Re: thanks! that's relief

[Linda Shipman <Linda.Shipman@chezor.alaska.com>]

At 02:50 PM 10/16/2000 -0400, you wrote:
>By the way, the agility place set-up behind a person's house was recommended
>by one of the primo trainers in this area.  She told me to please take him
>there, stay off the jump stuff, and let him try what he'll succeed at in
>order to associate with other dogs on the sideline and have fun playing
>around on stuff.  I specifically asked her if he was too young for this and
>she said absolutely not.

Different breeds mature at different rates.  Goldens are known not to
have their joints close until *at least* fourteen months.  Most of us give
them to two years just to be on the safe side.

Even though we started Angel at one year old in agility, we had had her
hips and elbows x-rayed beforehand.  They were all healthy and clear.
And her breeder agreed that the joints looked like they were closing.
EVEN SO...we continued to run her on jumps only at six to eight inches
for the next six months....only on soft dirt....and NEVER repeatedly.

The only agility equipment I can see Monza being able to safely do
as a puppy is the tunnels, and perhaps the weave pools, though there
is discussion on the agility listgroup whether this is safe for developing
spines in immature dogs.

The following agility equipment creates joint stress, in particular, on the
front assembly, while the dog is coming down the other side:

A-frame
Dog walk
Teeter totter
Jumps
Tire Jump

Some clubs/schools will adjust all the equipment down for puppy agility
classes so that the angles and jumps are very slight.  In that case, it
would be alright to introduce Monza to agility.

Breeders do the best they can to create healthy puppies, but cannot
be responsible for joint problems if owners allow their puppies to be
overweight (stress to the joints) or allow them to train inappropriately.
Weigh this decision carefully before you begin agility.

As Gina has mentioned before.....free exercise off leash is very needed
for most golden puppies.  My motto is "a tired puppy is a good puppy".
And freedom to run, explore and learn about the world on its own is
the beginning of training for tracking and field work.

Linda
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Linda Shipman
Juneau, Alaska
Linda.Shipman@chezor.alaska.com
http://www.chezor.alaska.com
U-CDX, UCI-Intl & CAN CH Goodtimes Flower Power
         Am-Can CDX, Am-Can TD, CGC           "IRIS"
Mariner Aces High at Chezor, TD, CGC              "ANGEL"
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