Just to expand - for me - a discussion that was started at a trial this past
week.

What surface(s) do you prefer for an agility ring?

Does it make any difference to you what you practice on versus what you
trial on?

Are there any surfaces that you will refuse to jump your dog on?

Thoughts of indoor versus outdoor surfaces?

If cost is a consideration at some level, what are you willing to settle
for?

And, on a slight side note, how large does a practice area have to be to be
effective for you? Or how small is too small?

Thanks for your comments.
--
~~Judy
When life gives you lemons, ask for tequila and salt.

"Judy" wrote in message
...

What surface(s) do you prefer for an agility ring?

Grass, if its good grass, or dirt, if its good dirt. I don't like grass that
is too long, too dry, full of burrs, or uneven (lumpy, rocky etc.) I like
the kind of grass that feels kind of spongy when you walk on it, is well
maintained and level. I don't l ike dirt that is full of lumps or is too
heavily packed - it is best when packed just enough to stay nice through a
whole day, and then redone between days. I've never run on anything but dirt
or grass.


Does it make any difference to you what you practice on versus what you
trial on?

No.


Are there any surfaces that you will refuse to jump your dog on?

I've never run indoors or on mats over concrete and I don't like the idea of
doing so, especially after watching dogs at the AKC Nationals last year.
Hopefully by the time they return to California, they will have improved the
surface, as I hear there are several better options for indoor flooring than
what was used.


Thoughts of indoor versus outdoor surfaces?

No experience.

If cost is a consideration at some level, what are you willing to settle
for?

I can't say - if in terms of where to trial, I trial depending on the
location and the club, not the costs.


And, on a slight side note, how large does a practice area have to be to
be
effective for you? Or how small is too small?

Depends on what I want to work on - I can't work on getting good distance if
the practice area is too small, but I can work on tightening up turns etc.
in a small area.

Christy

"Judy" wrote in message
...

What surface(s) do you prefer for an agility ring?

Grass, if its good grass, or dirt, if its good dirt. I don't like grass that
is too long, too dry, full of burrs, or uneven (lumpy, rocky etc.) I like
the kind of grass that feels kind of spongy when you walk on it, is well
maintained and level. I don't l ike dirt that is full of lumps or is too
heavily packed - it is best when packed just enough to stay nice through a
whole day, and then redone between days. I've never run on anything but dirt
or grass.


Does it make any difference to you what you practice on versus what you
trial on?

No.


Are there any surfaces that you will refuse to jump your dog on?

I've never run indoors or on mats over concrete and I don't like the idea of
doing so, especially after watching dogs at the AKC Nationals last year.
Hopefully by the time they return to California, they will have improved the
surface, as I hear there are several better options for indoor flooring than
what was used.


Thoughts of indoor versus outdoor surfaces?

No experience.

If cost is a consideration at some level, what are you willing to settle
for?

I can't say - if in terms of where to trial, I trial depending on the
location and the club, not the costs.


And, on a slight side note, how large does a practice area have to be to
be
effective for you? Or how small is too small?

Depends on what I want to work on - I can't work on getting good distance if
the practice area is too small, but I can work on tightening up turns etc.
in a small area.

Christy

"Judy" wrote in message
...

What surface(s) do you prefer for an agility ring?

Grass, if its good grass, or dirt, if its good dirt. I don't like grass that
is too long, too dry, full of burrs, or uneven (lumpy, rocky etc.) I like
the kind of grass that feels kind of spongy when you walk on it, is well
maintained and level. I don't l ike dirt that is full of lumps or is too
heavily packed - it is best when packed just enough to stay nice through a
whole day, and then redone between days. I've never run on anything but dirt
or grass.


Does it make any difference to you what you practice on versus what you
trial on?

No.


Are there any surfaces that you will refuse to jump your dog on?

I've never run indoors or on mats over concrete and I don't like the idea of
doing so, especially after watching dogs at the AKC Nationals last year.
Hopefully by the time they return to California, they will have improved the
surface, as I hear there are several better options for indoor flooring than
what was used.


Thoughts of indoor versus outdoor surfaces?

No experience.

If cost is a consideration at some level, what are you willing to settle
for?

I can't say - if in terms of where to trial, I trial depending on the
location and the club, not the costs.


And, on a slight side note, how large does a practice area have to be to
be
effective for you? Or how small is too small?

Depends on what I want to work on - I can't work on getting good distance if
the practice area is too small, but I can work on tightening up turns etc.
in a small area.

Christy

What surface(s) do you prefer for an agility ring?

My preference is outdoors on well-laid sod... but of course that requires
good weather. The BEST outdoor surfaces I've run on are at Hog Dog
Productions in Millersville, MD - the fields were created for agility, with
drainage underneath so they don't get soggy -and on soccer fields.

Indoors, I've run on indoor soccer carpet (similar to Astroturf, the dogs
like it, but it's a bit hard on MY knees when I'm running three dogs),
playground mulch (nice to joints & easy to run in but DUSTY), tilled earth
in horse arenas (whether or not that's a good surface depends on dust and
whether or not it's been sifted for small rocks).
Of the three, I would like the playground mulch best if it wasn't for the
DUST


Does it make any difference to you what you practice on versus what you
trial on?

Not that I've noticed... but we practice on grass unless the ground is
frozen or sodden, and on carpet over sprung wood floor when it is, so my
dogs have been used to varying surfaces from the first.


Are there any surfaces that you will refuse to jump your dog on?

I've not run on any of these, but you wouldn't catch me running on mats,
on loose sod indoors, or on carpet.

What surface(s) do you prefer for an agility ring?

My preference is outdoors on well-laid sod... but of course that requires
good weather. The BEST outdoor surfaces I've run on are at Hog Dog
Productions in Millersville, MD - the fields were created for agility, with
drainage underneath so they don't get soggy -and on soccer fields.

Indoors, I've run on indoor soccer carpet (similar to Astroturf, the dogs
like it, but it's a bit hard on MY knees when I'm running three dogs),
playground mulch (nice to joints & easy to run in but DUSTY), tilled earth
in horse arenas (whether or not that's a good surface depends on dust and
whether or not it's been sifted for small rocks).
Of the three, I would like the playground mulch best if it wasn't for the
DUST


Does it make any difference to you what you practice on versus what you
trial on?

Not that I've noticed... but we practice on grass unless the ground is
frozen or sodden, and on carpet over sprung wood floor when it is, so my
dogs have been used to varying surfaces from the first.


Are there any surfaces that you will refuse to jump your dog on?

I've not run on any of these, but you wouldn't catch me running on mats,
on loose sod indoors, or on carpet.

What surface(s) do you prefer for an agility ring?

My preference is outdoors on well-laid sod... but of course that requires
good weather. The BEST outdoor surfaces I've run on are at Hog Dog
Productions in Millersville, MD - the fields were created for agility, with
drainage underneath so they don't get soggy -and on soccer fields.

Indoors, I've run on indoor soccer carpet (similar to Astroturf, the dogs
like it, but it's a bit hard on MY knees when I'm running three dogs),
playground mulch (nice to joints & easy to run in but DUSTY), tilled earth
in horse arenas (whether or not that's a good surface depends on dust and
whether or not it's been sifted for small rocks).
Of the three, I would like the playground mulch best if it wasn't for the
DUST


Does it make any difference to you what you practice on versus what you
trial on?

Not that I've noticed... but we practice on grass unless the ground is
frozen or sodden, and on carpet over sprung wood floor when it is, so my
dogs have been used to varying surfaces from the first.


Are there any surfaces that you will refuse to jump your dog on?

I've not run on any of these, but you wouldn't catch me running on mats,
on loose sod indoors, or on carpet.

Judy wrote:

What surface(s) do you prefer for an agility ring?

1. Grass
2. Packed dirt

Does it make any difference to you what you practice on versus what you
trial on?

Yes and no. I actually train mostly on 3/4" recycled rubber, but I won't
practice on anything else--never mats on concrete or carpet for instance.

Are there any surfaces that you will refuse to jump your dog on?

See above. Never on concrete or on J&J obedience mats over concrete, I
also won't run on MaxTrax or any other carpeted surface over concrete.
Around here that limits me to dirt or grass, which makes me miss 1 trial
a year.

Thoughts of indoor versus outdoor surfaces?

Dirt indoors, grass outdoors. I would also accept field turf (the real
kind that actually looks like grass) and 3/4" recycled rubber flooring

If cost is a consideration at some level, what are you willing to settle
for?

See above, those are the surfaces I will use.

And, on a slight side note, how large does a practice area have to be to be
effective for you? Or how small is too small?

Our indoor practice area is 90 x 60, and it's adequate but I wish we had
a bit bigger.

Judy wrote:

What surface(s) do you prefer for an agility ring?

1. Grass
2. Packed dirt

Does it make any difference to you what you practice on versus what you
trial on?

Yes and no. I actually train mostly on 3/4" recycled rubber, but I won't
practice on anything else--never mats on concrete or carpet for instance.

Are there any surfaces that you will refuse to jump your dog on?

See above. Never on concrete or on J&J obedience mats over concrete, I
also won't run on MaxTrax or any other carpeted surface over concrete.
Around here that limits me to dirt or grass, which makes me miss 1 trial
a year.

Thoughts of indoor versus outdoor surfaces?

Dirt indoors, grass outdoors. I would also accept field turf (the real
kind that actually looks like grass) and 3/4" recycled rubber flooring

If cost is a consideration at some level, what are you willing to settle
for?

See above, those are the surfaces I will use.

And, on a slight side note, how large does a practice area have to be to be
effective for you? Or how small is too small?

Our indoor practice area is 90 x 60, and it's adequate but I wish we had
a bit bigger.

Judy wrote:

What surface(s) do you prefer for an agility ring?

1. Grass
2. Packed dirt

Does it make any difference to you what you practice on versus what you
trial on?

Yes and no. I actually train mostly on 3/4" recycled rubber, but I won't
practice on anything else--never mats on concrete or carpet for instance.

Are there any surfaces that you will refuse to jump your dog on?

See above. Never on concrete or on J&J obedience mats over concrete, I
also won't run on MaxTrax or any other carpeted surface over concrete.
Around here that limits me to dirt or grass, which makes me miss 1 trial
a year.

Thoughts of indoor versus outdoor surfaces?

Dirt indoors, grass outdoors. I would also accept field turf (the real
kind that actually looks like grass) and 3/4" recycled rubber flooring

If cost is a consideration at some level, what are you willing to settle
for?

See above, those are the surfaces I will use.

And, on a slight side note, how large does a practice area have to be to be
effective for you? Or how small is too small?

Our indoor practice area is 90 x 60, and it's adequate but I wish we had
a bit bigger.