Classes >> Agility

Agility is the ultimate game for you and your dog. Dogs race around an obstacle course expending energy and having fun! They leap over jumps, race through tunnels and tires, zip across elevated walkways, negotiate seesaws and more. It's fast, it's exciting and it's fun!

But agility is a lot more than just a good time. It is great exercise for both you and your dog. It's a tremendous confidence builder for a shy or timid dog, and an energy outlet for the highly active dog.

Through agility you'll reinforce and broaden your dog's responsiveness-all in an environment that's entertaining and enjoyable for both the dog and the handler.

• Anne Hubbard
• Pam O'Day
• Bonnie Henderson
• Michele Longo

Agility with Anne Hubbard

Dog agility is a sport for ALL dogs (purebreds and mixed breeds) and their owners.  Come learn how much fun your dog can have crawling through tunnels, tipping a seesaw, scrambling over an A-frame and jumping over hurdles and through a tire.  Don’t let your dog become a couch potato – come exercise her body and her mind!!!

The goal of Anne’s agility training is for the dog and handler team to have fun and to learn to work together in a safe and positive environment.  Her classes incorporate positive reinforcement methods and concepts of canine behavior.  Dog agility is a fun, active sport that all dogs and handlers can enjoy.  Many of Anne’s students are active agility competitors, while others use her agility classes as an opportunity to have fun with their canine partners in an agility setting.

Beginning Agility

For dogs who have had no (or very little) experience in agility.  You and your dog will learn the basic agility obstacles and handling maneuvers, and will lay the foundation for more advanced agility.  Fun and safety will be stressed.  Dogs must have basic obedience skills and be able to work around other dogs. Family Dog II or its equivalent required.  Some off-leash work.

Fee:  $125.00 for eight 45 minute classes
Date: Friday December 5, 2008 - FULL
Time: 6:00 PM

Advanced Beginning Agility

For dogs and handler who have had Beginning Agility (or its equivalent).  Continued learning of basic obstacles as well as more advanced handling maneuvers.  Teams will perform sequences off leash. 

Fee: $125
Date:  ongoing
Time: 6:45 PM

Intermediate Agility – Pre-novice

For dogs and handlers who are working at the pre--novice or pre—competition level (any agility venue).  Continued work on equipment and handling skills, as well as distance work and course sequences. 

Fee:  $110
Date:  ongoing
Time: 7:30 PM

Competition - Level Agility

For dogs and handlers who are actively competing beyond the novice/starters level (in any agility venue).  Courses, sequences, advanced handling skills, distance work, and specific skill/equipment retraining.

If you already have done some agility training you can contact Anne Hubbard directly about the possibility of joining one of her more advanced classes.

>>Anne currently has availability in all levels<<

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Competition Agility with Pam O’Day

The philosophy behind Competition Agility with Pam O’Day is simple.   Pam builds relationships with each student based upon their stated goals and needs, and strives to help teams achieve their potential.   A lifetime of involvement in dog sports – including conformation, obedience, tracking and agility has given Pam the solid foundation needed to assess a dog’s movement, temperament, and motivation. 

Pam’s strength lies in her ability to tailor training to meet the level of each team, within the context of the classroom setting.  Pam brings together a unique mix where students continually experience and succeed at new agility challenges. 

Agility classes with Pam O’Day are interactive, and students are encouraged to stop and analyze handling strategies, offer suggestions, and encourage one another.  Pam teaches students how to break down courses into manageable segments, analyze handling lines to find the most efficient path for both dog and handler, and regularly presents exercises to increase a dog’s potential.  Agility is about more than just running a course, and students in Pam’s classes often discuss preventive health care matters, health issues that affect agility dogs (and handlers), the rules and regulations that govern agility, and sharing of information about trials and competition experiences. 

With Pam O’Day, you’ll receive an honest, direct assessment of your handling techniques, and strategies for growth.  Pam has trained more than a thousand successful teams in her teaching career, and continues her own growth by attending and hosting seminars with world-renowned handlers, instructors, and animal health care practitioners. 

To be considered for Pam’s classes, you will need to have a solid recall, sit, stay, leave it, and down with your dog.   A sense of humor, and a strong work ethic is preferred, as well!

Beginner Basics
Fee:  $125.00
Date: Thursday 11/5/08 - FULL
Time: 8:00 PM

Level 1
Fee:  $125.00
Date: TBA
Time: 6:00 PM

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Agility Classes with Bonnie Henderson

Whether you are interested in agility for recreation or competition, it is important to continue to practice the basic principles of positive training and foster the best possible relationship with your dog. My classes focus not only on providing a good and safe foundation for learning the obstacles, but also how to become a more knowledgeable and successful handler.

Fee:  $5 per run - 2 nested courses

Run-thru Dates: Friday Dec 19th, Wednesday Dec 31(2 - 5pm),

                            Fridays Jan 9th, 16th and 23rd

Time:  3:30pm - 5:00pm    

Agility Foundations

Agility Foundations class focuses on attention and control. Without the distractions of the equipment, we will work on getting consistent and solid stays, quick releases, good recalls as well as beginning to train dogs to work away from their handler. Students will be encouraged to begin to work off-leash while maintaining their dogs’ attention. Target training and rear-end awareness is also addressed, as well as how to utilize toys and play as reinforcement. There is no age limit and puppies are welcome. This is a 6-week class.

Fee:  $125.00

Agility for Beginners

In this class, you will be introduced to all of the obstacles and how they are performed. Most of the equipment will be at a reduced height for safety and to help build confidence and the proper skills. We also cover how to train contacts using a target. We will discuss how to utilize different kinds and levels of reinforcement to build drive and facilitate learning. The class may be repeated to build focus or confidence. Since the dogs will be working off-leash, Family Dog II is required and Agility Foundations is strongly recommended. This is a 6-week class.

Agility for Advanced Beginners

This class is for those teams that have been introduced to the equipment and are ready to start focusing on building skills. The equipment will remain at reduced height, and we will continue to work on motivation, control, attention and focus. Dogs will be working off-leash and must have a basic training foundation, as well as an introduction to all the obstacles. These classes are 6 weeks.

Agility for Intermediate and Advanced

These classes are for teams that are able to do longer sequences.  The focus continues to be on building skills, and in advanced classes, full courses are broken down into segments and critiqued for ways to effectively handle them.  In order to participate in these classes dogs must be proficient on all of the equipment (at least the beginnings of independent weave poles ) and have full off-leash control.  This is a 6-week class.

Competition Level Agility

This class is for those teams who are about to, or are already competing.  It focuses on handling skills and sequences, as well as course analysis.  In order to participate in this class, dogs must be proficient on all of the equipment and have full off-leash control.  Teams must be able to run full courses.  Full height equipment is used; thus, dogs must be at least 1 year old.  This is a 6-week class.

Private Instruction

Sometimes there is a need or desire to work on skills or issues outside of a class situation.  For this, Bonnie offers private instruction by appointment. To schedule an appointment, you can email Bonnie Henderson directly or call the office.

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Small Breed Agility with Michele Longo

For your toy or small breed dog who has had no (or very little) experience in agility.  You and your dog will learn the basic agility obstacles and handling maneuvers, and this class will give you and your dog an opportunity to see if you like agility.  Fun and safety will be stressed.  Dogs should have basic obedience skills and be able to work around other dogs. Family Dog I or its equivalent required.   This is a 6 week course.

Fee: $125

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