Date: Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, 9 am-1 p.m.
Length: Four hours
Cost: $40 for members, $60 for nonmembers
Recommended for: Dogs 6 months and older
Prerequisites: Puppy Elementary for puppies less than one year. Or instructor permission based on puppy’s readiness and prior training. CGC for dogs older than 1 year.
Course Description: This workshop will let young dogs and their handlers explore fundamental skills for building partnership, focus, forward drive, body awareness and transitioning between states of relaxation to readiness. Training will be done in a fun, motivational games format. It’s based on puppy foundation games promoted by handlers such as Daisy Peel, Anna Hinze, Susan Garrett and Tracy Sklenar.
NOTE: While this course is primarily design as a pre-agility puppy foundation, these games can also help build desire, focus, speed, body awareness and willingness to follow for other sports. They can also build drive, speed and focus for dogs of any age.
Number of participants limited to 6.
Students need to bring:
- Collar and lead
- High value treats cut into very small bits – Such as steak, cheese, liver, etc.
- Two bowls
- A mat, small rug or blanket
- Your dog’s favorite toys
- A long toy you can drag or can be tied to a leash or rope.
- Food stuffable toy (if your dog is food motivated). An old sock is an option. Other options: https://www.cleanrun.com/category/dog_toys_and_tugs/food_stuffable_agility_training_dog_toys/index.cfm
- A cushion mat or pillow for you to sit on (could be the same one you bring for your dog as long as it’s comfortable. A stool is an option for those who prefer not to sit on the floor.)
- A crate cover and a chewie or other toy/s to help your pup relax when not working.
Curriculum Outline:
- Collar grab game/get dressed – Goal is for dog to enthusiastically come to you and let you handle them by the collar.
- Chase me – Dog learns that chasing with you and winning a toy is a very fun game.
- Chase and spin – Dog learns to follow your motion in a tight turn.
- Ping pong – Choose me while moving and with distractions
- Hit the target – Build rear foot and body awareness on the move (first step to fast contacts).
- Circle a cone – Learn to wrap an object and return to you. Build flexibility and balance.
- Hug and relax – Learn to transition back to a relaxed state when not working.
Note: depending on the group, we may or may not get through all of the activities. I’ll also keep a couple of bonus activities in my back pocket if we move through these too quickly.