Go Dogs! - Agility What is Dog Agility? Find out more about the sport of Dog Agility here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dog_agility The Go Dogs Agility program is a lock-step program where any dog, regardless of age or past training will begin training with our Agility Foundations Level 1 class. There are no prerequisite classes required for Agility Foundations - Level 1. Join a class: Classes are 1 hour in length for 6 weeks with a cost of $60.00, plus $4.20 tax, for a total of $64.20 (for club members), or $75.00, plus $5.25 tax, for a total of $80.25 (for non-members). Please contact Melissa Myers at godogsagility@yahoo.com or call 402-212-4903 for the upcoming class schedule. Requirements to be eligible for registration include: The dog must be at least 3 months of age and have received the last round of vaccinations. Handlers must bring a positive attitude and a sense of humor! Only one handler should train the dog throughout the class. Children under the age of fourteen will be allowed to be handlers with permission of the instructor, the Agility Venue Head and by signing and adhering to a junior handler agreement. Aggressive dogs will not be accepted into group classes, but will be referred for private instruction. No abuse of dogs will be tolerated in our classes. Dogs in heat will be excused from class. Agility Foundations - Level 1 This class is designed for those dog-person teams that plan to compete in Agility. Dog and handler will learn basic foundation skills, including relationship building, focus through distraction, and motivation. This class is also introduces Crate Games (www.clickerdogs.com) and will go over all of the games in the video "Crate Games" by Susan Garrett, and then some! These games are designed to teach a rock-solid start line, build drive to and away from you, find challenging weave pole entries, teach your pup understanding of the reinforcement zone, play anti-flick games, and finesse your skills as a dog trainer. We will play impulse control games to help the handler have success and control in the ring. We will teach dogs’ body awareness and shadow handling. We will begin to introduce the dogs to some of the equipment, including jumps and the tunnel. This class is designed for dog and handler teams that are just starting out in Agility, handlers that have just adopted a new puppy and want to start out on the right foot, and for those competing teams that need to "fix" certain behaviors in their dog. This class should be repeated as necessary. No prerequisite. Puppies must have completed their last round of vaccinations. Agility Foundations - Level 2 Agility Foundations - Level 2 is the next step to Agility foundation training to be competition-ready. It is a continuation of Foundations 1 where all skills and drills for relationship building, crate games, body awareness, shadow handling and distraction training are taken to advanced levels. In addition, more obstacles will be introduced and the dogs will learn to feel comfortable on foundation equipment that will lead to training on the teeter, A-frame, and dog walk. Prerequisite is Agility Foundations 1 or existing Go Dogs Agility students who need to "fix" certain behaviors in their dogs. This class should be repeated as necessary. Agility Obstacles This is the class for dogs and handlers who have tested out of Foundations or the existing Go Dogs Agility dogs that are in need of some polishing. We will focus on contact work, one jump exercises (Success with One Jump by Susan Garrett), focus with distractions, simple sequences, fine tuning focus forward skills and teaching/polishing weave poles (Weaving 2x2 DVD, Susan Garrett). Exercises will be geared to the level of the dogs in class. Prerequisite is Agility Foundations 1 & 2 or existing Go Dogs students who need to "fix" or polish certain behaviors in their dogs. This class should be repeated as necessary. Handling, Level 1 This class is modeled after Greg Derrett’s handling system. Handler 1 focuses on teaching front crosses, rear crosses, 180s, 270s, threadles, lateral distance, and serpentines. Additionally, distraction work will be prevalent throughout. Teams will learn about driving lines and turn cues. This class will focus on how to handle the openings of courses (first 5 to 8 obstacles) - how to pick clear & consistent lead out positions, how to get the dog to understand your positional cues, introduction to course analysis, using focus forward and drive lines, motivating the dog at the start, and solidifying your dog's start line stay. We will also start putting these skills into patterns and short sequences. This class is great for those just starting out in agility and have progressed through the Go Dogs program and tested out of Obstacles or for existing Go Dogs students that are looking to fill in "holes" in the dog’s understanding. This class should be repeated as necessary. Handling, Level 2 - Competition Handling, Level 2 is designed for the competition ready and competing dog and handler. In this class, teams will be working with longer sequences, discussing best approaches to sequences, course analysis and some drills to uncover holes. You will analyze and walk through courses, and then have an opportunity to execute the best plan with your dog. This class is designed for students who have completed Go Dogs Agility program and have tested out of Handler 1. Major holes in the dog’s understanding should be worked through in the appropriate corresponding Go Dogs agility class, as this class is designed specifically for competition ready and competing teams. Open Handling Open handling is designed for any competing teams that did not progress through the Go Dogs program, and may not necessarily follow the Greg Derrett handling system. Or, teams who would like additional sequencing and course analysis. This class assumes that participating dogs can perform all obstacles. Major holes in the dog’s understanding should be worked through in the appropriate corresponding Go Dogs agility class, as this class is designed specifically for teams performing at a competition ready level.