Question for those who do agility

[Snifter]

What height jumps are your pugs expected to clear?

At our classes (fun, not for competition except among students of our trainer) Snifter generally jumps the lowest possible, which is two bars set at the lowest height and crossed in the middle. So he is probably clearing about 6 inches if he jumps right across the middle.

He is the only dog to do that height - the other small dogs jump a straight bar which I am guessing is about one foot off the ground.

Today it was really cold and rainy and in the interest of keeping everyone moving quicker I said we'd try Snifter on the one foot jump height so as not to have to keep changing jump heights. He did clear those jumps, but was obviously not too happy about it as he balked in front of each one, and then cried, before jumping over.

So we went back to the lower height for him - this is only for a bit of fun and I don't want to push him into doing things he is unhappy with. That's fine with all in class (they couldn't believe I was even prepared to try him over higher) but what height is it reasonable to expect a fit young pug to jump?

[jwestoverpug]

Here in AKC competition dogs 11" and under at the withers jump 8" and dogs 14" and under at the withers jump 12". USDAA dogs under 13" at the withers jump 12"

Kittie's exactly 11" so she jumps 8" and Abby is just over 11" so she jumps 12" in AKC trials. At home and in practice Kittie jumps anwhere between 8" and 12" Abby jumps between 12" and 14"

In international shows the lowest jump height is 14"

[bugs]

For AKC Jill jumps 12 inches. And she has no problem clearing it. We did start out slowly going from the ground to 4 inches to 8 inches and then on to 12. It could have just been then sudden change that made him baulk at the higher jumps.

[Snifter]

For AKC Jill jumps 12 inches. And she has no problem clearing it. We did start out slowly going from the ground to 4 inches to 8 inches and then on to 12. It could have just been then sudden change that made him baulk at the higher jumps.

Thanks Jesse and Colleen.

I think it probably was the sudden change that put him off - because he stopped to have a look and a moan at each jump he was effectively clearing each from a standing start and he went clean over with room to spare. Plus, to be fair, he manages to go through the tyre at about that height.

Is it reasonable to keep him jumping low, though? We'll never compete formally, and I think that the lower jumps put less strain on his shoulders on landing which is probably a good thing in the long run. Or is 12 inches really perfectly OK and I am just being an over-cautious mummy (which my DH suspects...)?

[bugs]

If your not competing I see no reason to go higher. I also think it puts lots less of a strain on there joints when they are jumping lower. Jill would be jumping 8 if she was like a cm shorter.

[Zeus's Mommie]

Both Zeus and Thunder Jump 12" in CPE and AKC. Zeus will have to jump 16" in USDAA, which he can do.

[jwestoverpug]

I think 12" is perfectly fine for them to be jumping, but if you're not planning to compete, there isn't a good reason to jump him higher.

Now why haven't we seen a video of Snifter in action?!

[Snifter]

Now why haven't we seen a video of Snifter in action?!

Er, um, because the only video I have was taken with my camcorder rather than my stills camera and I don't know how to get the video off the camcorder's mini dvd and onto the computer.

[Almandine]

Maisie can clear 12", although the others rather preferred the lower jumps!