agility today where Baggie missed his dog walk exit by a mile, Air traffic control gave us clearance to land! They can’t be great all the time, but I can still take the best dogs home at the end of the day!

Tinks just took it all in her stride l!

06/08/2023

Spent the weekend at Westpoint arena, Exeter, competing at the Paignton Agility show.
Nick and Finn won a 4-5 jumping and gained a clear round in another jumping class, adding to their haul of grade 4 wins. This was his last week competing in grade 4 and now moves to grade 5 next weekend at Pawsability show.

Baggie was again the star of the show by winning his 5th and final win in grade 6 agility to take him to grade 7. Along with a second place in a 6/7 jumping class on Saturday and another win in 6-7 jumping on Sunday Baggie continued his outstanding performance.

Well done to everyone who took home ribbons and thanks to friends and fellow competitors for making our weekend so enjoyable.😊

30/07/2023

Another weekend away, this time in Winkleigh, Devon at Lapford show.

Despite the weather and miserable conditions the boys did good again.

Finn pulled another grade 4 jumping win out the bag on Saturday and two clear rounds in jumping on Sunday.

While Baggie duly won a grade 6 agility on Saturday.

Shout out to a Karen Biggs who won her grade 4 agility today to take her to grade 5!!

23/07/2023

Another weekend away at Pawsability agility in Somerton.
Baggie’s turn this weekend to shine, a win on Saturday and a win on Sunday both in 6-7 jumping classes. Despite his determination to turn like an oil tanker, we seem to be working as a team. I’m feeling blessed to have this boy in my life.

Dear Finn and Nick just had pilot errors and misunderstandings all weekend, but both are loving the competition life.

16/07/2023

Wow! What a weekend at Fab Dorset. The boys did good again.

Baggie gaining a lucky grade 6 jumping win and producing so many if only runs, we are really working as a team now.

Finn and Nick winning 3 out of his 4 runs today. Two jumping and one agility. Finn now moves up to grade 5.

09/07/2023

Day 4 of Cornwall Agility Club show at Wadebridge and the boys did good 👍

Nick and Finn winning a graded 4/5 jumping round…. Yes, Finn won a jumping round.., giving him his second win toward grade 5.

And

Me and Baggles won the combined 6/7 agility giving him is first win toward grade 7.

Had a lovely 4 days at the show with just the best company of friends and fellow competitors.

Congratulations to everyone who took home ribbons!

06/07/2023

Day one of Cornwall Agility Club show at Wadebridge and Nick and Finn won Grade 4 agility!!

02/07/2023

Another lovely weekend away competing. Nothing for Baggie but a couple of if only runs kept our spirits up.
Finns first grade 4 this weekend and he seems to be coping well with a second in jumping. Finn seems to have found another gear which is causing problems in the weaves. Work to do with both dogs before out next show.

26/06/2023

Dear Finn did it again… another grade 3 agility win with Nick at Wraxall show. Great weekend away with good friends.

18/06/2023

A 2nd in grade 3 agility and a 3rd in grade 3 jumping for Finn today and a lucky 1st in grade 5 agility for Baggles. Both boys ran well today.

11/06/2023

Neither Nick or Finn wanted their photos taken. So here’s the 2nd place rosette Finn got for a really great jumping round yesterday. Back home now for a quick dip in the pond!

10/06/2023

A scrappy grade 5 agility win today for Baggie, now takes him to Grade 6. He’s just perfect!🥰

06/06/2023

Blackdown show this weekend and another agility win for Nick and Finn, now taking them out of grade 3 and into Grade 4.

29/05/2023

Great weekend of Agility at SWAT show Bridgewater. A grade 3 agility win for Nick and Fin and a Grade 5 Jumping win for me and Baggles today.

14/05/2023

Another show today at Stithians show ground hosted by Carn Brea. Nick and Finn had another 1st place in Grade 3 Agility winning the class with the only clear round. I wonder how long our winning streak will last??

13/05/2023

Great day at Roseland show.
Baggles won a grade 5 agility and a combined 4-5 jumping round today.
Dear Finn got two clear rounds in his first grade 3 show. ….. and the weather was glorious.

09/04/2023

Another 2nd place in jumping for Finn today! He just hates having a photo shoot!

Dog Agility Training Lessons.

08/04/2023

Dog Agility Beginners Classes
Outdoors near Redruth
Plenty of parking, on site toilets
Kennel Club Qualified Pet Dog Trainer
40 years Agility Experience
Thursday Evenings Beginners Classes 5.30-6.30 Starting Thursday 13th April
(No chains or chokers) bring toys, treats and a good sense of humour!
Contact Aly 07790721164

Dog Agility Training Lessons.

08/04/2023

Today Finn won his grade 2 agility which takes him to grade 3! He also got a 2nd in jumping yesterday and a second in jumping today. Me and Baggie were just not in tune and have left the responsibility of winning to Nick and Finn for a while!