What is agility training?
Agility is a fun sport for dogs that involves running an "obstacle course"
comprised of jumps, tunnels, hoops, weaves, a see-saw, an A-frame, and a
"dogwalk" (actually a catwalk, but this is for dogs!).
Agility is a wonderful
outlet for doggy energy and great for building confidence in tentative dogs.
Agility also forces you to develop superior teamwork and communication with
your dog. You will be amazed at how quickly and easily he learns and how hard
you have to work to keep up with him, both mentally and physically!
See Spot Sit, LLC offers agility classes both for those who wish to have fun
with the family dog and those who are interested in serious competition.
Three levels of agility classes are offered. Advancement to the next level
class is dependent upon skill level, not just attendance.
What are the requirements for enrolling?
Participating in agility training is just about the most fun you will ever have
with your dog. However, it's never fun if someone gets hurt. The most
common way that dogs get hurt is by being out of control and jumping onto
or off of obstacles unsafely. Therefore, dogs who enroll in Agility need
to have some basic skills, and handlers must have good control of their dogs.
Generally, successful completion of at least Puppy II or Basic obedience
will be required (i.e., you attended the majority of the sessions, and your dog
by and large met the goals of the class). Most of Agility I is done on
lead; however if you wish to progress past the beginner level, it is very
important for your dog to have a prompt and reliable recall. After Agility I,
most agility work is done off-leash. You will not have much fun in class
if you have to spend all of your time trying to retrieve your dog while the rest
of us are working the course. Also, since dogs will be working off leash, they
must be reliably friendly with other dogs. Furthermore,
there will be no Agility classes at all if my neighbors are disturbed by barking!
Dogs must be able to quiet on command and must not bark while working or while
other dogs are working.
The health check requirements are the same as for all other
group classes. Dogs must be physically sound and in good physical condition.
Exceptions can be made in some cases, but be sure that you have your vet's approval
and that we are aware of your dog's limitations. For example, some dogs should
not jump or weave, but can enjoy limited participation with the other obstacles.
Dogs under 18 months of age will not be permitted to jump heights above elbow
height. You also need to be in good enough physical condition to run with
your dog!
Classes offered
Class levels are organized by skill set. Beginner students will start in Agility I.
When you think you are ready to move up to the next level, you can ask for a skills
test. If you pass the skills test, you would then begin coming to the classes for the
next level. On average, I expect most students to be able to move up from Agility I
to Agility II after about 8 lessons, and from Agility II to Advanced Agility after about
12-16 additional lessons.
| Level |
Pre-Requisite |
Class Covers |
| Agility I |
- Puppy II or Basic Obedience*
- Can sit, lie down, stay, and come (with help ok)
- Impeccably friendly with people
- Reliably friendly with other dogs
- Able to be quiet when waiting or working
|
Introduction to agility, safety, agility rules and etiquette,
obstacle training, contact training, basic control commands,
short sequences (2-4 obstacles). On-leash. |
| Agility II |
- Correct and confident on all obstacles
- Jog a short course (no obstacles) with handler on both sides, off-leash
- Demonstrate "here" and "away" commands
- Go-out to a target 15 feet away and sit or down at target
- Execute 3 jumps in sequence away from handler to a target
- Skill Test
|
Improved obstacle performance, full height obstacles, send-aways,
handling on both sides, left and right turns, moving control commands,
medium length sequences (5-12 obstacles). Some off-leash work. |
| Advanced Agility |
- Demonstrate correct performance on all contact obstacles without
prompting from handler to touch contact zones.
- Weave six poles in-line (with guides ok).
- Execute a right turn and a left turn with verbal command only.
- Execute a "wait" or "down" while in motion.
- Execute 3 jumps in sequence away from handler without a target.
- Skill Test
|
Advanced concepts: obstacle discrimination, call-offs, change of sides,
traps, reverses, crossing patterns, distance work,
adding speed, full jump heights,
full length sequences (13-22 obstacles). Off-leash. |
*Sorry, those who have not taken a group class with See Spot Sit, LLC are not eligible
to enroll in Agility. Even if you have taken lessons elsewhere previously, I need to
have observed your dog in a group setting and know that your dog understands what I
expect students to have learned before beginning agility training. A little extra
practice never hurt anyone, so you'll need to sign up for a Basic group class before
enrolling in agility!
Private agility lessons can also be arranged. Course time (no instruction)
is available to advanced students and can be shared. Please contact us for
details.
Schedule and fees
Agility lessons are held according to the following
schedule. Please review the schedule carefully for dates and times.
Classes are 45 minutes long with 15 minutes for set-up before each class.
All students are expected to be present for the set-up time.
To allow greater flexibility, you do not have to come to each class in sequence.
Instead, you may purchase a given number of lessons and use them whenever you like.
If you will be out of town one week, you can skip that week. Students who finish
Basic or Puppy II later in the year can still start Agility when they are ready and
thus don't have to wait until the following year. If you use up all of your lessons
and want to continue, you can buy more according to the same fee schedule.
IMPORTANT: all lessons have an expiration date!! See table
below to determine how long you have to use up your lessons. There are NO
REFUNDS for unused lessons, so don't buy more than you will be able to use
by the expiration date!
There are 10 lessons available for Agility I and Agility II, and 6 lessons
available for Advanced Agility for the Spring 2010 schedule.
(Advanced Agility students can puchase extra lessons and attend Agility II for
additional skills training if they wish, and more senior Agility II students can
try the courses in the Advanced class - ask me if I think you are ready!)
You can purchase any number of lessons from one to ten. The more
you buy, the cheaper they get - but NOTE how long you have to use them.
If you use up all of your lessons and wish to continue, you can
buy more according to this same fee schedule. If you are joining in later
in the season, count how many classes remain for your level and decide accordingly.
If you would just like to try out agility, you can purchase a single lesson, and
then put that fee toward your lesson purchase if you decide to continue.
Spring 2010 Agility Fees
| # Lessons |
1** |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
| Fee |
$20.00 |
$36.00 |
$53.00 |
$70.00 |
$86.00 |
$102.00 |
$117.00 |
$132.00 |
$146.00 |
$160.00 |
*All lessons must be used by June 26, 2010.
**If you purchase a single lesson to try out agility, and then decide you would like to
sign up for more, you may put the cost of the single lesson toward your lesson
purchase. For example, if you try a single lesson and then decide to sign up for
8 lessons, you would owe $112 and have 7 lessons remaining.
Registration
To register for Agility, please fill out and mail in the
registration form along with your fee and any necessary health certification.
Your registration form and fee must be received in order to hold a
place in class.
I will accept up to 12 active registrations for each level class at one time.
That means that on any given day, there might be as many as 12 dogs in a class.
However, assuming that some percentage of people will be absent on a particular
day, there will probably be fewer. My goal is to average about 8 dogs per class.
If you want a lot of individual attention, come on the rainy days!
Cancellations
There are no cancellations and no refunds once you have begun your lessons.
Thus you should not purchase more lessons than you think you will use by the
expiration date. Classes are held outdoors. Cancellations are extremely rare.
Class will not be cancelled except in severe inclement weather:
snow on the ground, hurricanes, lightning, or dangerous heat. Cold weather
or rain will not result in a cancellation.
- Dogs must be under control at all times.
- Dogs must be leashed when not working.
- Dogs who behave aggressively toward or who repeatedly interfere with other dogs will be excused from class.
- Dogs who bark uncontrollably and cannot be quieted by their handlers will be excused from class.
- Equipment safety rules must be observed at all times. Please report any equipment problems promptly.
- Dogs must be taken outside the fenced area to eliminate. Please pick up after your dog.
- Warm up your dog with a brisk 20 minute walk before coming to class.
- Handlers must wear rubber-soled athletic shoes. No sandals.
- Participants will be required to assist with setting up and/or tearing down the course at each class.
What do I need to bring to class?
- Classes are held outdoors. Please dress appropriately in layered
clothing that you don't mind getting dirty and grass stained.
- Rubber-soled athletic shoes with good traction are a must. NO
sandals or flip-flops!
- Please bring your dog on a plain buckle collar or Gentle Leader and a 6-foot
leash. NO slip collars. NO Flexi-Leads.
- You will also need an 8-10 inch long "tab" lead
(example).
- Appropriate food and toy motivators for your dog.
- A small bait target which can be filled with food but which your dog cannot open.
Examples: A film canister, a small tupperware container with lid, a small zippered
bait bag, a plastic coin purse, a "jackpot" toy
(example).
- A flat, visible target such as a round tupperware lid or small frisbee.
- Water and a bowl for your dog.
- Water for yourself.
- (Optional) A lawn chair for spectators.
Spectators are welcome and can often assist by acting as "spotters". If children
attend as spectators, there must be an additional adult present to supervise them.
Children may be permitted to handle the dog in Level I classes where
the dog is on-lead, contingent upon their ability to control the dog. An adult must
be present to assist at all times.
©2002-2010, See Spot Sit, LLC
rev. 22 Feb. 2010
