Description of Classes
Intro to Agility/Puppy Foundation– For puppies/dogs new to agility. Topics covered include flatwork, target training, impulse control, restrained recalls and body awareness. Introduction to low or ground level contact equipment. Introduction to weave poles for mature dogs. For still growing dogs, jumps will remain low or on the ground. Expected that some practice will be done outside of class. This class is normally divided into two, 8-week sessions. Prerequisites: Basic Pet Obedience
Beginner I– Emphasis on proficiency and independent contact equipment performance. Introduction to weave poles for young dogs. Front, rear and blind crosses will be worked with short sequences (four/six obstacles) and fun drills. Handling strategies will be discussed. Prerequisites: Intro to Agility/Puppy Foundation or permission of instructor or Agility Director
Beginner II–Continuation of Beginner I, with emphasis on mastering contact equipment and weave poles. More advanced drills and slightly longer sequences (six/eight obstacles) will be used to work on handling techniques and strategies. Prerequisites: Beginner I or permission of instructor or Agility Director
Pre-Novice–Teams preparing for competition. Building proficiencies with weave poles, contact obstacles. Discussion of non-verbal handling cues; acceleration and deceleration. Emphasis on running Novice sequences (nine/twelve obstacles) and building to a full Novice course. Preference will be given to teams preparing for competition that are continuing from Beginner II. Prerequisites: Beginner II or permission of instructor or Agility Director
Novice/Open– Teams that have started competition. Courses will be adjusted for the less experienced agility dog. A variety of sequence lengths will be run. Handling skills learned in lower level classes will be used and enhanced to negotiate through sequence challenges. Emphasis on visualizing dog’s path and properly identify course challenges. Handlers will be given opportunity to identify handling strategies for each challenge. Dogs and handlers will maintain criteria on all contact equipment. Prerequisites: Pre-Novice or permission of instructor or Agility Director.
Open/Excellent– For teams that are competing in Open and/or Excellent and want to continue to increase their skills for competition. Emphasis on course analysis, identifying sequences commonly seen on higher level courses (pinwheels/serpentines/back sides/discriminations) and breaking them down to train. Prerequisites: Novice title or teams training at but not yet competing in Excellent. Permission of instructor or Agility Director.
Masters– For teams working at the AKC/USDAA Masters level. Courses are typically challenging and handlers are encouraged to identify different ways to handle specific sequences. Focus on setting the fastest lines for both handler and dog. Handlers are encouraged to “think outside the box”. Distance work and international sequences are also explored. Prerequisites: Excellent title or teams training at but not yet competing in Masters. Permission of instructor or Agility Director.
Specialty Class Descriptions:
Master Challenges– This class is designed for the dog and handler who want to dissect and analyze. Long and short sequences are worked multiple ways to explore what works best for each dog and handler team. Lots of international elements (backsides, threadles, pull-thrus, difficult weave entries, etc). Focus is on clean and fast, fast, fast! Multiple options on sequences are discussed. Short sets are run and rerun to develop new skills and find the fastest growth.
Young Dog/Experienced Handler– This class will focus on building skills for competition. All types of handling for Regular and Premier courses will be addressed. Young dogs will not jump full height until ready and sequences will be relatively short. Contacts will not be full height and dogs do not have to be weaving.
Sequencing Drills– Shorter sequences based on Power Paws Drills, several skills per night.
Distance Handling– Dogs are taught independent skills on all contact equipment. Development of skills needed to work away from handler.
Non-Competition Agility for Fun– This class is for those teams not interested in competition but still want to have some agility fun or for retired teams that are looking for a “night out”. There may not be contacts or weaves, just jumps and tunnels.Prerequisites: Intro to Agility
Beginner I– Emphasis on proficiency and independent contact equipment performance. Introduction to weave poles for young dogs. Front, rear and blind crosses will be worked with short sequences (four/six obstacles) and fun drills. Handling strategies will be discussed. Prerequisites: Intro to Agility/Puppy Foundation or permission of instructor or Agility Director
Beginner II–Continuation of Beginner I, with emphasis on mastering contact equipment and weave poles. More advanced drills and slightly longer sequences (six/eight obstacles) will be used to work on handling techniques and strategies. Prerequisites: Beginner I or permission of instructor or Agility Director
Pre-Novice–Teams preparing for competition. Building proficiencies with weave poles, contact obstacles. Discussion of non-verbal handling cues; acceleration and deceleration. Emphasis on running Novice sequences (nine/twelve obstacles) and building to a full Novice course. Preference will be given to teams preparing for competition that are continuing from Beginner II. Prerequisites: Beginner II or permission of instructor or Agility Director
Novice/Open– Teams that have started competition. Courses will be adjusted for the less experienced agility dog. A variety of sequence lengths will be run. Handling skills learned in lower level classes will be used and enhanced to negotiate through sequence challenges. Emphasis on visualizing dog’s path and properly identify course challenges. Handlers will be given opportunity to identify handling strategies for each challenge. Dogs and handlers will maintain criteria on all contact equipment. Prerequisites: Pre-Novice or permission of instructor or Agility Director.
Open/Excellent– For teams that are competing in Open and/or Excellent and want to continue to increase their skills for competition. Emphasis on course analysis, identifying sequences commonly seen on higher level courses (pinwheels/serpentines/back sides/discriminations) and breaking them down to train. Prerequisites: Novice title or teams training at but not yet competing in Excellent. Permission of instructor or Agility Director.
Masters– For teams working at the AKC/USDAA Masters level. Courses are typically challenging and handlers are encouraged to identify different ways to handle specific sequences. Focus on setting the fastest lines for both handler and dog. Handlers are encouraged to “think outside the box”. Distance work and international sequences are also explored. Prerequisites: Excellent title or teams training at but not yet competing in Masters. Permission of instructor or Agility Director.
Specialty Class Descriptions:
Master Challenges– This class is designed for the dog and handler who want to dissect and analyze. Long and short sequences are worked multiple ways to explore what works best for each dog and handler team. Lots of international elements (backsides, threadles, pull-thrus, difficult weave entries, etc). Focus is on clean and fast, fast, fast! Multiple options on sequences are discussed. Short sets are run and rerun to develop new skills and find the fastest growth.
Young Dog/Experienced Handler– This class will focus on building skills for competition. All types of handling for Regular and Premier courses will be addressed. Young dogs will not jump full height until ready and sequences will be relatively short. Contacts will not be full height and dogs do not have to be weaving.
Sequencing Drills– Shorter sequences based on Power Paws Drills, several skills per night.
Distance Handling– Dogs are taught independent skills on all contact equipment. Development of skills needed to work away from handler.
Non-Competition Agility for Fun– This class is for those teams not interested in competition but still want to have some agility fun or for retired teams that are looking for a “night out”. There may not be contacts or weaves, just jumps and tunnels.Prerequisites: Intro to Agility