MLF DogSports Registration
MLF DOGSPORTS
COMPETITION AGILITY, OBEDIENCE and RALLY
2021 – 2022 Class Descriptions
BASIC TRAINING and INTRODUCTION to AGILITY
In this class dogs and handlers learn the basic obedience exercises that are necessary for the companion dog to become well mannered and confident in public. The dogs learn to work in a group with other dogs and to keep their focus on their handlers. The handlers learn how to motivate their dogs so that training becomes rewarding and exciting. They learn the importance of consistent cues and timely rewards to create reliable good behaviors. The introduction to agility helps build confidence and teamwork. This class is for dogs that are at least four months old. Puppies under one year of age that complete all six weeks of classes are eligible for the AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy certificate. Monday 7 PM
INTERMEDIATE TRAINING and INTRODUCTION to AGILITY
In this class dogs and handlers learn more advanced obedience and focus exercises amid distractions with the goal of attaining the Canine Good Citizenship award. The CGC tests for students are given in the fall and in the spring. The continued exposure to agility and rally helps handlers decide if they want to move on to competition obedience, rally or agility. Wednesday 7 PM
COMPETITION AGILITY PROGRAM
Our Agility program is unique because we try to put our classes together with a concern for how well our students are progressing and working together in class. A comfortable class atmosphere is essential for both the handler and the dog’s ultimate learning experience. Classes may progress upward through a couple of training levels without moving to another night or time slot in order to keep the group together. Agility classes listed on the registration form, Monday through Thursday, are subject to these changing levels of training and do not have an assigned level on the form. Instructors continually evaluate their students and adjust the level of training and methods used to meet their needs.
New Students: Students who wish to enter our program without going through the Basic, Intermediate or Foundation Agility training classes, having had previous training elsewhere, will be evaluated and placed accordingly in a class best suited to their needs.
FOUNDATION AGILITY I
This is a beginning agility class that teaches handlers the importance of play training, the reward zone, body awareness, circle work, acceleration/deceleration, directionals, handling maneuvers and start lines. This class is for dogs 6 months and older. Dogs coming into this class must be totally under control off leash, have solid stays, reliable recalls and toy/food drive. Thursday 7 PM
FOUNDATION AGILITY II
This is a beginning agility class that teaches the dogs and handlers the correct performance of the obstacles. Jump training, contact training and weave pole training will require some equipment at home to complete the homework and be successful in the class. By the end of the class the emphasis will be placed on dog’s independent obstacle performance with the handler working at a distance of at least 10′ from his dog. Thursday 7 PM
FOUNDATION AGILITY III
This class combines the foundation skills and independent obstacle performance learned from the previous foundation classes with simple sequencing exercises. As soon as the dogs are jumping their full height, have a solid contact performance, can enter correctly and complete twelve weave poles they may move on to Agility 1 when openings become available. Thursday 7 PM
Multiple levels of agility classes are working in the agility field Monday through Thursday at 8 PM
LEVEL 1 AGILITY
Handlers joining this class should have the following handling skills: lead out distance and lead out pivots, front and rear crosses, 180 and 270 turns, serpentines and threadles. The dogs coming into this class must have: start lines, handler and obstacle focus, be jumping full height, have independent obstacle performance on all obstacles, correct entries and complete performance of twelve weave poles on both sides, reliable contact performance and distance sends of at least 15′.
Students will be doing exercises using all of the above skills plus relying on independent obstacle performance from the dog to get farther away from the dog. Correct weave pole performance on both sides will be an important part of many exercises with entries from all angles. Reliable contact performance with the handler at a distance is needed so that the handler may learn to get into position for future obstacles.
LEVEL 2 AGILITY – Novice
This class is for competitors who are competing at the Novice level. Continued emphasis is placed on developing the independent obstacle performance from the dog on course so that the handler can get to a desired position to cue for the next obstacle. In this class handlers learn to read a simple course and plan the path they intend to take with their dog. They learn how to tighten up their turns and refine their handling skill to become more efficient and faster on course. Training exercises become more challenging with more obstacles, directional changes and obstacle discrimination. Simple gamble sequences are introduced to develop distance skills.
LEVEL 3 AGILITY – Novice to Open
This class is for competitors moving from Novice to the Open level of competition. In this class students are challenged with an increasing number of obstacles, directional changes and obstacle discrimination. Handlers learn how to use more advanced handling maneuvers and increase their lateral distance handling to help the dog deliver a faster run. Gamble sequences become more difficult with obstacle discrimination and changes of direction.
LEVEL 4 AGILITY – Open to Advanced
This class is for competitors who are entering the advanced level of competition. This class calls upon handlers to use all of their handling skills to deal with difficult obstacle discriminations, multiple combinations with changes of direction, and rely more upon distance handling to reduce their time on course. Course analysis and strategy on time saving, efficient handling techniques is emphasized. Gamble exercises have greater gamble distance, directional change and obstacle discrimination challenges.
LEVEL 5 AGILITY – Advanced
This class is for advanced handlers competing at the Masters, Excellent and Elite levels of agility. The difficulty of the exercises is equal to that found at the highest level of national competitions in all agility organizations. A clean, fast performance is expected and then analyzed to be improved upon. The gambles are very challenging employing distance sends, re-directs and very difficult weave entries.
PRACTICE TIMES for STUDENTS
We provide practice time on equipment. Student practice fee is $10 per hour, with no extra charge for multiple dogs enrolled in classes. Morning and afternoon times are available by appointment.
We are proud to offer excellent instruction to our students from the following instructors:
Obedience, Rally and Introduction to Agility classes: Cindy Meadows and Anita Easley CGC Evaluators