Foundation Adult Class

This class is for our members who have dogs 12 months and over who have never done agility before. It still involves all the skills trained in the Foundation Puppy Class. However the equipment used in this class can be standard equipment used in trials (ie is aimed at adult dogs)

The following is a list of things that you should be able to do with your young or old dog before commencing training on the agility equipment.

• Attention : dog responds to name and offers eye contact.

To do any dog training you must be able to get your dogs’ attention. You will also be working towards doing most of your training off lead and having your dogs attention is a must.

• Recall : dog will come when called at all times.

Agility training is a very stimulating environment for a dog and they can be easily distracted by other dogs that are running around. As you will be working towards doing your agility training off lead your dog must always come back the instant he is called.

• Play drive : dog will play with handler and toy around the agility equipment without trying to get on the obstacles

You should always be more important to your dog than the agility equipment. By playing with your dog around the agility equipment without your dog actually getting on the equipment you become more reinforcing to your dog than the obstacles. That way when you are running an agility course your dog listens to your commands and doesn’t just try and do the first piece of equipment that he sees.

• Food drive : dog takes food when offered

When training stationary behaviours and contacts it is most effective to use food as a reward.

• Play/food drive : dog will switch from toy to play drive depending on what is offered by handler

Toys and play is a great way to motivate our dogs and can be very effective when trying to train equipment that requires speed. Playing with our dogs is also a great way to build a strong relationship with them. If you are training something more specific, food is often the best form of reward. During the course of training you will be required to use one or the other depending on what you are teaching your dog.

• Retrieve : dog will bring toy back (not necessarily deliver to hand)

To build speed and drive in agility throwing the toy for the dog is often required. It is therefore helpful if the dog will then retrieve the toy back to the handler.

• Sit/drop : dog sits or drops on command

It can be very useful to teach our dogs some very basic obedience skills. A sit or drop is generally what is used when leaving our dogs on the start line when commencing your agility run.

• Stay : dog can be left in a sit/stand or down position and does not move until released (short distance only required)

When at agility training it is important that you can place your dog in a stay, walk away to a certain position and then call them over equipment to you. You will also need to use the stay in competition as most agility courses will require you to “lead out”.

• Targeting : dog can be sent to a target on the ground and either touch with nose or paw

Targeting is a very easy and useful skill to teach your dog. This can be used when teaching contacts and is also useful for teaching distance work.

• Directional commands : dog will move away to both left and right hand sides on command

An agility course may require you to have your dog on either your right or left hand side. This often means that during your run your dog will need to change from one side of you to the other. By teaching your dog directional commands we can communicate this to our dogs easily.

• Flat work : dog will run on handlers left and right hand sides on inside and outside leads

If your dog will run on both your left and right hand sides when on the flat it should be very easy to then have your dog do the same but perform obstacles while on either side of you.

• Socialisation : acceptable greeting procedure with people and other dogs

There is always a lot of very exciting things happening at agility training or at a trial and many people and dogs around. It is very important to get your dog use to this environment and to be comfortable and relaxed. Training is a great way to get your dog use to this.