| Beginning Agility Class Description |
| Level 1: Make Positive Associations |
Positive Associations
First things first, we need to set the stage for learning to take place. This beginning course will give you a
handle on dog training philosophy, teach you how to set your dog up for success, and provide valuable
experience getting your dog into a training school and developing focus. The importance of being able to
read your dog and eliminate any unnecessary stress is something few have the tools to do well.
InJoyDogTraining wants to educate you so that you'll be able to problem-solve and handle the things that
will come up when asking your best friend to perform something complex like agility sequences. This is a
great class for anyone who wants to explore positive dog training methods.
What do we do in this class?
Dogs leave the class associating learning, classrooms, and pressure with good things!
a jump bar along with how to use their body well while jumping. At this stage, we also want
to begin to challenge dogs with movement under their feet to prepare them for the teeter-
totter, furthering our understanding of shaping/clicker training.
First things first, we need to set the stage for learning to take place. This beginning course will give you a
handle on dog training philosophy, teach you how to set your dog up for success, and provide valuable
experience getting your dog into a training school and developing focus. The importance of being able to
read your dog and eliminate any unnecessary stress is something few have the tools to do well.
InJoyDogTraining wants to educate you so that you'll be able to problem-solve and handle the things that
will come up when asking your best friend to perform something complex like agility sequences. This is a
great class for anyone who wants to explore positive dog training methods.
What do we do in this class?
 | Learn how to effectively train the recall | |
| Learn & apply training principles. | |
| Use a Clicker to shape | |
| Begin target work | |
| Work out your TIMING & REWARD PLACEMENT | |
| Improve your play skills | |
| "Hit the Deck" Downs | |
| Parallel Puppy | |
| Opposition Reflex (Collar Grabbing is Good!) | |
| Go through a Hoop | |
| Short Tunnel | |
| Cookie manners |
| Level 2: Learn How to Learn, How to Teach, & How to Play |
How to Learn, How to Play & How to Teach
It may sound silly, but both members of the team must actually learn how to learn, play and
teach.
Agility can be overwhelming because the second you learn how to do something, you turn
around and teach it to another species. This class focuses on building skills begun in level 1,
but more importantly, the handlers start to get savvy and "Set the dog up" for success.
At InJoyDogTraining it is our duty to help you get your dog really WANTING to play the
games we train. We'll use this desire to get us top notch performance of the numerous skills
needed to prepare a dog well for agility courses. Positional cues are taught, developing dogs
that respond to where the handler is in relation to the obstacles.
But, you might be thinking:
What new stuff will we do?
Since jumps make up about 80% of the course, it's critical dogs develop spatial awareness of
It may sound silly, but both members of the team must actually learn how to learn, play and
teach.
Agility can be overwhelming because the second you learn how to do something, you turn
around and teach it to another species. This class focuses on building skills begun in level 1,
but more importantly, the handlers start to get savvy and "Set the dog up" for success.
At InJoyDogTraining it is our duty to help you get your dog really WANTING to play the
games we train. We'll use this desire to get us top notch performance of the numerous skills
needed to prepare a dog well for agility courses. Positional cues are taught, developing dogs
that respond to where the handler is in relation to the obstacles.
But, you might be thinking:
What new stuff will we do?
| Lengthened Tunnels | |
| Learn how to train verbal & positional cues | |
| Jump shaping | |
| Wobble Board | |
| Release (the beginning of Stays) | |
| Line up | |
| Front Crosses | |
| Send to the Target |
to begin to challenge dogs with movement under their feet to prepare them for the teeter-
totter, furthering our understanding of shaping/clicker training.
| Level 3: More Component Parts |
Component Parts
Obstacles are fun and rewarding for the dog that understands how to perform them. A focus
on developing the component parts of a course, not just 1 obstacle at a time, but also
learning the skills needed to execute each obstacle well is critical. Handling skills enter the
picture. Students learn to signal, dogs learn what these signals mean, and dogs begin to
"work" the obstacle (independence) at the handler's request.
Execution of a contact obstacle requires the completion of a complex chain of behaviors. We
do this through a process of back-chaining. This is akin to actors learning their lines by
starting with the last pages first, slowly working from there towards the beginning. When they
reach the end, there is more potential for a strong end performance, as it was the first thing
learned, practice most, and, in our case, rewarded heavily. There are so many variables to
train here, that the rate at which you progress will be directly dependent upon how much
training you get done.
Most importantly, dogs should now be more confident, as they come to understand the
games we train are worth playing, and handlers and dogs have begin to sort out how to
communicate to each other. This allows dogs to do things like move forward (under your
direction) ahead of you, and they start to pick things up faster.
Each class continues to progress previous behaviors,
Additionally, we will:
Obstacles are fun and rewarding for the dog that understands how to perform them. A focus
on developing the component parts of a course, not just 1 obstacle at a time, but also
learning the skills needed to execute each obstacle well is critical. Handling skills enter the
picture. Students learn to signal, dogs learn what these signals mean, and dogs begin to
"work" the obstacle (independence) at the handler's request.
Execution of a contact obstacle requires the completion of a complex chain of behaviors. We
do this through a process of back-chaining. This is akin to actors learning their lines by
starting with the last pages first, slowly working from there towards the beginning. When they
reach the end, there is more potential for a strong end performance, as it was the first thing
learned, practice most, and, in our case, rewarded heavily. There are so many variables to
train here, that the rate at which you progress will be directly dependent upon how much
training you get done.
Most importantly, dogs should now be more confident, as they come to understand the
games we train are worth playing, and handlers and dogs have begin to sort out how to
communicate to each other. This allows dogs to do things like move forward (under your
direction) ahead of you, and they start to pick things up faster.
Each class continues to progress previous behaviors,
Additionally, we will:
| Change jump take-off distances & approach angles | |
| Begin Shaping the Contact Behavior | |
| Bend the tunnel | |
| Come to Heel | |
| Beginning handling | |
| Stay work | |
| Develop sending skills | |
| Rear Cross | |
| Level 4: Pieces of the Agility Picture |
Pieces of the Agility Picture
Understand that the agility course is comprised of various formations of obstacles. Within a
course, there are some basic patterns that you'll consistently see (in many variations). This
class goes through small pieces of courses with a focus on learning how to handle, and how
to train a dog to execute some of these set ups. Small sequences of obstacles begin without
speed, maintaining the value (in your dog's opinion) of working parallel to the handler.
Exercises in this class will advance handling to teach wraps, sends, shoulder pulls, while
continuing to reinforce positional cues. As comprehension of each obstacle advances, handling
will be integrated appropriately.
Contacts are in a class of their own, and students will progress at their individual rate. For
those who are investing time advancing this skill, dogs should find their position, as well as
resist being tempted "off". Further, as stay skills advance, dogs will be taught how to stay in a
way that replicates the kind of stay needed on the contact equipment.
This class students will:
Understand that the agility course is comprised of various formations of obstacles. Within a
course, there are some basic patterns that you'll consistently see (in many variations). This
class goes through small pieces of courses with a focus on learning how to handle, and how
to train a dog to execute some of these set ups. Small sequences of obstacles begin without
speed, maintaining the value (in your dog's opinion) of working parallel to the handler.
Exercises in this class will advance handling to teach wraps, sends, shoulder pulls, while
continuing to reinforce positional cues. As comprehension of each obstacle advances, handling
will be integrated appropriately.
Contacts are in a class of their own, and students will progress at their individual rate. For
those who are investing time advancing this skill, dogs should find their position, as well as
resist being tempted "off". Further, as stay skills advance, dogs will be taught how to stay in a
way that replicates the kind of stay needed on the contact equipment.
This class students will:
| Begin Weave training (2x2) | |
| Develop handling skills (adding Motion to the Potion) | |
| Execute Small Sequences | |
| Build Contact independence | |
| Build Stay Comprehension | |
| You're Ready to Start Horsin' Around! |
See a description of the advanced classes. Once students have advanced through these levels, classes are moved to a larger space, with flooring designed to absorb the impact that comes along with speed. The beginning series of classes are held in a space that is spacious, but doesn't allow too much room for dogs to run off, and with few distractions. The rubber coated floor is perfect for the foundation work where we need to drop the training treats near the obstacle on the floor. Click here for locations |
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| Where we start, & what's next |
See a description of the advanced classes. Once students have advanced through these levels, classes are moved to a larger space, with flooring designed to absorb the impact that comes along with speed. The beginning series of classes is held in a space that is spacious, but doesn't allow too much room for dogs to run off, and with few distractions. The rubber coated floor is perfect for the foundation work where we need to drop the training treats near the obstacle on the floor. Click here for locations *Classes may progress slower/quicker than outlined here. |
| © 2007 injoydogtraining |