The second week of training begins.

The foundation class was split into two groups, one working on straight fast running through tunnels and jumps, and the other contact planks and channel weaves and a tiny sequence of lefts and rights over jumps.  Then we put the two jumping sequences together and even though the handlers mouths fell open when they saw what we were asking them to do, they all handled it perfectly.  All the dogs were amazing and did their handlers proud.


The beginner class were joined by Morse the Border Collie and Bertie the Scottie this week.  Bertie certainly proves that agility is for any breed of dog.  The beginners class tackled a more challenging sequence this week.  This group of dogs have so much potential, we'll be working hard on teaching the dogs directional commands to give the dogs the ability to work at a distance from their handlers.      

Our first classes were so exciting and interesting for us (and hopefully our students).

For our Foundation Class we had seven dogs and handlers who had never done agility before and we introduced them to tunnels, wing wraps, planks with the 2on2off position, running with their dogs and doing very wide channel weaves. 
 
There seemed to be a lot of laughter so we are hoping everyone enjoyed themselves. There was a lovely mixture of dogs - working gundogs, cockerpoos, collies, terriers and crossbreeds.    Everybody seemed keen to want to get things right and have fun with their dogs, rewarding with titbits and toys.  At the end of the first hour, quite a few dogs were successfully negotiating a tiny sequence of tunnel and wing wraps.  All poles were on the floor.

Our second class was for dogs that have done some agility before, so it was a case of getting to know the dogs and what they need help with.  They could all complete a small jumping and tunnel sequence and run through narrow channel weaves.   Harry the terrier x poodle already competes in agility and is doing well but has lost a bit of confidence in the ring so hopefully we can get his confidence back and we'll see him back in the competition ring soon using that warp speed we that he showed us today.

After classes had finished we had a chance to do a bit of training with our own dogs.