Delta agility and dog training

15/07/2025

A year on and I am still doing the same training because training a new puppy doesn't stop after the first couple of weeks. Training is needed for the length of your dogs life, with many ups and downs along the way😄

I have been really busy ever since Rocket came to me in April. He has of course had a lot of training, but I have been very aware that I haven't done any solo walks with him.

Rocket has always been out with Cooper & Delta, and although this is great for him to run around with Delta, I felt that his understanding of recall and also being able to help him around distractions such as other people and dogs has suffered a bit.

On Sunday I took Rocket out on his own and we had a great time. We had a few off lead dogs running around, and although one of them ran over uninvited, I moved Rocket away quickly and he stayed calm throughout.

We also had a dog running around near us barking towards us, but we continued to play together and Rocket completely ignored the other dog because he wanted to play with me instead👍

During our walk we practiced a stay with distractions, recall, retrieving a toy and also spent some time to settle amongst everything around us.

Get in touch if you have or are getting a new puppy to get you and your new puppy off to a great start together. [email protected]

15/07/2025

From mid/late September I will be adding more daytime classes and 1-2-1's. These will be agility and general training classes/1-2-1's.

If you are interested please get in touch. Either go to the website www.delta-agility.com or email me, [email protected]

There are a couple of potential evening spaces coming up but I do have a waiting list already, but if you are looking for evening groups/1-2-1's please let me know.

14/07/2025

From the moment that Molly could roll over on the floor she needed to be supervised around the dogs. This was also when I started to teach Molly how to interact with animals.

Having 3 dogs has been difficult, I have always said that. Consistency with Molly and the dogs to keep everyone happy and safe together has been the key to a happy home.

Molly has always been taught to be calm around animals and to never touch an unknown animal and if it is a pet, she must always ask permission to touch or hold the animal.

Yesterday, we were at my training venue and I had told her that one of the cats has had some kittens, so obviously, Molly wanted to see them😄

Before we went in to see them, I told her to leave the kittens alone and to stay calm.

Molly is 4 years old and she was absolutely amazing. She walked in to the room slowly and calmly. She looked at the kittens and took it all in.

Mummy cat was unsure at first, but she came over to see Molly. Sniffed her hand, gave Molly a lock and then went back to her kittens❤️

Molly had been accepted and was allowed to be near to her babies (only a week old). Molly was so happy and we left them alone to rest.

Children need to learn how to approach animals, and also how to interact too. But they will only learn if we teach them.

13/07/2025

I decided to get up early and do some training with Delta & Rocket today. It was so nice and cool inside 🎉

Molly came with me because she wanted to help and these are her best bits😃

I am beyond proud of the confident, happy, kind and amazing young handler that Molly is becoming.

She could have easily become frustrated very quickly because both dogs find it hard to do agility with anyone other than me🙈

Molly continued to try her best and even when Rocket missed the last jump she rewarded him because I have always told her to reward the dogs for trying their best❤️

Today was another big step in the partnership between Molly and the dogs. In 18 months time, Molly can compete😱 the plan is that she will do some anysize with Delta if Molly wants to.

There will be no pressure from me otherwise frustration will build from Molly and she will not have any fun... and that is what agility should be... Fun🎉🎉

Watching the videos after also gave me a lot of pride in both dogs.

Delta was listening a lot more to Molly, but still needed a bit of help from me. When Molly did the weaves with Delta she was the happiest little girl. She had a smile on her face the whole time❤️

Rocket listens to Molly and he is so gentle with her. He went very slowly for her... mostly because he was confused, but I like to think that he was helping her gain confidence ❤️

Watch until the end of this video... Molly forgot the course and her face was hilarious 😂 we have all done this🙈😂😂

11/07/2025

Dogs are really stupid, sometimes 🙈

I let my dogs out for a quick toilet break in the garden. It is currently around 30⁰c and the first thing that Rocket does is to find a toy and start throwing it around 🤦‍♂️

In fairness he did stop very quickly, but only because I told him too.

Obviously, it is going to be hot for the next few days and this presents problems for the normal routines we have and it also means that if we had plans with our dogs over the weekend then most of these will need to be cancelled😞

Thankfully I have not entered a competition this weekend otherwise I would have pulled out and stayed at home.

I am not going to be walking my dogs over the weekend because all the woodland walks near me will be busy, even at 8am. So we are going to relax in the house and the shade in the garden😎

If you're taking your dogs out over the weekend remember to take plenty of water. Don't take them out for a run. Leave the ball at home, they really don't need to chase a ball/toy in 30⁰c temperatures.

Maybe stay at home and use your walking time to practice recall, walking on the lead, or some self-control games if needed😉

Enjoy the weekend and put your dogs needs before yours for the next couple of days because it is going to rain on Monday 😄😄

10/07/2025

I recently shared a video of my training with Rocket on a see-saw, and this is how is all started.

The noise is a big trigger for many dogs, so it is important to help them ignore it and not to worry. I did a few sessions like this before Rocket even touched the see-saw, and the results are a very happy dog😃

Another big reason for doing this training is to help Rocket ignore the noise of the see-saw when he walks past other dogs on them at competitions.

If your dog is learning a see-saw for the first time, or maybe they are jumping off, make sure that they are comfortable with the noise and then add in some movement, but not too much movement to begin with.

08/07/2025

I set a bit of a challenging course tonight😄 and I wanted to have a go with Rocket on part of it.

The challenge was to do the wrong end of the tunnel, but seeing if Rocket could listen when he is running at speed and in front of me... because it is going to happen a lot😂😂

08/07/2025

When we teach our dogs HOW to do something and reinforce it with lots of reward (for Cooper it was lots of cocktail sausages 😋). They will find it easier to remember and also give you the correct answer when you ask them a question 😉

Cooper retired from agility in 2020. He will occasionally do something agility based, but not very often because he is an old boy and would prefer to do something less strenuous, but occasionally he wants to join in😄

This video (not the best quality) was from Friday. I wanted to see if he remembered what to do. It has been about 4 months since he did any agility training, but as you can see, he remembered what to do🎉

I am often asked if a dog can remember what to do if their dog has a couple of weeks off, well the answer is yes... as long as you reward them enough😃

Dogs are not robots, they are animals. We need to teach them what we want them to do and reward them with whatever gets them excited. This could be food, toys or verbal praise.

Unfortunately, I see many people on walks or at agility competitions shouting at their dog or saying things like 'they are being stubborn' or 'they are not listening to me'😞

Ask yourself one question... would you be happy to go to work and not get paid for all your hard work?

08/07/2025

My page has reached over 16,500 people over the past 28 days🎉

This is amazing and I am truly grateful to everyone who has supported me, especially over the past couple of years.

When I talk to people I am told that they really like my posts on here. Just over 4 years ago it was how I helped Cooper learn to cope with Molly when she was born.

I have documented the introduction of Rocket with Molly and the other dogs, with plenty of challenges along the way😄

And, of course all the agility updates with Delta and our journey to grade 7 and multiple championship finals🎉🎉

If you do enjoy my posts and the feel that the information that I provide, please like, love ot laugh at it and please share to spread the information to help more people😃 I know how easy it is to read or watch something and then keep scrolling but the Facebook algorithms will promote me much more if you take less than a second to like or maybe 2 seconds to share😉

Also, if you like my page, you will help my little business grow and help me help more people and their dogs to have a great life together❤️

Thank you for all your continued support❤️

07/07/2025

Rocket joined in with Delta's group class tonight. (Photo at a recent competition and not training 😄).

As well as doing some agility training and also doing 6 weaves at a different venue on different weaves🍾🍾 we also spent some time watching the other dogs... very difficult for Rocket😄

Training Rocket on my own is fun, but it is hard to do some of the important stuff, such as rewarding him for calm behaviour when another dog is training.

Another distraction for Rocket tonight was when our trainer was stood in front of him eating her dinner, and he had to ignore her and carry on training 😄

Rocket needs distractions like this because when we start competing there will be people eating around the rings... Rocket did really well, and although he was a bit distracted, he didn't try to get the food😄👌

05/07/2025

Training for Rocket is going well. I feel like I am really behind when it comes to his contacts, but his weaves are coming along nicely.

Weaves are almost fully closed channels. He was doing 6 closed and 6 open slightly. We have a lot more to do and more work on weave entrance skills, but happy at the moment😃

I really haven't done much on the contacts and when I see other young dogs I feel like a failure, but then I remember that it isn't a race to teach him everything before he is able to.

This was his first attempt on a full see-saw and I am really happy with his confidence and very happy that he didn't fly off the end.

I will do some more next week and add some movement from me and make sure that Rocket can still stop at the end😃

05/07/2025

There are so many workshops to choose from over the next 6 months.

I have workshops to help with handling skills, weaves, course running and learning how to walk a course. There are monthly steeplechase course running sessions to build confidence when running a course.

I have monthly fun shows to help you gain confidence in a 'competition' environment... with loads of helpful and supportive people around you.

Then there are the guest trainer days with Iain Patz and Mike Bendell, too.

There really is something for everyone between now and March 2026!!

All grades are welcome to book on any of the workshops. If you are not sure, please contact me before you book.

For more details and to book your space, go to: www.delta-agility.com