Agility Program
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Dog agility is a popular canine sport in which a handler directs a dog through a variety of obstacles such as a tunnel, teeter-totter, tire jump, weave poles, pause table, and standard jumps. During competitive agility events, handlers attempt to navigate dogs through a course as quickly and as accurately as they can.
Agility is a sport that requires a long-term training commitment to be successful. It requires a strong recall, impulse control, dog body awareness and handler focus. We developed our Competition Bedrock class with a focus on these specific obedience skills to prepare dogs (and their people) for our Foundation Agility class. If you are interested in joining the agility program, please scroll down to read the Foundation Agility section below for more information.
The Agility program at TCOTC includes training at all levels. At times, we have openings in our advanced level classes and can welcome teams that have already trained in agility elsewhere. To find out about possible openings at advanced levels, please complete the Agility Skills Assessment (complete this form only if your dog already has had at least 6 months of agility training in a group class setting). Continue reading below for information about getting started with our Foundation Agility class. For any other questions about the agility program contact office@tcotc.com.
Competition Bedrock
Every good construction project starts with the bedrock! Even before a foundation is built, solid rock is the key to the successful final project!
At TCOTC, we are now offering a brand-new class we have named Competition Bedrock. If you are on a path to competing someday in ANY of the dog sports: Agility, Rally-O, Flyball, Obedience, Freestyle or even a combination of these, this is the place to start!
In this class dog and handler teams will develop the fundamental skills needed to build that bedrock. These skills include handler focus, impulse control, body awareness, shaping behaviors, targeting and more! Click here to see the detailed list of outcomes for this class. Teams will be assessed by their instructor towards the end of the nine-week session to determine the next step towards achieving their competition goals. Skills in those next classes will be focused on the individual sport although of course there will be some crossover.
This class is for dogs who are 18 weeks of age or older and eligible for tier two obedience classes. This is our most in demand class and it is being filled from the waiting list at this time. Preference may be given to current and past club members. There is currently about a 4 month wait before getting in. Successful completion of this class and Instructor approval are required before becoming eligible for our Advanced Obedience, Foundation Agility, Beginning Flyball and Beginning Rally classes.
Session Length: 9 classes
Prerequisite: Basic Training, Puppy Basic Training, or approved skills evaluation
Fee: $135
Foundation Agility
Foundation Agility is the right place to start building a working relationship with your future agility dog. Every top-level competitor will tell you that a strong foundation in self-control, mutual trust, self-confidence and fun is a MUST for success in agility. In Foundation Agility, handler and dog will perfect stays and recalls, learn to move together in synchronization, gain confidence working both sides and at a distance, and experience some of the excitement of agility in a safe, controlled environment. Though a few obstacles will be introduced in these classes, the focus will be on control and teamwork.
Currently we are only enrolling graduates of our Competition Bedrock class into the Foundation Agility classes.
Agility for Fun
Agility is a great sport for confidence building, enrichment, and the satisfaction of building upon skills week after week as a team. This course is designed to give those interested in testing out agility for the first time a chance to see what this fun sport is all about! Teams will learn skills involving jumps and tunnels primarily, with light introductions to contact equipment. If you are looking for a dip into the challenges and rewards that agility has to offer, join us! Please note: This class does not replace Competition Bedrock as a prerequisite for Foundation Agility. See below for more information on TCOTC’s agility program.
Session Length: 9 weeks
When: Thursdays 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. 5/16/24 – 7/18/24
Minimum age of dog: 12 months
Prerequisites: Basic Training/Puppy Basic Training plus Competition Bedrock or one of the following Tier 2 Obedience classes: Beyond Basic, Reliable Recall or Impulse Control. Teams that are new to TCOTC must have at least 12 weeks of previous training in a group class setting and may request approval to enroll by completing the application form.
Fee: $161.00 for 9 weeks.
How to Enroll
Please complete the application before 5/2/24 to be considered for enrollment. You will receive an email reply no later than 5 days before the class begins. Space is limited; preference may be given to current members if applications exceed availability.