Orientation – 3/11 – 6:30 PM
Classes begin the week of 3/14
Classes end the week of 4/18
Makeups scheduled as needed
This is a 6 week session for members, new and current participants. Refer to the calendar for date & time of classes. Refer to “Signup & Registration” for additional information. Orientation is a requirement for new participants.
Tuesday PM
- 6:30 – Novice Handling – Judy Z. & Judy K.
- 7:30 – Intermediate Handling – Judy Z. & Judy K.
Wednesday PM
- 7:30 – Advanced Handling – (Self taught)
Saturday PM
- 12:00 – Agility Foundations – Jared S. & Paula E.
- 1:30 – Advanced Beginners – Jared S. & Donna M.
- 2:30 – Agility Run Thrus – Jared S.
Class Descriptions
Agility Foundations
For young dogs coming out of puppy class and/or primary obedience, starting at 5-6 months old and up. This class builds 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
This course emphasizes team building skills and agility fundamentals. We will focus on building confidence and having fun with your dog. Dogs are safely introduced to agility obstacles and handling on the flat. This class includes start line performance, building commitment to jumps and tunnels, contact criteria for dog walk and A-frame, and finding weave entrances.
Advanced Beginners
Teams must have completed a Beginners agility class with SDTC or elsewhere in order to enroll in this class. The emphasis of this class will be to fine tune the skills started in Beginners Agility. We will add upon our distance and recall work. Obstacle performance builds 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
This is the next class after 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.