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Training Course Descriptions
 Agility
Dog agility is a sport in which a dog moves through an obstacle course with the
guidance of his or her handler. The following are the various class levels offered:
Agility 100
Target Audience: Students who are interested in agility and are new to the sport or have a dog
that is new to the sport of agility. Young dogs and puppies are welcome to attend.
Entrance Requirements: Little to no experience in agility or obedience is required. Although not mandatory,
basic understanding and/or work with simple obedience commands (sit, stay, come,
etc.) is a plus. Dogs must be under control at all times and handlers must demonstrate
the ability to safely control their dogs.
Class Description: In this class, the focus will be on preparing students and dogs for the sport
of agility by introducing the basic agility obstacles and nurturing the handler/dog
relationship by focusing on basic obedience skills and manners.
A large portion of the class will be devoted to basic obedience skills such as
sit, down, stay,
recall, handler focus, etc. The intent is to help the handler/dog
team develop obedience skills which are essential to a successful and enjoyable
agility experience.
The class will also introduce basic agility obstacles such as the tunnel, table,
jump, chute, etc. Students will be introduced to the contact obstacles through
the use of a nonmoving board on the ground and a nonmoving teeter between tables.
The class will also teach the use of a target, instructing students how to teach
it and the purpose that it serves.
This class is designed to help each handler and dog work as a team. Basic understanding
and use of the skills learned in this class will provide a solid foundation for
students to use and build upon in the following classes.
Agility 101
Target Audience: Students who have completed Agility 100 (or referral by an instructor).
Entrance Requirements: Dogs who have had familiarization with basic agility obstacles. Good recall
is important as some of the exercises require off leash work.
Class Description: In this class, contact and weave pole training will be taught from the ground
up. Weave poles will be taught using the channel weave method. (Weave pole practice
is strongly suggested for practice at home. Weave poles and Jumps can be purchased
from SnD for a nominal cost.) Dogwalk, A-Frame, and Teeter will be taught using
2-on-2-off method. Jump work will continue and further review of obstacles and
obedience skills covered in Agility 100 will occur.
Agility 102
Target Audience: Students who have completed Agility 100 and Agility
101 (or referral by an instructor).
Entrance Requirements: Dogs who have had familiarization with basic agility obstacles. Good recall
is important as some of the exercises require off leash work.
Class Description: In this class, contact and weave pole training will continue, developing independent
performance of other obstacles, such as tunnel and chute, will occur. Teams will
also be introduced to more jumping skills.
Agility 103
Target Audience: Students who have successfully completed Agility 100, 101, and 102 (or referral
by an instructor).
Entrance Requirements: Prerequisite - successful completion of Agility 100, 101, and 102 and/or referral by an instructor.
Class Description: This class will continue to focus on teams developing independent weaves and
contact performance. New jumping skills will be worked on and sequencing will
be introduced.
Agility 200 - Beginners Handling
Entrance Requirements: Prerequisite - successful completion of Agility 100, 101, 102 and 103 and/or referral by an instructor.
Class Description: This course introduces the Handler and Dog to various handling maneuvers and
begins incorporating speed. The course will focus on how to change direction
using small sequences, i.e., 1 to 3 obstacles. Emphasis will focus on on confidence
of dog, building speed and handling. This course also includes how to increase
criteria and proofing skills.
Agility 201 - Building Handling Confidence
Entrance Requirements: Prerequisite - successful completion of Agility 200 or higher and/or referral by an instructor.
Class Description: This course builds on the foundation handling maneuvers introduced in Agility
200. The course will focus on teaching handlers proper cue timing and developing
the ability to layer obstacles and work further from their dogs. The course will
continue to reinforce foundation skills of focus, startline stays, and handling
distractions.
Handling I
For dogs that have graduated Agility 100, 101, and 102 classes (or equivalent
skill set from old class structure). Provides more handling instruction. Teaching
students when/where to perform front & rear crosses, introduce more moves
such as RFP (reverse flow pivot), flips, false turns and teaching your dog advanced
skills such as “go” and “out”, etc.
Handling II
For dogs that have graduated the Handling 1 class or equivalent skill set. This
class will provide a means to work on the handling moves that were introduced
in Handling 1 on more advanced sequences.
Competition
For dogs that have graduated from Handling 2 or equivalent skill set. Sequences
will be more challenging and will test a variety of skills needed to be successful
in agility.
Run Thrus
Run Thrus are for dogs currently at Handling 2 or Competition level. This class
provides students an opportunity to run an entire course. Each week a different
course will be offered.
 Obedience
Obedience training involves training a canine companion to obey basic control
commands such as sit, down, and heel. The following are various classes offered:
Rally Obedience
Rally Obedience is a new AKC and APDT event which allows handlers and dogs to
have fun while doing obedience exercises at their own pace on a timed course.
CGC (Canine Good Citizen) Obedience
This class is open to any dog. Work will be done on each obedience command, starting
where your dog is at the time. The goal of the class is to have any dog without
a CGC to be able to obtain one. A test will be scheduled near the end of the classes.
Dogs that already have CGC's will be working toward competition at the AKC novice
level. This requires all of the same skills needed for the CGC but at a higher
level. Skills covered include heeling, both on and off leash, the recall and front,
attention (watch command), sit, down, stay, and finish or come to heel.
 Freestyle
Is a choreographed musical program performed by handlers and their dogs.
K9 Dressage is based on equine dressage. It is a combination of traditional obedience
and freestyle moves. It is precision based. Teams will learn the basic moves which
will be developed into sequences. There is NO music and NO dancing is required.
Teams must have obedience experience. K9 Dressage will help develop a physically
symmetric dog as it utilizes both left and right side moves. It is perfect for
agility, obedience, freestyle, flyball or any other dog sport competition. It
also helps develop a working relationship with your dog.
 Flyball
A fast paced team relay race involving jumps and retrieving balls.
Flyball races match two teams of four dogs each, racing side-by-side over a 51
foot long course. Each dog must run in relay fashion down the jumps, trigger a
flyball box, releasing the ball, retrieve the ball, and return over the jumps.
The next dog is released to run the course but can't cross the start/finish line
until the previous dog has returned over all 4 jumps and reached the start/finish
line. The first team to have all 4 dogs finish the course without error wins the
heat.
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