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Alright.. I just need opinions. Please.. I know what people can be like here.. don't get het up about anything. Just.. be cool. -.-

Basically, when I first got Archie, I came across a professional fly-balling team who practice at one of the sports fields where I walk. They're pretty competitve. Anyway, my mum asked them one time whether they're private trainers or whether they're willing to let new dogs into their team. They said, basically, that if it was Archie who would be the dog then he's too fat. Other people on the team said that it would be fine but the main woman said no.

That was when we first got him, he's not fat at all now but we haven't asked recently. The last time I approached them with my friend they said he might be too old and they don't really want any new members right now. That was some time last year. I thought about asking them again but now I'm not sure I even want to be part of it. Whenever I walk past them - I often just cut through that field as a shortcut - they always yell at me to put Archie on the lead even though he shows absolutely no interest in their wild dogs.

Since I see them so often I've noticed that they have a wide selection of dogs, half of which are not controlled to well and one of their Border collies actually 'went' for Archie one point. He was pretty shaken after that.

However, I've now noticed that another team trains there on Thursdays, this one is quite new but seems better than the other one. Do you think I should approach them or is Archie too old?

Age doesn't really matter. Daniel Boone, the human, at the age of 80 took a walk over several nowaday U.S. states! Approach the new team and ask if they need any new dogs.

You should approach them, maybe it'll be better and it'll give Archie another chance.

You should try it and see if Archie is happy doing it.

Hes not to old. You will know when hes to old when he starts to limp. I think you should appraoch them. Im sure your dog will love doing it.

How old is Archie? If he's older than about 4 or 5, he's probably too old. This doesn't mean he's incapable of doing it, just that he risks damaging himself.

We don't actually know his excact age. The staff at the Dogs Trust centre where we got him said he was about 7 but that was due to the build-up of tartar on his teeth. That was about two years ago and there is now very little tartar on his teeth as he eats a lot of chews and bones. People that ask about his age say there is no way that he is 9. The majority take a guess at between 5 and 7.

He has a lot of energy for a dog of his age though. I've gathered that agility is a big no though. I'm not sure whether this new team is professional or not. I mean, if they're not surely they wouldn't mind him joining in just for fun? I'm not sure..