ACWA - Agility Club of Western Australia

ACWA Instructors

Here at ACWA we have a number of committed Instructors who volunteer their time to help train class members. We do not train the dogs we train the handlers to train their dogs. Each instructor has their own story of how they became involved in their sport and the wealth of knowledge shared amongst them is an invaluable part of the ACWA training
program.Here is the list of current instructors for 2008, click on their names to visit their profile.

CLASS LEVEL	INSTRUCTORS
INTRODUCTION Class - this is for all new puppy or adult dog owners who have never done agility before and join the club on Intake night or throughout the year (for pups under 12 months) This class will only go for one to two weeks before dogs are allocated a mainstream class.
1. Foundation Puppy Class for dogs 12 weeks to 12 months of age.	Clive Bruce - Smith Yvette Legge
2. Foundation Adult Class for dogs over 12 months who have completed the Puppy Class, or for dogs/owners who join on the intake nights and have completed the Introduction class.	Rod Stockdale Mel Rhoden Deb Baile Frank Fitzpatrick
3. PRE-NOVICE (previously Beginners Class) for dogs who have completed the Foundations class, are competent performers of each piece of equipment - this is where they start to sequence between 3 and 5 obstacles.	Deb Hyde Andrea Patching
4. NOVICE (previously Intermediate Class) for dogs 18months or over who have started or are about to start trialling in Novice	Lisa Poprzeczny Helen Moorehead Sue Hogben Simone Tolhurst
5. Seniors Class for dogs who are competing at the EXCELLENT level in ANKC Agility..

PAST/FUTURE INSTRUCTORS:
Amanda Begovich
Brian Cowling
Frank Fitzpatrick
Steve Thompson
Nicola Thompson
Deb Hyde
Sue Hogben
Gillian Self
Simone Tolhurst
Helen Moorehead

BRIEF CLASS DESCRIPTORS:

Introduction Class – For all brand new puppies that join after the training year has started. For all new adult dogs enrolled on intake night. This is an Agility Basics type class designed to go through all the initial foundation content with new handlers that would have been covered already in the two foundation classes. This class will negate the need for Instructors in the Foundation Classes to hold up their regular students whilst they go through the basics again.

Foundation Puppies – For all dogs aged between 12 weeks and 12 months brand new to agility. Intake: Year Round. Graduate: Once over the age of 12 months AND satisfy their Instructors’ criteria for performance of skills.

Foundation Adult – For all dogs over 12 months of age who have completed the Introduction Class (if enrolled on Intake Night) and who have met the criteria for Foundation Puppy. Intake: Limited to the first Tuesday of each school term. Graduate: Once they have met their Instructors’ criteria for obstacle and handling skills performance.

Pre-Novice – For all dogs who have met the criteria for Foundation Adult and are ready to start sequencing. Intake: Only via Foundation Adult class and throughout the year as the Foundation Adult Instructors see fit. Graduate: Once their instructor feels that they are ready to start entering trials, and they must be 18 months.

Novice – For all dogs trialling or ready to start trialling at Novice level, who have not attained both AD and JD titles. Intake: Throughout the year and only via Pre Novice and only on the recommendation of the Pre-Novice Instructors. Exception: When a trialling dog from another club joins.

Seniors - Once a dog has both its AD and JD titles and is now trialling in the Excellent class they move into the Seniors class.