MLFDSC
Meadow Lane Farm Dog Sports Club
MLF DOGSPORTS OBEDIENCE and AGILITY TRAINING PROGRAM
2009 - 2010 Class Descriptions
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the 2010 Class Schedule
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the 2010 Registration Form - PDF File
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the 2010 Registration Form -
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JUMP HEIGHTS
Looking for your jump height in the various
agility venues?
View jump heights for USDAA,
AKC, NADAC, DOCNA.
MLF offers a wide variety of training classes for home,
for show and for fun! The following classes will offer a
solid foundation on which to build a life-long working relationship
with your dog. MLF DogSports relies only on positive reinforcement
based on scientific learning principles to teach behaviors
specific to the sports of agility and obedience. We do not
use methods that apply fear, force, or pain to your teammate.
We use food treats and toy play to build and maintain behaviors.
Your dog will be begging to do more every lesson, while you
have a great time too. Remember! When positive reinforcement
and motivation with a balanced approach to training is used,
the following becomes true:----the more dogs learn-----the
more they want to know----the more they know----the more
they want to learn! Join us for training at MLF DogSports,
where we encourage thinking dogs!
Puppy Preschool (10 wks. to 16 wks.)
(Prerequisite: All puppies must be current on vaccinations).
Giving your puppy the right start in training and socialization
will result in a wonderful and well behaved family companion.
Positive methods will be used to teach your puppy basic commands
(sit, down, stand, come, stay), fun tricks, body awareness,
management skills (attention, place, crate games), bite inhibition,
proper toy play, calming techniques, loose-leash walking,
and social manners with dogs and people.
Wednesday 7PM 6 wks $80
Pre-Sports Puppy Foundation for Agility and Obedience
(4 months to 8 months)
This class will offer you and your puppy an invaluable foundation
before embarking on training for your chosen sport. A balance
of play and control will form the building blocks necessary
to develop your relationship with your puppy early in his
life. Motivational games and confidence building will maximize
your training sessions with a focused and enthusiastic partner.
Class work will include: basic control skills, reliable recalls,
attention building games, flatwork exercises, shadow handling,
ground work through standards and hoops and contact training.
Wednesday 8 PM 6wks $80
Basic Training and Introduction to Agility 1
(8 months and up)
In this class dogs and handlers learn the basic obedience
exercises that are necessary for the companion dog (attention,
reliable recalls, stays, heeling). Class lessons prepare
your dog to be a well behaved family member and also give
you the proper start toward competition. The introduction
to agility foundation helps build confidence and teamwork.
Handlers learn to motivate their dogs so that training becomes
fun and exciting.
Monday 7PM 6wks $80
Intermediate Training and Introduction to Agility 2
(Prerequisite: Pre-Sports Puppy Foundation or Basic Training/Agility
1 or equivalent with instructors approval)
Dogs and handlers continue their training by learning more
advanced, off leash exercises with the goal of attaining
the Canine Good Citizenship certification from AKC. The safe
introduction to agility obstacles and jumping is fun, and
helps handlers determine if they want to continue on to more
serious agility training.
Monday 8 PM 6wks $80
Advanced AKC Obedience and Rally
(Prerequisite: Inter. Training/Intro. to Agility 2 or equivalent
with instructor’s approval)
The emphasis in this class is on perfecting the obedience
performance of the handler/dog team. Proofing the exercises
and training through distractions creates a thinking and
reliable obedience dog. We will work to build an intimate,
interactive, fun-based working relationship so you can walk
into the show ring with a dog who truly loves the game! Exercises
from all three levels of obedience (novice, open, utility)
and rally (novice, advanced, excellent) will be taught.
Tuesday 7PM 6 wks $80
Competition Obedience and Rally Show Procedures
(Prerequisite: Adv.AKC Obed./Rally or equivalent with instructor’s
approval)
Show ring practice for all levels. Ring procedures, rules,
judging criteria, show etiquette, and practice of exercises
according to AKC standards.
Tuesday 8:15PM 6wks $60
IS YOUR PUPPY A STAR?
MLF is
proud to offer the AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy Program to help puppies
and their owners off to a good start. This AKC program
welcomes all puppies, purebred or mixed breeds, up to a
year of age. The S.T.A.R. Puppy Program is available to
you by participating in one of the following classes: Puppy
Preschool, Pre-sports Puppy Foundation, or Basic Training/Introduction
to Agility 1.
Upon
completion of six classes and passing the requirements,
your puppy will receive the AKC S.T.A.R. Medal and be listed
in the AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy records. You will also receive
a beautiful, frameable certificate, an AKC Puppy Handbook,
discount to enroll in the AKC Companion Animal Recovery
Corp. (A 24 hr. recovery service), and Your AKC, an on
going monthly email newsletter that includes valuable training
tips and up-to-date information that every dog owner needs
to know. We are very excited about this wonderful incentive
program that encourages responsible dog ownership and fosters
the love and care in training that all puppies deserve.
MLF
also offers twice a year an opportunity for your dog to
be evaluated for the AKC Canine Good Citizen program. The
purpose of the CGC program is designed to ensure that our
favorite companion, the dog, can be a respected member
of the community because it has been trained to be well
behaved in the home, in public places, and in the presence
of other dogs and people. Owners of dogs that pass all
ten items of the CGC test may order an official CGC certificate
from the American Kennel Club. The S.T.A.R. puppy and the
CGC programs are taught and evaluated by Anita Easley an
AKC approved CGC evaluator.
Agility Foundation Training 1
(Prerequisite: Inter.Training/Agility 2 or equivalent
with instructor’s approval)
Serious agility training begins here with the emphasis
on teaching handlers the necessary skills for teamwork
and building value for the obstacles. Dogs must be exhibiting
a good deal of self control by now, remaining with their
handlers and maintaining “stays” and “recalls” amid
distractions. Play training is encouraged to motivate and
build drive.
The importance of timely, well placed, consistent rewards
is stressed to insure a solid level of performance from the
dog. Flatwork introduces teams to shadow handling, importance
of the “rewards zone”, fundamentals of front
crosses and rear crosses, and how their body language influences
their dog. Correct, independent obstacle performance is stressed
to insure a well prepared, confident team. Foundation weave
pole training and contact training begins here and will require
some equipment and dedicated homework to achieve success.
Thursday 7 PM 6wks $80
Agility Foundation Training 2
(Prerequisite: Foundation 1)
Jumping foundation work teaches the dog to collect and extend
his stride and the handler learns where his dog’s commitment
point is and how to use this knowledge. Box work teaches
the correct placement of front and rear crosses that will
help the dog get around a course as quickly as possible using
the tightest most direct path possible. Distance foundation
work using jumps, tunnels and tables teaches the dogs to
work ahead of the handler.
The emphasis is now on consistent chosen contact performance.
Weave pole performance works toward correct entries from
all angles, closed poles and lateral distance..
Only after these foundation skills have been achieved shall
a team advance to Agility 1.
Thursday 8 PM 6wks $80
Agility 1
(Prerequisite: Foundation 2 or the equivalent with the instructor’s
approval)
This class puts foundation skills into practice as teams
start to sequence obstacles encountering directional changes,
handler/obstacle focus decisions and distance challenges.
Correct, consistent weave pole and contact performances are
required for this class. Foundation work with serpentines,
push-throughs, pull-throughs and reverse flow pivots, teaches
handlers how and where to use them.
Monday 7 PM 6 wks $80
Agility 2
(Prerequisite: Agility 1 or the equivalent with the instructor’s
approval)
This class increases the number of sequenced obstacles, the
difficulty of directional changes and greater distance challenges.
Weave pole and contact performances become more independent
with handlers achieving more lateral distance. Dogs learn
to work with confidence farther away from their handlers.
Distance foundation work begins teaching handlers about foot
work, body language and push points that teach the dog to
complete obstacles away from the handler.
Monday 8 PM 6wks $80
Agility 3
(Prerequisite: Agility 2 or the equivalent with the instructor’s
approval)
This class teaches course strategy adding more difficult
combinations of obstacles, obstacle
discrimination and distance sequences. Handlers learn more
efficient handling of obstacle
combinations by analyzing the dog’s path and how and
where to place crosses to tighten turns and increase speed.
Competition preparation begins here.
Thursday 7 PM 6wks $80
Agility 4
(Prerequisite: Agility 3 or the equivalent with the instructor’s
approval)
This class continues to teach handlers to analyze more difficult “Open
Level” exercises and consider their options of handling
based upon their team skills. Distance exercises with directional
challenges are introduced. Weave poles and contacts are now
incorporated into distance exercises.
Wednesday 7 PM 6wks $80
Agility 5
(Prerequisite: Agility 4 or the equivalent with the instructor’s
approval)
This class challenges teams with difficult “Open and
Excellent Level” exercises designed to refine the handling
skills of teams who are competing. Course strategies and
run analysis help handlers become more successful in competition.
Wednesday 8 PM 6wks $80
Thursday 8 PM 6wks $80
Agility 6
(Prerequisite: Agility 5 or the equivalent with the instructor’s
approval)
This class is for teams competing at the Masters, Excellent
and Elite level. The exercises are designed to refine the
handler’s skills tightening turns, saving time on course
and getting the most efficient performance out of the dog
on course. Exercises at this level require total focus and
precise execution at speed by both dog and handler.
Tuesday 7 PM and 8 PM 6wks $80
MLF INSTRUCTORS
We are proud to offer excellent instruction to our students
from the following instructors:
Anita Easley: Obedience, Rally, Puppy Preschool,
Pre-Sports Puppy. Anita has been a professional
dog trainer for 35 years, an AKC CGC Evaluator with obedience
titles on multiple breeds, she is a devoted teacher attending
seminars and clinics on behavioral and competitive training
techniques using what she learns to benefit her students.
Agility
classes are taught by:
Kodie Levine, agility instructor for 11yrs.,ADCH,
NATCH, titles on multiple breeds, well known for her volunteer
involvement working and supporting agility trials, dedicated
to teaching the most cutting edge agility skills learned
from lessons, seminars, clinics and contacts with top agility
professionals world wide.
Karen
Gloor, involved in agility for 16 yrs. as a founding member
of Good Dog Agility Club, an instructor and USDAA judge,
ADCH, NATCH, AAD, MAD, JM, RM, SM titles on multiple breeds,
show secretary the past 6 years for the USDAA Cynosports
World Games at West World.
Kim
Kowalski has been a professional
obedience and beginning agility instructor for 8 years
for the Az.Animal Welfare League, captain and co-founder
of Blazin K9's Flyball team and she does in home behavioral
modification training.
Jayne
Gusse has been training and instructing agility for about
9 yrs., also doing Free Style with her Cattle Dog,Gus.
She has worked as a surgical nurse and anesthesiologist
at 1st Regional Animal Hospital for 11 yrs.
Cindy
Meadows, owner and director of MLF, raising/training
/showing dogs for 33 yrs., multiple breed Championships,
obedience titles, agility titles, herding titles.
Registration
is encouraged at least 2 months prior to the beginning
of a session, classes are filled on a first received basis.
A waiting list is maintained for classes. Instructors will
notify students of move-ups and fill available spots upon
receipt of registrations. There will be an attempt to make
up any classes cancelled during any session at the end
of the training year in the format chosen by the instructors.
There will be no refunds or credits given for classes missed
by students.
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