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Too old for agility?!?

1K views 15 replies 13 participants last post by  lily cd re 
#1 ·
Now that Abbey has recovered from her spay, gastropexy and 2 eye surgeries I decided to enroll in a puppy agility class. We had our first class this week and not only did Abbey love it but she did really good at it. It was new to me too and I must admit it was a little trickier than I expected, but I also enjoyed it. I almost took a tumble trying to keep up to Abbey a couple of time, and although I came away with one or two bruises, I managed to stay on my feet. My husband came with us and watched and was obviously very proud of our girl, but when we got home he said "you're going to hurt yourself trying to keep up to Abbey, I think you should drop out". What!? She loved it, she was really good at it, and it was the first time for both of us. Basically he thinks I'm too old to start agility with Abbey, I am in my early/mid 60's but I'm active. I walk/run 4 kilometers four to five days a week and dabble in some weight training, I consider myself to be in pretty good shape. Sooooo, am I too old to start agility or is it just a matter of learning the ropes?
 
#2 ·
Caddy you have stated that you walk, do weights and are in good physical condition so I don't see why you wouldn't be able to do agility with Abbey. I'm 66 and do long walks and hikes with Delilah and if I thought Delilah would be good in agility I would sign her up. What's the worst that could happen? If you felt that later on you couldn't keep up then you would give up but why not try it first.
 
#3 ·
You seem fit enough to me. Just take it slow while you are both learning. It might be helpful to re-take the first course to reinforce the techniques before taking advanced courses. Don't let the instructors push you too quickly.

Tai Chi wouldn't hurt to work on balancing while switching directions.
 
#5 ·
Caddy I am in my mid 50s and I have fallen a couple of times and hurt myself badly once (wrecked my knee), That being said I wouldn't stop doing agility with Lily and actually recently have started working with Peeves towards the idea of doing jumpers with him and am also doing foundation work with the puppy. Agility is a great confidence builder for nearly all dogs.

I should add that I am younger than many of the people who I see at trials. The only thing I would really say is to be careful about what shoes you choose and what kinds of surfaces you work on. My trainer has her set up out doors and we work out there for as much of the year as we can. Her ring area is very level and on the rare occasion somebody digs a hole she always puts a cone over it until it is filled and reseeded. My favorite surface to trial on is indoor turf. I wear the lightest built New Balance shoes I can find most of the time.

Eventually you won't be running all around the course with Abbey anyway. Have fun!
 
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#6 ·
Oh please don't let him discourage you! If you feel you can do it then DO IT!!!
You sound like you keep yourself physically active, so this is just a different way to move that I am sure you will adapt to!! (Coming from someone who wishes with all her heart she could even walk across a room without getting out of breath! My brain says "GO!" but the body says "NO!" LOL!) Age is only a frame of mind!

YOU GO GIRL!!!!!!!
 
#7 ·
Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you all, I so enjoyed it and Abbey LOVED it. I was slightly taken aback with hubby's comment as he's usually really supportive, so I think he's genuinely concerned I might injure myself. Lily cd re, I was the oldest by far at this class by 30 or so years, but nobody seems to care, least of all me. We were outside on a nice level cut lawn area so that wasn't a problem, but she had us keep our dogs leashed which was one more thing to maneuver around.
 
#8 ·
Sounds like you're in pretty good shape and I agree that this sounds very doable for you. I am 55, and am no athlete, but reasonably in shape. I do agility with my girl, who is very fast and nowhere near the point where I can just send her to obstacles. I sometimes get winded running with her but it's good and I figure it gets me off the couch! I also see a lot of people much older than me doing agility. I think it's a very fun way to spend time with your dog and get a bit of exercise.
 
#11 ·
Heck no! You're not too old, especially with the physical exercise you already do. If you feel well and like you can do it, you can. Go for it!
 
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#12 ·
What a thoughtful husband! But tell him, after just a little practice, you'll be much safer. And with more experience, you won't have run that much. In Agility, the dog is supposed to run fast, not the handler. The dog is the one being timed ;)

Around here, there are plenty of people in their mid-seventies and beyond doing Agility. My friend is in that age group and she's getting a Std. Poodle puppy in a couple of weeks for Agility.
 
#13 ·
Of course you are not too old, but I would check your footwear. It was something the instructors were very insistant about in the best classes I took, and they were quite right - most human falls were down to slips and trips, and most of the slips and trips were down to the wrong shoes. I know of at least one disabled handler who has their dog so well trained she barely moves around the ring - just stands in the centre and tells it where to go next! May take a while to get to that stage, of course...
 
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#14 ·
Caddy,

Raven and I did the beginner agility in early summer. I am 54 and there were folks on either side of my age. She took a while to warm up to it but about the time she started loving it my work schedule changed and I had to make a choice between obedience and agility classes. I chose obedience for now because it is something easier to practice indoors in winter, but hopefully we will get back to agility in the future.

Btw.. When I read your heading I thought you were going to ask "is the dog to old to start!" I would like to hear from handlers how old there dogs were beginning agility?
 
#15 ·
I had planned to try it earlier but with Abbey's surgeries we waited. Abbey will be 10 months on September 12th, but there was a 5 month old puppy in my class. I'd also be interested to hear how old others started their dogs in agility and other activities.
 
#16 ·
Ahh yes I forgot Abbey is still really a pup. Don't jump her full height yet.
 
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