Looking For Dog Agility Near Myrtle Beach (Charleston, Conway: how much, home)

[maryb]

Hi All,
I am looking for an active Club/Organization/Trainer for Dog Agility near Myrtle Beach - Anyone know of anything? I am currently in Massachusetts and have not found too much on the web - down by Charleston is as much as I have gotten so far. That is a bit of a drive for classes...Any help would be MUCH appreciated!
Mary in Mass

[wilmy]

The closest competitive agility is either in Charleston, SC (Low Country Agility Club and that's a USDAA club) or Azalea Dog Training Club slightly north of Wilmington, NC. You're looking at about 2 hours either way. Myrtle Beach is a great place to visit but I moved away from there because there was no training or trials even remotely close to the area. The Myrtle Beach Kennel Club has their all breed club there but their annual shows are held up in Lake Waccamaw, NC and the club no longer holds training classes. If you really want to come south, FL has the best selection of agility and obedience and is more like the Northeast. Hope this helps.

[wilmy]

There is nothing in Myrtle Beach for agility or obedience. Nothing. That's why I moved away. There's no training like there is back home in the Northeast unless you drive 2 hrs. down to either Charleston or up past Wilmington. Getting to trials is hard too - most are 3-4 hour drives at the very least.

[PetGalley]

There is a private dog park that has agility training in Murrells Inlet, SC, about 20 miles south of Myrtle Beach. Go to completleyk9.com for more information.

[KCH]

Completely K9 at A Dog's Way Inn in Murrells Inlet (between Myrtle Beach & Georgetown) SC is currently registering dogs in Agility Training Classes for January 2007. Call Danielle (843) 357-4545 or visit www.CompletelyK9.com for more info. She is an excellent, experienced and very patient trainer. Also, the classes are fun! I have taken Stan (a 2 yr. old Smooth Fox Terrier) there since this past summer. He loves it and it's great exercise for me.

[lcarothers]

Aldos Acres in Conway, SC offers exceptional agility training. It's 24 miles from Murrells Inlet, so perhaps 15 miles inland from Myrtle Beach.

[wilmy]

Aldos Acres no longer holds classes and no longer has agility equipment.

For MACH level agility like you're used to in the Northeast, move to Florida, go to Charlotte, NC, go to Raleigh/Sanford. There is NO agility trainer in the Myrtle Beach area that has MACH level experience or is a seasoned competitor. Stuart Mah, Steve Fricke, Wendy Pape are all in Florida. Denise McDonald, Robin Early, Bonnie Buchannan and all the well known MACH people in NC are in the Raleigh area. Denise is an AKC Agility Judge; Mary Whorton has a record holding MACH/OTCH dog; they are all in Raleigh. If you want a seasoned, experienced agility trainer for competitive AKC, UKC, USDAA, NADAC, etc. agilty (and NOT pet agility), you will find the best trainers in the Southeast in FL or NC. Also the Atlanta area (Ginsey Eubanks,etc.). These folks have been competing for 15+ years, have multiple MACH dogs and are well respected in their field. For pet agility training, stay in Myrtle Beach with the local agility folks who do pet agility training and have a Novice title or two on a dog or two. For serious competition agility from the top folks in the field or those who compete in the Invitational, or internationally, go see any of those folks mentioned above. Even Wilmington, NC has an agility instructor who competed in the AKC Invitation a time or two. Go with a trainer who has years of experience and has earned advanced titles on numerous dogs and has competed at prestigious events like the Invitiational or All Star if you want to compete and succeed in agility. Find an AKC judge to trainer under too - that way you learn the rules inside and out. But stay away from the pet agility and pet obedience training if you want to compete at AKC trials - a pet foundation and an inexperienced trainer can RUIN a good working dog. Good luck.

[wilmy]

Meagan Ryan, formerly of Conway, also moved away to NC because there is no competitive agility in Myrtle Beach. She is very well known in her field now and competes in all agility venues and has been competing for over 15 years. She's put multiple high level agility titles on numerous dogs and has the experience to back it up. She is another person who moved away from the area as did her mom who was also a very active AKC agility exhibitor with multiple advanced agility titles on numerous dogs. No, there is NOTHING in terms of true competitive agility in Myrtle Beach which would prepare a person for a MACH. Pet agility - yes. True competitive agility training worthy of multiple MACH's - no.

[wilmy]

There are plenty of pet trainers in the Myrtle Beach area that will train your dog for pet obedience and pet agility. If you are truly looking for AKC style training in order to compete and succeed, you will need to find someone who specializes ONLY in competition training; somone that does NOT give lessons to the general public. Those people will NOT be advertising as local dog trainers. Some of the pet trainers say they can train a dog for AKC competitions, but check that trainer's credentials. Unless they are actively competing and have been competing at the advanced level for years, they are not going to be able to adequately prepare you to succeed in agility trials or obedience trials at the highest level. You don't go to a person who has only trained thru Nov or Open if your goal is a MACH and the Invitational or All Stars. You don't go to a person who has never put a CD (or maybe only one) on a dog if your goal is a UD, UDX, Otch and / or the Invitational or All Stars. Just like show dogs. You wouldn't take breed handling classes from someone who has never put a Championship on a dog either even though that person says they can train your dog to be in a show. Be educated consumers!!! Ask your local kennel club (in this case the Myrtle Beach Kennel Club since that's what you're asking about) for references for competition trainers if you are serious about showing your dog in agility (or conformation or obedience). And if a trainer is serious, then he or she will be an active member of their local AKC club. If that trainer is NOT a member or an active member of their local AKC dog club, than that should be a real red flag for you.

[wilmy]

Also, make sure if you want to compete that your trainer actively competes and has been competing successfully for years. If he/she is not a member of an AKC club, then question how much he/she gives back to the sport. There is a lot to be learned from belonging to an AKC club. It also helps the trainer by keeping up with rules, AKC changes, the workings of a club, etc. Also, if there is an agility trainer in Murrells Inlet, then it's high time she stepped up to the plate and did agility for the Myrtle Beach Kennel Club at their shows in Lake Waccamaw. She needs to organize the agility trials up there for the club and bring all her competing clientele up there to man the trials and work it. Giving back to the sport that way is so important - it's a "given" in AKC agility. Why hasn't this been done?