We've been doing puppy training since Maddie was about eleven weeks old, mostly for our sanity.

She does super well with the training. I had done three series of puppy classes by the time she was 4.5 months old. I just took her for the CGC testing and she passed. At 5 months I tried a obedience class and she crashed and burned. All she did was pull grass and grab her leash.

She is now 8 months old and back in the obedience class. She is much better.

She also just started agility. We shall see how this goes.

I think she is very capable of doing either. The same is not true for me. I'm definitely the weak link in this team.

So bottom line for you, see what works for Bentley and you. I'm of the belief that training is good (mostly for me and secondarily for the dog). If you learn one new way to connect with your dog during a session, this is progress.

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Gwen
belongs to Amber (LiquidAmber II) June 1995-August 2010
Maddie (Essex Mountain Madrone) CGC Born April 17th, 2012

At Bentley's age, I'd keep it fun. Is there a beginner agility? One where they are just introducing them to the equipment? Or maybe a nosework class? I don't think I'm going to continue in the competitive obedience right now. I'd rather do something that is more for fun. I think I may take beg. agility or intermediate obedience. The comp. obedience is just a whole different atmosphere.

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Liberty - 10 months




Kim - Mommy to fur-baby Liberty and 2 human daughters 12 and 14 years old

Go for it if you think he is ready. If not you can always take it. I'm hoping Tayla has settled enough to go into Basic Obedience after the fist of the year. She was so bitey in puppy class I'm amazed I still have hands left. Since it has been almost 6 weeks since that has stopped I'm hoping we can get through Basic and Novice and then take the test after that is done. All my prior dogs have gotten their CGC, but they were older when adopted so Tayla could be my youngest one at about 1.5 years old.

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Barb, Rick and Tayla (STAR Puppy)



Cheyenne (CGC) and Jesse (CGC) who will be always loved and never forgotten.

I'm in no hurry for him to get the CGC, I just want to continue classes because we both enjoy them.

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How about do both? I would hold off on Agility personally- though you can start with the concepts. One of the trainers I went to had the CGC class as the intermediate obedience class- it does teach good manners so that could be a good choice. Those classes also involved some rally aspects so I think any would be a good choice. I personally love rally so that would be my vote!

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I've been thinking that too. The reason I thought agility is when we're at class during free time Bentley spends all his time going through the tunnel, over the ramp, on the teeter totter thingy. I have to leash him to get him away from them

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That is great that he does all that right now! I think keeping up those skills is great! I would wait until at least 18 months to start agility, though, jumping anyway. Definitely practice what you can!

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CGC classes sound like a good idea for you and Bentley. This is the right time for them. And lots of people repeat the classes before taking the test, so don't stress about being ready.

Rally works out best if you've done at least one round of competition classes and have learned a lot of the basics (fronts, finishes, pivots, etc). When I took rally classes a couple years ago with Jacks, the people who had the most fun in the classes and whose dogs were able to get titles that same year - they already had come up through the program and taken competition obedience classes already. People who had problems or were unsure of what they were doing out there generally came from the agility side.

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Always loved, never forgotten, all our previous boys -

Thanks, This is good info to know!

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