This class will be continuing with the skills and games that were learned in last sessions Before the Startline. But this class can also be taken as a stand alone class, I will also include a quick breakdown of the games that were taught in Before the Startline.
My philosophy with agility training is that confidence is key! So all of my foundation training focuses on building that confidence not just for the agility ring, but for daily life. All of the games that we learned in Before the Startline will be continued in this class. This class is also perfect for older dogs who already know some of the basic foundation behaviors like hand touches, waits, boundary games, etc.
This class will focus on bringing the foundation exercises together with sequencing and working them into our agility training.
This class is great for young dogs and puppies just starting out, or older dogs who need to work on their confidence or refresh some foundation exercises.
What will you learn in this class?
Moving Wait - for sequencing, how a moving wait builds confidence, using a moving wait for impulse control and more!
Hand touches/targets - for blind crosses, and teaching come to sides for sequencing
Bed Games - for impulse control, startlines, and some targeting with sequencing
Rear Foot Targeting Foundations - For fitness work and beginning contact behaviors
Advanced cone work - for distance work and building confidence
Registration
There are no scheduled sessions for this class at this time. We update our schedule frequently, so please
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Registration will begin at 11:30 AM Pacific Time.
For answers to commonly asked questions see our FAQ page.
Silver level for this class is offered as "Working Silver". In addition to asking GENERAL clarification questions about the class lecture materials, silver students will now have the opportunity to submit two short videos, one minute each, for critique and review. You may submit two questions. Each question MUST have a one minute video attached so the instructor can actually answer a question that they can see. The question must relate to a topic in the class and the video must be a demo of the question. Please see the discussion forum for a detailed explanation - feel free to sign up at bronze, read the explanation, and then come back here to upgrade to silver if that interests you, and if space is available.
If you are interested in a bronze level subscription, you can sign up at any time during the registration period.
Syllabus
Week 1 -
Moving Wait Review
Advanced Moving Wait - Adding distance and discriminations
Reward Marker Overview
Week 2 -
Hand Touch Review
Advanced Hand Touches - Adding speed and obstacles - Using it for blind crosses
Cup Game Overview
Week 3 -
Middle Game Review
Advanced Middle Game work - Adding harder handler postions, distance, and distractions
Advanced Cup Games
Week 4 -
Bed Game Review
Advanced Bed Games - Adding distractions, and how to use for advanced targeting in sequences
Week 5 -
Cone Work Review
Advanced cone work - Adding Distance and Speed as well as using cones for discriminations
Week 6
Rear foot targeting for Foundation Contact behaviors
Prerequisites & Supplies
AG155 is recommend but it is not required
2-3 road cones
2-3 Hoops or Jumps
Bath mat or dog bed (for boundary games)
Sample Lecture
Lecture 1 - Welcome!
Welcome to Beyond the Startline! I am so excited to have all of you in class and can’t wait to spend the next 6 weeks with all of you!
This class expands on some of the skills that was covered in last sessions Before the Startline, but this class serves as a stand-alone class as well. I will do a quick breakdown of how the foundation was covered in Before the Startline.
What is Beyond the Startline?
This class will cover some of the advanced foundation games that I do with all of my dogs. I believe a strong, solid foundation is key to not only agility, but any dog sport!
I tend to take my time with my dogs foundation work and do a lot of things without equipment to help build the working relationship between myself and my dog, and also to build my dogs confidence.
And speaking of confidence, it is key! I want my dogs to have tons of confidence throughout their agility career, in and out of the ring. And building these games from groundwork to bringing them into the ring help build and maintain that confidence.
Most all of these games transfer into skills or behaviors that I use in the agility ring, or as a warm up/prep to run.
Lets get started!!
We are going to start with the Moving Wait!
Moving Wait Foundation Breakdown
Start with dog walking next to you
Have treat in your outside hand
Rotate in toward dog to give treat while saying “Wait” (the body rotation helps apply pressure to the dog and will help them stop)
As soon as dog takes the treat, rotate back and continue walking.
**Important Points**
The Moving Wait differs from what I call a “Stay” in the fact that I am not picky about my dogs position while waiting, I am just looking for the dog to stop, they can be in a Sit, Stand, Down, whatever they want to do! (When I ask my dogs to Stay, they are staying in the position I put them in)
This should be a fun and fast game, rotate in to give the treat and then rotate out fast. I am looking for:
Moving, Wait, Moving, Wait.
All in fast succession.
You can gradually ask for a little more distance between yourself and your dog, taking a step before releasing.
