Why do I need foundations for agility?
I've been doing agility since 1995. Things have changed a huge amount since I first brought my dog to our first agility class. I was so excited to do this class and couldn't wait to put her on equipment. Back then, there wasn't a thing called "foundations". We were all learning together. Dogs weren't running as fast as they do now. We managed to teach equipment and muddled through "handling". We, the dogs and handlers, didn't have good skills but we did the best we could and we continued to learn in this very new sport.
Today in agility, we have so much more knowledge, dogs are running faster, equipment has improved greatly and the courses in competition have gotten more challenging.
Everyone has a different goal in agility whether it's to make the world team and travel abroad to compete with the best or just have a fun night out with your best friend. Sometimes your goals change. In 1995, I didn't even know there were competitions or that I could bring my mix breed dog to these events. 18 years later, my fun night out with my dog has turned into a passion for the sport and has given me a wealth of knowledge
What are some basic skills needed?
- recalls
- stays
- understanding release word
- focus
- play with toys
- play without toys
- taking treats
- going back and forth between food and toys
- impulse control
- lying quietly in a crate
- retrieve
- understanding of which side of handler to be on while walking
- ability to go from handler focus to obstacle focus
What are some advanced skills needed?
- recalls off food, dogs, people, wildlife, toys
- stays while throwing treats, toys, dogs running past, wildlife running past, handler running away
- focus with all of the above
- understanding release word
- playing with toys on demand
- playing without toys for 3 minutes straight
- tugging on a toy while reaching into pocket, with a bowl of food on the ground, with treats in your hand, with other dogs playing
- impulse control with all of the above
- lying quietly in a crate with all of the above
- retrieve a "dead" toy. A toy that is not moving
- understanding of which side of handler to be on while running and with side changes
- ability to go from handler focus to obstacle focus
Those are just some of the skills needed away from equipment and it does take time to develop them.
So what are some skills needed for equipment?
- balance
- strength
- body awareness
- hind end awareness
- ability to turn in both directions equally
- independence
- ability to weight shift
- ability to go from handler focus to obstacle focus
- understanding release word
- the ability to know how to learn via shaping behaviors
What should you expect from your foundation class?
Your dog will learn these skills over the weeks in class along with learning obstacles. I try to balance the class so you and your dog are getting a little of everything.
What we strive for is a confident and happy dog that negotiates the obstacles efficiently, fast, confidently and safely while you as a handler direct him around the course.
Prepare for some fun!!
This is Puck at 5 months old balanced and turning out of a tunnel with me running
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