Paws2Play Agility for Fun Training

Congratulations to a couple of Paws2Play students on their awards from the American Stockdog Association. This is a huge honor for Ashley and Connie. Paws2Play is so proud of both of you.

I did not know that xylitol is being renamed as birch sugar on some food labels. Xylitol aka birch sugar is extremely toxic to our pets. It can be found in some ice creams, peanut butters, and other food products. Be aware.

https://vetmedbiosci.colostate.edu/vth/animal-health/birch-sugar-is-the-same-thing-as-xylitol-and-its-toxic-to-dogs/?fbclid=IwAR0RSD82iuwcfE7-4yTLjJ8jjlli5sRCkNLZ4tmM0kAgymT6f_AsqtCxTyo

Birch sugar is the same thing as xylitol and it’s toxic to dogs - Veterinary Teaching Hospital Labeled as “xylitol” within the ingredients list for most products, the same plant-derived substance can also be identified as “birch sugar” or “birch sap” in others.

More chronicles of Bella. We are now using the barrels to teach “distance”. Donna is “sending” Bella to the barrel rather than running with her the whole way. After we have made it really fun and rewarding to go around the barrel, we start increasing the distance in small increments while making it a fun game. Here’s Bella’s lesson today doing a figure 8 around two barrels at the beginning and at the end.

Pre teeter training. Echo (border collie) playing on the wobble board then learning to play the “bang game” on the teeter. Super Cross (mini Aussie) playing the bang game. (Oops, excuse my fingertip!).

Ronin’s training session today. Puppy agility. We had him work in a little bit of coordination. Sometimes coordination is hard to come by when you are a young English bulldog puppy. First few times we put the “ladder” upside down so he just had to figure out how to step over the bars on the ground. Second one is laddder on short legs so he has to figure out how to lift his legs and place his feet. We did each several times and he improved each pass. Then Ronin got to do a sequence. He went through the tunnel and around the barrel. He still isn’t quite sure how to keep his backend under him on the turn. This has to be the cutest think Inhave seen all week.

Our pre teeter training was done on a wobble board. Then we played on the mini teeter. (You can see it in the corner with the barrels sitting on it). Tonight Cooper (pictured) and Shrute got to be the first two dogs to play on our new teeter. Cooper is pictured playing the “bang” game which is one of the first games we play when learning the teeter. The video is Cooper going over the low teeter at the end of the lesson. We played lots of little games to get to this point so there’s no fear and a sense of fun for the dog.

AKC has just announced that it has made its Virtual Rally Obedience program a permanent part of its Rally Obedience program. That means you can tape your rally run and submit it to be judged. Paws2Play Agility for Fun Training also teaches Rally. If you are interested in finding out more about Rally Obedience for fun or competition message us and ask.

All set up for the new 9:30 Beginner Agility Class!

Ronin had his first puppy agility class today. He learned how to go around the cone and “come to hand”. We also played recall games and the collar game. We finished with Ronin doing the tunnel. He learned he loved the tunnel. The cuteness factor was almost too much 💕.

Shirley Ann got to play with Donna’s Golden Retriever, Lilly, on a course this morning. I love the enlargement of Lilly coming out of the tunnel. Look at Lilly’s intensity.

Our Bella chronicles for the day are part
of this morning’s lesson. Bella is learning to “drive” to the table and do an automatic sit when she gets there. The one video is just the drive to the table. The second video shows a sequence with Bella driving out to the table. Look how she stays forward focused and leaves Donna in the dust. Exactly what we want to see—an independent drive ahead of Donna. Well done little Bella, well done!

I chose this rescue because of their work with impaired animals. My grandmother was blind and my father was legally blind. In honor of Betty White’s 100th birthday and her life’s work with rescue animals I donated today. Please consider donating either to Second Chance Farms ( check them out on FB or at secondchancefarmgranbury.org ) or your local animal shelter or favorite rescue group. .

Home | Second Chance Farm The animals we take in are often deaf and/or blind while some have other challenges. We are devoted to giving Second Chances to those that may otherwise be overlooked.

Fred had his first agility lesson today. He played in the tunnel, learned to go around a barrel, learned to “come to hand”, and started learning the mark bucket. Fred and his human had a great deal of fun. They also did a great deal of playing in the room to help
Fred build some confidence being here and being around the equipment.

From Fatboy’s lesson today. Fatboy is learning to do the weave poles in a modified 2x2 channel method. He is doing wonderfully. Fatboy is an Irish Wolfhound x Border Collie.

More cuteness doses of agility puppy training with Bella and Donna. Bella learned how to do the tire this morning. The wobble board is helping her learn that the item moving can be fun. The puppy bump circle is a coordination and striding exercise. Fun is had by all!

Athena wants you to know that agility at Paws2Play Agility for Fun Training is fun. She also wants you to know that there is a spot left in the Saturday 9:30 am Beginners class starting January 15. Athena says you can phone or text Paws2Play at 817-726-7434 or messenge if you would like to come out and give it a try. The January intro package is three classes for $60.

Penny is putting Fat Boy through his paces on the wobble board. We use the wobble board to condition dogs to noise and movement before we ever start teeter training.

Puppy Bella had a great class on Friday. Here’s Bella doing a figure 8 around the barrels. Look at her intensity! This is so much fun for the dogs.

Huge congratulations to our Rally students Christi and Jett. They entered their first ever AKC Rally Obedience Trial in Glenrose today and took first place out of 11 dogs with a score of 92. Paws2Play Agility for Fun Training couldn’t be more excited for you.

Early mornings at the Paws2Play Agility for Fun Training building can be beautiful. This was taken at 6:55. My camera doesn’t do the colors justice. Sunrise was still 30 minutes away, and the rose colors predicting that sunrise were deep rose. My first class is at 7:30. My dogs and I got here at 6:15. I like to have a good stretch of time to play with my three before the day starts.

My dogs enjoying our outdoor area as I am getting ready for the day.