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.

• Pam O'Day - new evening beginner class!
• Bonnie Henderson - new daytime beginner class!

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 8/5/10           
Time:                  

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: Fridays - 

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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