Refer to the calendar for date & time of classes. Refer to “Signup & Registration” for additional information.
March/April Session
Sign ups – Sunday, February 19, 7pm – Wednesday, February 22
Orientation – Thursday – March 9 – 6:30 PM
Classes begin w/o – March 12
Classes end w/o – April 16
Make ups (if needed) – w/o – April 23 and 30
Tuesday PM
- 5:30 – Agility Foundations with Susan L and Chris B
- 6:30 – Advanced Beginners with Jared S and Judy K
- 7:30 – Novice Handling with Jared S and Judy K
Wednesday PM
- 5:30 – Beginners Agility with Brenda B and Kaytlin I
- 6:30 – Intermediate Handling with Judy Z and Michelle I
- 7:30 – Advanced Handling (self-taught)
Sunday AM
- 9:30 – Beginners Agility with Donna M
- 10:30 – Young Dog Run Thrus with Donna M
Young Dog Run Thrus
Seeking additional time to practice the obstacles? Here’s an opportunity for your young dog. Different equipment will be set each week for isolated practice and short sequences. This class is appropriate for teams working at the beginners agility and advanced beginners levels.
Class Descriptions
Agility Foundations
This is the entry point for the agility program. Teams who enroll are required to have completed puppy or primary obedience at SDTC or elsewhere. This class is suitable for dogs 5-6 months old and up. In this class, you will build the underlying skills for agility success. Topics include focus, recalls, mat work, start line behaviors, turns on the flat, use of motion, motivation, and an introduction to obstacles. Lots of exercise and games you can use in all aspects of your dog’s life.
Beginners Agility
Teams must have completed Agility Foundations to enroll in this class. This course emphasizes team building skills and obstacle fundamentals including start line performance, building commitment to jumps and tunnels, contact criteria for dog walk and A-frame, and finding weave entrances.
Advanced Beginners
This is the next class after Beginners Agility. The emphasis of this class will be to fine tune the skills started in Beginners Agility. We will continue building commitment to obstacles. Obstacle performance grows to 6 independent weave poles, spread jumps are introduced, and contacts are raised to full height. Simple crosses and sequences may be included.
Novice Handling
Teams enrolling in this class must have passed Advanced Beginners. Dogs must be reliable off leash. This class focuses on jumping and handling skills. It will introduce basic turning cues including front, rear and blind crosses; handling skills for patterns such as pinwheels, 180 turns, 270 turns; forward and lateral sends. Obstacles such as contacts and 6 weave poles are included at the instructor’s discretion. This class is ideal for young teams competing in or ready to compete in Novice-Open AKC/Starters USDAA/Levels 1-3 CPE standard courses. This class can be taken multiple times. There is much to learn.
Intermediate Handling
Teams must have successfully completed the Novice Handling class in order to be considered for this class. Skills taught in this class include obstacle discrimination, contact proofing, course analysis, difficult weave pole performance including entries and exits, and distance on obstacle performance. More difficult handling patterns will be taught including serpentines, threadles, blended crosses, back of jump performance, crosses on the flat, and variants/combinations of these patterns which are found on Excellent AKC/Advanced-Masters USDAA/45C CPE/Beginner-Novice UKI standard courses.
Advanced Handling
Teams must have successfully completed the Intermediate Handling class to enroll in this class. International handling skills will be taught to navigate the courses and sequences presented in this class which are equivalent to Premiere AKC/Masters Challenge USDAA/Masters Series UKI. Individual team growth and development will be the focus of this class.