To keep classes on time, please help with the set up and take down of equipment for the classes you take.

Classes Notes

Novice Sequences - The class is not a run thru class but a novice class that will concentrate on certain sequences that you might run into in a novice agility course.  Dogs should be confident on full sized equipment and be able to do 6 poles upright.  If your dog can not do upright poles but can do all other equipment you may skip the poles to run the course.  This is not the class for learning how to do weaves.

Novice Agility –  This class is a teaching class.  Dogs must be able to do 6 poles upright with little help from the handler.  Handler should have knowledge of the different handling skills that can be used on an agility course (ex. Topics covered in Handling I and II).  Dogs should be doing obstacles at full height with reliability and independence.  Handler and dog teams will be running novice courses, working on improving handling skills and proofing their dogs on the skills they have previously acquired.

Open Agility – This is a teaching class.   The criteria is the same as above except dogs should be doing 12 poles upright.  Handler and dog teams will be running open courses, working on improving handling skills and proofing their dogs on the skills they have previously acquired.

Open Agility Run Thru -  This is not a teaching class.  Open courses will be set up and dog and handler teams will be running these courses.

Excellent Agility -  Dogs MUST be competing at Masters or Excellent (or equivalent) in Standard/regular, or get approval from the instructor.

Nested Course Run Thrus -  This is not a teaching class.  The course will be set up in a fashion that will allow all levels of agility to run (novice, open, and excellent).  Again dogs should be confident at doing obstacles at full height with reliability and independence.  For novice dog should be able to do 6 upright poles and for open and excellent 12 upright poles.

Agility Workshops -- All these workshops will be based on Diane Bauman and Jessica Ajoux’s book , Agility Start to Finish.

Weaves – (June 17 and 24^th) – these two sessions will get you started on teaching weaves or help you if you are already doing weaves but need to know where to go to next in getting independent weaves. Continuation for those from Obstacle II that Mary Maltbie taught.  Cost :  Members - $10  Nonmembers - $25 (reduce rate - $18.75)

Contacts – (July 1 and 8^th) – how to start teaching 2 on and 2 off on contact equipment.  Dogs should be confident on full height equipment.   Cost:  Members - $10; Nonmembers - $25 (reduced rate – $18.75)

Proofing – (July 15, 22, 29 and Aug 5^th) – Dogs in class should be confident on all agility equipment and able to handle 12 upright poles.  The class will use proofing as a means to build confidence and focus for the dog running an agility course.  Proofing exercises will be dependent on the dog.   Cost:  Members - $20; Nonmembers - $50 (reduced rate - $37.50)

Introduction to Competition Obedience (8 weeks) - Handlers should not have put a CD title on any dog.  The class is designed for the beginner handler.  Dogs should be able to sit, down and have the beginning of a stay exercise on each.  Dog should have a recall command.  Content of class:  Attention word, stationary attention with proofing , moving attention, heel position, stays – sit and down (increasing both time and distance), exam in a sit position and in a stand position, recall, introduction to mild proofing, front and finish, foot work – right, left , about turn, pace changes, halts, figure 8, and Rules and Regulations

Competition Obedience Level I (8 weeks)-Criteria to get in:  Class is designed for the handler that has put a CD on a dog but has a new dog they are starting to train or students who have met the criteria to advance out of the Introduction to Competition Obedience.  It will be assumed by the instructor that you know the rules and regulations of obedience competition.  Dogs should be able to sit, down and have the beginning of a stay exercise on each.  Dog should have a recall.  Content of class:  attention-stationary and moving, heeling on lead and introduction to heeling off lead, figure 8, stays- sit and down (increasing time and distance) ,recall –mild proofing, introduction to the retrieve of the dumbbell, introduction to drop on recall, introduction to broad jump and high jump without retrieve, introduction to out of sight stays

Competition Obedience Level II (16 weeks) PART I - Criteria to get in:  Dog must have a down stay (5 minutes) and sit stay (3 minutes). Does not have to be out of sight. Recall command through distractions.  Attention word and dog and handler should know heel position.  Dog can heel with attention on handler.  Dog will take dumbbell on command from hand.  Dog will down while moving on signal or command.  Dog is going over broad jump and high jump (not carrying dumbbell).  Content of class:  Heeling off lead, formalize the drop on recall, retrieve on the flat and over the high jump, formalize the broad jump, out of sight stays, introduction to the utility exercises (signals, moving stand, articles, gloves, go outs directed jumping)

Open and Utility Run Thru – not a teaching class.  Timed run thru for open and utility.  Students in class are expected to help with running of the ring (figure 8 posts, putting out articles and gloves).

Utility Prep Class – dogs that have the foundation work for utility but need work in formalizing the exercises and proofing them.  If you have any questions about the class you can contact me at m_maltbie@hotmail.com

Beginner Rally – This Beginner Rally Class will be designed for and geared toward Handlers who have not titled a dog in Rally (any venue).  Beginner Level Exercises (1 - 31) will be introduced.  Dogs at this level should be under control on leash; and should understand and be able to execute the sit, down and stay instructions.

Canine Good Citizen (CGC/TDI)  - 5 week class.  The CGC/TDI class will be for handlers/dogs preparing to take the CGC/TDI test.  Dogs must know the basic cues of sit, down, stay, and come on lead in an environment with moderate distractions.  Dogs must be friendly to people, and be able to exhibit self control around other dogs.    Class will be held in the training room.  The test will be given the last week of class.

If you have any questions about classes, please contact the instructor or training coordinator at m_maltbie@hotmail.com