MLF DOGSPORTS OBEDIENCE and AGILITY TRAINING PROGRAM
2009 - 2010 Class Descriptions

View the 2010 Class Schedule

Download the 2010 Registration Form - PDF File
Download the 2010 Registration Form - Word Document

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.