Agility is a great dog sport to build a better relationship with your dog. This fast, fun sport is exciting for both you and your dog. Benefits include physical and mental stimulation for your dog. There may be periodic classes not in this list that are offered.
Agility Foundations: Equipment
This class teaches the basic skills needed to excel in agility. Targeting, walking on a loose-lead, introduction to lowered equipment, jumps, tunnels and weaves.
Prerequisite: Dogs over 6 months. Class length: 50 minutes Limit: 6 dogs
Agility Foundations: Teamwork
Foundations Teamwork is a class focusing on the basics of cueing and signaling, and learning how to move as a team around an agility course. Basic obedience and flatwork skills will be covered.
Prerequisite: Dogs over 6 months. Class length: 50 minutes Limit: 6 dogs
Agility: Contacts, Weaves and Obstacles
Help your dog become totally confident on agility obstacles. Contact zone performance as well as confidence on the A Frame, Dog Walk and Teeter will be covered. Weave training for a fast, accurate performance using the channel/wire method. Sending to obstacles, contact performance, entrances, speed, and distance are all emphasized in this class. Students can elect to stay in this class until their dog is proficient on the equipment. The instructor will work with each team at their level.
Prerequisite: Agility Foundations: Equipment and Agility Foundations: Teamwork or instructor permission. Class length: 50 minutes Limit: 6 dogs
Agility: Jump 1, Getting Ready to Jump
Will cover jumping set point, stride regulator, having the dog go down a line of obstacles no higher than 8″, introduction to different jump types but again, no higher than 8″
Prerequisites: Agility Foundations: Equipment and Agility Foundations: Teamwork or instructor permission, targeting, stay or allow holding/release word/recall Must be > 6 mo age. Class length: 50 minutes
Agility: Jump 2, Beginning Jumping
Will cover set point to all jump types, stride regulation with some height, introduction to bend work, circle work, slice jumps, extension and collection work; introduction to full height jumping if the dog is ready and is of sufficient age.
Prerequisite: Agility Foundations: Equipment and Agility Foundations: Teamwork and Jump 1 or instructor permission. Dog must be old enough to jump (1 year) Class length: 50 minutes
Agility: Skills and Drills
This class is designed for anyone looking to further their team's understanding of key foundation skills used when running agility. We will be building on and proofing skills such as: holding start lines, variable lead outs, engagement in the ring, stopping on contacts, driving lines, collection over jumps, collection into side, coming in, sending out, directional cues, come to hand and basic side changes. Especially good for those preparing to begin trialing and experienced teams looking to build on or further proof criteria.
Prerequisite: Agility Curriculum through Contacts, Weaves, and Obstacles, plus Jump classes or instructor permission. Class length: 50 minutes Limit: 4 dogs
Agility: Beginning Handling
Sequencing, developing better crossing skills, introductory handling strategy for running courses, proofing obstacle skills in sequence.
Prerequisite: Agility Curriculum through Contacts, Weaves, and Obstacles, plus Jump classes or instructor permission. Class length: 60 minutes Limit: 6 dogs
Agility: Novice Handling
Building on Beginning Handling skills with more complex sequences and crossing challenges. For dogs competing at the novice level.
Prerequisite: Agility Curriculum through Contacts, Weaves, and Obstacles, plus Jump classes. For teams who are competing at the Novice level or instructor permission. Class length: 50 minutes Limit: 6 dogs
Agility: Intermediate Handling
Building on the Novice Handling, increasing complexity and increasing skills of handler/dog teams. Skills building with difficult handling problems. For dogs competing at the open level.
Prerequisite: Novice Handling. Class length: 40 minutes Limit: 6 dogs
Agility: Advanced Handling
Complex sequences, turns, courses, etc. All class participants help each other with creative problem solving ideas so each dog is successful. Learn how to do more than just get through the course, learn the fastest, most efficient way for you and your dog.
Prerequisites: Intermediate Handling or showing at Open level or above. Class length: 50 minutes Limit: 6 dogs
Agility: Distance Handling (Offered Occasionally)
Learn distance handling skills for Gamblers, Chances, and FAST. Also useful for slower or differently-abled handlers with fast dogs.
Prerequisites: Intermediate or Advanced Handling, or working at Open or greater level, or instructor permission. Class length: 50 minutes. Limit: 6 dogs
Agility: Extreme Handling
This class is designed to offer the opportunity for teams to train on more “extreme” courses than those typically seen at local trials. Instruction is designed to help handlers break down advanced skills that might otherwise seem daunting, into familiar skill sets, chained together in a manner that allows the team to take their handling abilities to the next level. Some areas of focus are: strengthening teamwork, tight turns and efficient lines, clear timely communication with your dog and analyzing courses to make educated decisions for best dog path and handling options.
Prerequisites: Intermediate or Advanced Handling, or working at Open or greater level, or instructor permission. Class length: 50 minutes. Limit: 4 dogs
