You and Your dog
​
To help your dog achieve his or her potential we recommend that he / should be:
-
reasonably fit and not overweight.
-
at least 12 months old (or 18 months for larger breeds such as Dalmatians) for introductory classes or 14 weeks of age for puppy classes. Older dogs can learn agility but ensure they are in good health and do not have arthritis or injuries.
-
free of any major illness or condition which affects their mobility.
-
not aggressive to people.
-
fully vaccinated.
Some dogs are more suited to agility than others. Dogs with long backs and short legs may not be physically suited to jumping. For example Dachshunds. If in doubt check with your vet.
Dogs with a nervous nature can benefit from agility training, but may not be suited to noisy crowded competition environments. Classes for these dogs may need to be one on one. We can tailor classes for these dogs.
For dogs with ‘dog’ aggression or fear issues private classes can be scheduled.
Dogs must have a flat collar, not a Martindale, choke collar or harness.
If your dog is crate trained if possible please bring your crate.
​
​
​
​
​
You
-
Please come to classes wearing clothes and shoes in which you feel comfortable and in which you can run.
-
Be prepared to work at home on exercises to maximise your dog’s learning. Particularly if you wish to go further with the sport in the future.
-
For young handlers a parent must be present. Generally the young handler should be at least 8 years old to handle the dog depending on the breed of dog and the child.
-
Consistency is important so the handler should be the same person each session.
-
Please bring lots of soft treats for your dog. The dog needs to be able to swallow quickly and move on, so hard dry treats are not suitable. These should be small e.g. the size of a finger nail. Fritz is one suitable such treat.
-
Please park at Smith’s park and walk down to the area.
-
If your dog is toy motivated please bring the toy, tug toys are ideal.