2 days Ago By [email protected] (Victoria Fear)
Many people will have seen fast paced dog agility courses but owners now have the opportunity to try out a low impact alternative. Trainer Sharon Beehoo, of Gosberton Risegate, is hoping to pass on her enjoyment of Dog Hoopers to provide an opportunity for owners and their pets to develop a closer bond while enjoying a fun activity. After originating in America, Dog Hoopers arrived in Europe around five years ago and has grown in popularity as it is not quite as fast paced for the dogs or handlers.
Dogs still have to navigate around a course of obstacles, such as tunnels and barrels, which are grounded so there is no jumping and opens up the sport to dogs of all ages and abilities due to its low impact nature. And handlers rely on verbal cues and their body language rather than running around the course - which also opens up Hoopers to people who are less mobile. Sharon, who has been a dog trainer for 16 years, has competed in the sport with her own dog and organised a workshop in the grounds of the Majoram Hall, Gosberton Risegate to give other people a chance to have a go.
Speaking ahead of the session, Sharon said: “I think we all get a buzz from doing something fun with our dogs. “I think it is a good sport as it helps to build the bond between the owner and the dog. “Hoopers is a course of obstacles but unlike agility the jumps are on the ground to make it accessible for dogs of all age or breed.
Even older dogs are doing it so they don’t have to run around the obstacles they can walk the course.” Sharon, who is not a qualified instructor in Hoopers, has had lessons in the sport and has competed with her standard poodle. The aim of Hoopers is to get around the course in the quickest time with the fewest number of faults.
She said: “I have done it with one of my girls up to novice level. My dog suffers with anxiety and we did a few competitions but we mainly did it for fun. She absolutely loves it.
“The way I have learned and I will teach is distance handling. It is a good sport for people who are less able bodied so they can give their dogs the queues and signals while stood still so they don’t have to run like in agility. They don’t have to run in Hoopers.
“I have dodgy joints so it’s nice that I don’t have to run around the course to it is really good. “I think it is really good as it works the dog’s mind and they are always shattered when they are finished as they have to think. It’s really good for mental stimulation.
” So the idea of a tired dog was something that I was eager to explore when I arrived at the session in Gosberton Risegate with my rather cute but exuberant cocker spaniel, Ginger. Not one for running after a ball or any form of fetch, it just doesn’t seem to attract her interest unless food is involved, I was eager to find something that we could do together. She does love her walks along with zoomies around the garden and barking at any pigeon that dares to fly over.
Her lack of interest in games might come from the fact that she possibly didn’t have the best start in life as I adopted her in 2022 from Many Tears Rescue as a three-year-old and know very little about her background. We arrived at the Majoram at the recent session to find Sharon and two other dogs and their owners ready to have a go at the course which had been set-up in the grounds. The course included obstacles, which were semi-circles on a stand that dogs had to run through along with a couple of tunnels and a barrel.
Sharon, who is also a qualified instructor in scent training, explained what was going to happen and advised that we bring along high value treats to encourage the dogs through the obstacles. My anticipation grew after watching the first team make their way expertly around the course. This first dog was a very attentive cockerpoo who followed his owner brilliantly and was really engaged.
He was followed by a charming little chap with a lovely spring in his step as he went through the obstacles. Next, it was myself and the Ginger Ninja up for a go around the course - and inside I was hoping that we wouldn’t disgrace ourselves by running off or me falling over the obstacles. I kept Ginger on a long lead just in case that things didn’t go entirely to plan.
I brought her up to the first hoop and Sharon advised me to have a treat in my hand on the opposite side to encourage her through. We had a shaky start, when she went around the obstacle to get the grub on offer, but she later got the idea. My job was to work on the inside of the course and direct Ginger using food, my arms, body position and verbal cues - which didn’t always go to plan! At the tunnel, I was supposed to give Ginger a cue by saying ‘tunnel’ so she would associate that word with this obstacle.
I think I was little bit late to do that but Ginger made it through the tunnel with the enticement of treats. Next up was the barrel. I personally found this a bit difficult due as I couldn’t initially work out where my body had to be so Ginger could see the treat.
So again that was my fault and not my girl’s. Then, we were on the second half of the course, which included another tunnel. Ginger made it through there with some encouragement of treats.
Then we had another series of hoops in a semi circle shape and Ginger had to pass through all three. It didn’t quite go to plan due to my stance and unheppen ways. After making it through there, we had to do all of the other obstacles to head back to the start.
With the promise of treats, we made it through - but I had managed to create another problem. I was walking backwards to the start when I should have been facing the other way so Ginge could pick up my cues. As the evening went on, we had a couple of more goes and Ginger didn’t always make it through the hoops but she did head in the right direction and not go charging off so I’m taking that as a bit of a win.
I would throughly recommend this sport as we both had a lot of fun - me working with my dog and Ginger enjoyed the many treats that she received as well as trying something new. I really enjoyed the evening and would love to do this again with Ginger - who was thoroughly shattered at the end of the evening. When we returned home she snuggled up with me on the sofa and slept so deeply that I had to wake her up to go out for a final wee - that never happens as she’s always on alert.
Sharon offers puppy and scent work classes with her Puppy and You Dog Training..
