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Agility
dogs run through courses filled with obstacles. You direct your
dog to go over jumps, through tunnels, climb over an A-Frame, balance
over a teeter totter, and walk a narrow plank four feet off the ground.
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Helen
and Spike
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Denise
and Annie |
If you
enjoy spending time outside with your dog, and have an interest in
teaching your dog new things, you will enjoy learning how to play
this sport. People of all ages participate in agility.
You don't have to be an athlete either, but you will get a lot of exercise!
Will my
dog like doing agility?
If your dog
likes to run and play and spend time with you,
they will have fun
learning agility. Any dog can do agility. It doesn't
matter how old your dog is, they just need to be healthy and
physically sound. Older dogs can regain their youthful
spirit. Younger dogs learn to focus on their handlers. Agility
training makes learning fun and rewarding. If your dog is shy
and lacks confidence, agility can help them to overcome those
issues. Your dog will learn to earn treats and get to play with
toys. What dog doesn't like to do those things! It is my
goal to make learning agility fun for you and your dog.
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Lori and
Finley |
Francesca
and Maxie |
Can my
puppy do agility?
I have
special classes for puppies 4 to 10 months old. Doing puppy
agility is a great way to teach your puppy how to earn rewards and
pay attention to you. Get your puppy off to a good start using
positive training methods.
Nancy
and Ruby |
Diane
and Charlie |
How do I
find a good instructor?
When
looking for an agility trainer there are two things to consider: The
trainer and the facility. A good trainer will have experience
with many different breeds of dogs and use only positive training
methods. Most trainers compete with their dogs and you can
attend local trials to see how they handle their dogs and how they
relate to their students. What titles has the instructor earned
with her dogs? How long has she been teaching? Ask
other people attending classes how they like working with the
trainer. The facility layout is important too. Equipment
should be in good condition and have the proper surface. Grass
is the best running surface for dogs and people alike.
What are
the requirements for getting into an agility class?
Dogs must :
Be at least
10 months old
Be current
on all vaccinations
Be sociable
with other dogs and people (absolutely no aggressive dogs allowed)
Have
completed a basic obedience class or,
Be trained
to walk on a leash
Be trained
to come when called when off leash
People must:
Be ready to
have fun and learn new things!
Be a
minimum age of 16 to attend classes
Are
private lessons available?
Private
lessons are $40 per hour. I am happy to work with
children under the age of 16 (with parents present) in private
lessons. Private sessions are also perfect for people who
prefer learning new things in a quieter atmosphere than a class
situation. Or perhaps the class time schedule doesn’t work
for you. And there are some dogs that need to develop
more handler focus before they are ready for a class. I am
available to help people with both agility and obedience training.
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