I have at my disposal hundreds of exercises that have been tested and proven with thousands of dogs. I’m willing to work throughout the week in a program that provides balance and lots of pertinent information to either the new agility enthusiast, or the accomplished and experienced agility competitor.
Agility is not strictly a matter of training, and drill
& practice. The underlying motivation and his relationship with his dog will
determine the agility enthusiast’s entire approach to training, competition.
My teaching begins with motivation.
· Agility is a Game - I emphasize positive training methods. It has been my experience over the years that the handler, on course, screaming “No!” at his dog, is blaming the dog for a handling error. A very important part of my teaching is to make the handler understand that negative or harsh training methods are de-motivating and demoralizing to the dog. The handler must learn to approach the game of agility playfully, and be an inspiring and rewarding member of the team.
· Dogs already understand the way we move - Agility is a game of motion. The dog at play with the handler in agility is directed mostly by how the handler moves. When you bring a young puppy into your house, the dog has you completely figured out, in terms of the way you move, within just a couple months. Much of my training is geared at showing the handler what constitutes natural movement, the kind of movement that is most intuitive to the dog.
· Agility is a Team Sport - Teaching the dog is a relatively easy task. As most experienced trainers know, however, teaching the handler is often the greater task. My teaching is directed at showing the handler that working a dog is a 50/50 proposition. My task is to teach the handler what is his 50% of the job.
· Handling Movement Exercise –The exercise segment is based upon two or three specific exercises to teach what makes a perfect movement. A movement is a handling move that should be a part of every competitors working repertoire. The working exercise should be limited to 8 or 10 dogs, with unlimited auditors. Specific movements might include: The Crossing Turn; the Blind Cross; the Tandem Turn; the Back Cross; the RFP; the BLT, the Post Turn, and the Flip.
· Working a Dog at a Distance – This curriculum focuses on a variety of specific exercises to pry the dog and handler apart from the Velcro position, and give the dog permission to work at a distance apart from the handler, while giving the handler a sense of trust and confidence when doing so.
· Instructor Training – This is a customized curriculum. It can be adapted specifically and uniquely to the training center, or offered as an open enrollment for instructors from unrelated programs. In a two-day format the training will focus on teaching fundamentals for agility. An instructor’s certification program is available in a four-day format.
· Teaching Agility with Zero Compulsion– A workshop presentation, with demonstration dogs; 3-4 hours. This format is a discussion of teaching new dogs. The basic idea is to teach the teacher how this sport can be introduced without pushing, pulling, yanking, jerking, pinching, and all the other dumb mistakes instructors make in an agility training program.
· Games Strategies in Agility – This is an advanced workshop format and is adaptable to a variety of specific games: standard course work, gamblers, snooker (and, actually, dozens of other games). The games seminar focuses on championship strategies for games, and applying the handler’s repertoire of skills to solve the most challenging riddles.
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Running an
· Conducting an Agility Trial – This seminar focuses on teaching the participants the specific roles and responsibilities of workers at an agility trial: Show Secretary, Chairperson, Scorekeeper, Scribe, Timekeeper, Gate Steward, Chief Ring Steward, Master Course Builder, and a variety of supernumerary positions. This is a great fast start program for clubs contemplating or committed to conducting their first agility trial.