Agility

Target Dog and age range:

• For handlers with puppies, purebred or mixed breed, that have passed the Beginning Clicker or S.T.A.R. Puppy Class
• Especially for young dogs (6-14 months) not yet old enough to enter Beginner Agility due to restrictions on jumping and weaving and have not taken prior agility classes

Goals:

• Build teamwork
• Provide pre-agility training for puppies

Prerequisite skills:

• Puppy must be able to sit, stay, down, and come on command.
• It is recommended that the puppy and handler have successfully completed at least one of the following classes: S.T.A.R. Puppy, CGC, or Beginner Clicker Class.

Skills covered in class:

• Stable sit-stay, down-stay, motivational recalls
• Distance send to touch a target
• Run a low board with stop on the end
• Handler focus
• Introduction to tunnels, table, jump stanchions
• Handling on the flat
• Dog warm-up tricks

Promotion requirements:
Instructor determines that the puppy has the skill set to advance to the Foundation Skills 2 class

Class size and duration:

• Maximum 8 dog/handler teams
• 8 weeks
• 1 hour per week

Equipment provided by the handler:

• Collar (buckle, snap, or martingale)
• Leash (6ft fabric or leather)
• Variety of soft, bite-sized treats
• Travel board (if available, one will be loaned to the student or construction directions supplied upon request.)

Equipment provided by GLKC:

• Travel board
• Tunnels
• Jump stanchions
• Table

Contact:
Education Committee Chair for more information

Target Dog and age range:

Purebred or mixed breed dogs six months of age or older who have been successfully promoted from Foundation Skills 1.

Goals:

• Build teamwork
• Provide pre-agility training skill training for puppies

 Prerequisite skills:

• Puppy must be able to sit, stay, down, and come on command
• It is recommended that the puppy and handler have successfully completed at least one of the following classes: S.T.A.R. Puppy, CGC, or Beginning Clicker Class, and have been promoted from the Foundation Skills 1 class
• Prior approval from instructor required

Skills covered in class:

• Stable sit-stay with lead out and distractions
• Distance send to touch a target
• Run a low board with an independent stop on the end
• Open weave-a-matics footwork
• Handler focus without luring
• Introduction to tunnels, table, jump stanchions
• Handling on the flat
• Dog warm-up tricks

Promotion requirements:
Instructor determines that the puppy has the skill set and is physically mature enough to be promoted to the next class (puppy growth plates do not close until at least one year of age).

Class size and duration:

• Maximum of 8 dog/handler teams
• 8 weeks
• 1 hour per week

Equipment provided by the handler:

• Collar (buckle, snap, or martingale)
• Leash (6ft fabric or leather)
• Variety of soft, bite-sized treats
• Travel board (construction directions supplied upon registration)
• 12 stick-in-the-ground electric fence posts
• Variety of soft, bite-sized treats

Equipment provided by GLKC:

• Tunnels
• Tippy board
• Jump stanchions
• Weave-a-matics

Contact:
Education Committee Chair for more information

Target Dog and age range:
For dogs at least 1 year of age. Younger dogs allowed with permission of instructor. Adjustment in obstacles will be made for younger dogs. Dogs under 1 year of age will not be jumping or weaving due to possible injury to growth plates.

 Goals:

• Introduction to agility obstacles appropriate for age of dog
• Introduce owners to methods of efficiently teaching each obstacle, teaching the concept of contacts, and work toward the off-leash control needed for Novice Agility Handling
• Prepare teams for Advanced Beginner Agility and Novice Agility Handling classes

 Prerequisite skills:

• Open to dogs who have completed one or more of the fundamentals classes: S.T.A.R Puppy, CGC, or Beginning Clicker class
• Other dogs may be enrolled with permission of instructor, but it is strongly recommended that the dog complete a clicker class prior to enrolling. Some clicker review will be covered in class.

Skills covered in class:

• Basic handling
• Targeting, stay at start line with short lead out
• Fast sits/downs
• Working on both left and right sides, attention, recall

 Promotion requirements:

• Dog confident on equipment (on-leash) & showing ability to begin off-lead work that will be required in Advanced Beginner Agility class. Dogs must show confidence on equipment used, including, 3′ A-frame, dog walk planks to 16″ table, as well as understanding of target/touch.
• Handler demonstrates skill to manage the dog around the equipment in a manner safe for other dogs and people, as determined by instructor.
• Permission of instructor. Class may be repeated.

Class size and duration:

• Maximum of 8 dog/handler teams
• 8 weeks
• One hour per week

Equipment provided by the handler:

• Flat collar (buckle, snap, or martingale)
• Leash (6ft fabric or leather)
• Variety of soft, bite-sized treats

Equipment provided by GLKC:
All AKC agility obstacles, teeter board, ladder on floor.  Beginning dogs will start with lowered obstacles or obstacles on floor. Dogs under 1 year of age will not be jumping, or weaving (due to possible injury to growth plates).

Publications for Instructor Guidance:

• Clean Run Magazine
• Clean Run Book of Agility Games

Contact:
Contact the Education Committee Chair for more information

Target Dog and age range:
For dogs 1yr or older who have successfully completed GLKC Beginning Agility or equivalent and permission of the instructor.

Goals:
To increase dog’s skill and confidence both on the equipment and off, giving the dog and handler competence in basic technical sequencing and courses for Novice Competition Agility class.

Prerequisite skills:

• Completion of GLKC Beginning Agility class (or equivalent with instructor approval)
• Dog demonstrates ability to be safely handled around other dogs, people, and equipment
• Able to successfully navigate at least 6 weave poles
• Able to complete full height contacts safely

Skills covered in class:

• Competition handling such as sequencing
• Start line set up
• Start line stays
• Introductory distance handling
• Front, rear, and blind crosses
• Contact performance
• Communication from handler to dog
• Targeting
• Obstacle discrimination and weaving

 Promotion requirements:

• Dog confident on all equipment at competition heights, off-leash control, and confidently complete 12 weave poles, able to sequence obstacles.
• Permission of instructor. Class will be repeated by most dogs.

Class size and duration:

• Maximum 8 dog/handler teams
• 8 weeks
• One hour per week

Equipment provided by the handler:

• Flat collar (buckle, snap, or martingale)
• Leash (6-foot leather or woven)

Equipment provided by GLKC:
All AKC agility obstacles

Publications for instructor guidance:

• Bad Dog Agility
• Clean Run

Contact:
Education Committee Chair for more information

Description:
Dogs and handlers trialing at the Novice level or preparing to trial; off-leash control and ability to sequence obstacles is required. 

Target Dog and age range:
For dogs and handlers preparing or currently competing at the Novice level and permission of the instructor. Dogs must be at least one year of age

Goals:
To introduce and improve handling such as front cross, rear cross, blind cross, and v-sets. To increase dog’s skills on equipment, start-line stays, and comfort with distractions in the ring. Familiarization with AKC rules

 Prerequisite skills:

• Completion of GLKC beginner and advanced beginner agility classes (or equivalent)
• Dog confident on all equipment, off-leash control, and able to sequence obstacles.
• Exception to 2nd Prerequisite regarding weave poles may be available, discuss with the instructor.

Skills covered in class:

• Front cross
• Blind cross, rear cross, rear cross on the flat
• Other advanced crosses and turns
• Course anaysis
• Consistent contact performance
• Smooth, clear communication from handler to dog.

 Promotion requirements:

• Completion of Novice title or ability to work at a higher than Novice level
• Handler and dog familiar with various handling moves such as front cross, rear cross, blind cross, v-sets.
• Permission of instructor

Class size and duration:

• Maximum 8 dog/handler teams
• 8 weeks
• One hour per week

Equipment provided by the handler:

• Flat collar (buckle, snap, or martingale)
• 6ft leash

Equipment provided by GLKC:
All AKC agility obstacles

Publications for instructor guidance:

• Course Design by Stuart Mah (published by Clean Run)
• Clean Run Magazine
• Clean Run Book of Agility Games

Contact:
Education Committee Chair for more information

Description:
Dogs and handlers training or trialing at the Open/Intermediate or Excellent/Advanced level; off-leash control and ability to sequence up to 20 obstacles is required. Instruction focuses on teaching advanced handling skills.

Target Dog and age range:
For dog and handlers competing/working at the Open or above level of agility.

 Goals:

• Continuing improvement of handler skills
• Continuing improvement of dog’s ability to perform the obstacles
• Continuing improvement of team communication skills
• Increase team’s ability to handle various course challenges

 Prerequisite skills:

• Dogs must be confident on all the equipment (including the weaves).
• Handlers must have taken the novice competition class (or equivalent) and must have reliable off-leash control.
• Permission of the instructor required.

Skills covered in class:

• Continued work on front, rear, and blind crosses
• Other advanced handling techniques such as v-set, reverse spin, forward send, false turn, back side jumps, wraps, forced front cross
• Distance work
• Dog and handler communication

 Promotion requirements:

• Must have completed the Open title.
• Permission of Advanced Competition Class instructor required.

Class size and duration:

• Maximum 8 dog/handler teams
• 8 weeks
• One hour per week

Equipment provided by the handler:

• Flat collar (buckle, snap, or martingale)
• 6ft leash

Equipment provided by GLKC:
All AKC agility obstacles

Publications for instructor guidance:

• Clean Run Magazine
• Clean Run Book of Agility Games

Contact:
Education Committee Chair for more information

Description:
For teams competing at the Excellent/Masters level.  Dogs must be confident on all equipment and able to work safely off-leash around other dogs.  Priority enrollment is given to GLKC members.

Target Dog and age range:
For dogs and handlers competing at the Excellent/Masters level and permission of the instructor.

 Goals:
Provide instruction and opportunity to practice handling skills for advanced level course challenges.

 Prerequisite skills:

• Completion of GLKC novice and intermediate agility classes (or equivalent)
• Dog confident on all equipment and able to work off leash among other dogs. There may be more than one dog off leash concurrently.
• Handler should be familiar with various handling moves such as front cross, rear cross, blind cross, etc.

Skills covered in class:
Motion-based handling system including proper use of collection and extension cues, forward and lateral sends, line of motion, etc.

Promotion requirements:
None

Class size and duration:

• Maximum 8 dog/handler teams
• 8 weeks
• One hour per week

Equipment provided by the handler:

• Flat collar (buckle, snap, or martingale)
• 6ft leash

Publications for instructor guidance:

• Linda Mecklenburg’s Awesome Paws Handling books and DVDs
• Clean Run Magazine
• Clean Run Book of Agility Games

Contact:
Education Committee Chair for more information