Many people think Staffordshire Bull Terriers are untrainable. Not Melanie Buxton, a qualified dog handler and trainer, who runs an agility club as part of her Wag n Bone dog training each Saturday at the Blue Cross rehoming centre in Northiam.
Agility is a sport where the owner directs the dog through an obstacle course – over, under, through, in and out, up and down – and is judged on timing and accuracy. Mel believes the course is suitable for all dogs, not just dogs like Border Collies.
It’s good exercise for the animals, and is also a great way for both the dogs and owners to socialise. I am interested in dogs and their training and wanted to find out what it was about the agility course that the owners liked and why they had joined Mel’s training class.
My mother, Roz Gentry, has been training dogs for several years. She brought her Border Collie Zebulun to Wag n Bone because she likes Mel’s training methods. She has had Zebulun since a puppy but said: “Although we have been doing very basic training with Zeb, he has come a long way in a short time under Mel’s instruction.”
Maria Green has also had English Springer Spaniel Bertie from a puppy. She joined the agility training because she already does the Wag n Bone obedience class and feels that Bertie is doing very well, is enjoying it and is improving. “It’s fun for the dogs,” she said, “and it’s exercise for me and hopefully it helps him with his training, stops him getting bored!”
Leah Fusco, who rescued Ellie, a Border Collie, at a year old, said her dog had a lot of behavioural problems and the agility course “gives her a real opportunity to focus on something”.
Tom Nash, who has a seven-year-old rescue German Shepherd cross Border Collie named Phoebe, thought Mel’s obedience classes so good that he would try the agility course. He said: “It’s time with my dog. It’s dog time, just between me and my girl.”
Mel confirmed the positive comments: “It’s very rewarding when they start off and they can’t do it and then after a few week’s they start to build up and build up and after a few months they start doing full courses. Yep, it’s brilliant!”
Wag n Bone dog training courses are held at the Blue Cross Centre, Main Street, Northiam TN31 6LP. The centre’s annual Open Day and Dog Show is on September 7 and there will be an agility class as well as a dog show, raffle, games and tombola, beer and barbeque. The show is open 10am-4pm. For more information on Wag n Bone dog training visit the website.
Photo: Harley Gentry