Dream Fields Class Descriptions


This page last updated on August 10, 2007

 
Dog Agility Training Centre 

Puppy Fundamentals Classes  

Prerequisites:  

  • once the puppies have received their rabies shot (generally around 4 months of age; check with your veterinarian), they are welcome to join a puppy agility class.
Dream Fields is very aware of the growing bodies and minds of puppies. None of the exercises asks the puppy to do anything that would stress the soft, open bone plates, nor is compulsion applied in any sense of the word. To the puppy, agility classes are just a lot of fun, exciting games, with opportunities to meet new doggy friends, and let off some steam. 

Dream Fields General Puppy classes are organized into three 7-week sessons: Puppy Level 1, Puppy Level 2, and Puppy Level 3.   

Puppy Building Blocks Classes  

Prerequisites:  

  • Handlers must be experienced in training and/or competing with a dog in agility. Once the puppies have received their rabies shot (generally around 4 months of age; check with your veterinarian), they are welcome to join a puppy agility class.
Dream Fields recognizes that experienced Handlers are prepared to invest the time and energy necessary to build the foundation behaviours that are so critical to successful agility competition. This series of Puppy classes is geared to the serious, experienced, agility competitor that wants to train default agility behaviours.  

Dream Fields Puppy Building Blocks classes are organized into 7-week sessons; ongoing sessions are available on demand.   

Beginners Fundamentals Classes  

Prerequisites:  

  • Dogs must be at least 12 months of age to join a Beginners Class. (For larger breeds it may be advisable to wait until 18 months of age, to be sure the bone plates have closed. We recommend that large breed owners check with their veterinarian before starting agility prior to 18 months of age).
  • Dogs must have basic obedience training (sit, down, come, stay). Dogs are taken off the leash very quickly in the Beginners class and it's very difficult to train a dog that's on the other side of the ring and has no intention of coming when it's called! 

As with all Dream Fields training, beginners are introduced to the obstacles and the sport in a non-stressful manner. The aim of the Beginner program is to introduce the dog to each obstacle, and teach it to perform the obstacle safely, confidently and correctly. 

Dream Fields Beginner Classes are organized into three 7-week sessions: Beginners Level I, Beginners Level II and Beginners Level III.  

Novice Classes  

Prerequisites:  

  • Dogs must be at least 12 months of age to join a Novice Class. (For larger breeds it may be advisable to wait until 18 months of age, to be sure the bone plates have closed. We recommend that large breed owners check with their veterinarian before starting agility prior to 18 months of age).
  • Dogs must have basic obedience training (sit, down, come, stay). Dogs work off leash in the Novice class and must respond to the Handlers commands.
  • Handlers must be confident and knowledgeable in the application of operant conditioning through the use of the clicker (working with a dog in either Dream Fields Puppy, level I or Dream Fields Beginners, level I qualifies)
  • Dogs must have either graduated from the Dream Fields Level III Beginners class, or be able to demonstrate total confidence and mastery of all the agility obstacles, set at regulation height
Novice classes (and indeed all classes from this level on), concentrate on building the dogs confidence in the work it is doing, and focuses on handling techniques for the 2-legged half of the team. After successfully completing Novice level III, Dream Fields feels a dog/handler team is ready for competition (assuming the handler wants to participate in competition).  

Dream Fields Novice Classes are organized into three 7-week sessions: Novice Level I, Novice Level II and Novice Level III.  

Intermediate Classes  

Prerequisites:  

  • Dogs must be at least 18 months of age to join an Intermediate Class
  • Handlers must be confident and knowledgeable in the application of operant conditioning through the use of the clicker (working with a dog in either Dream Fields Puppy, level I or Dream Fields Beginners, level I qualifies)
  • Dogs must have graduated from the Dream Fields Level III Novice class (some exceptions may be made for dogs coming into the training program from other venues. Each dog and handler team will be assessed individually to determine which class would be the best fit).
Intermediate classes continue to boost the dogs confidence by working exercises that require more focus, concentration and teamwork to be accomplished successfully. Significant attention is paid to handling techniques and problem solving.  

Dream Fields Intermediate Classes are organized into three 7-week sessions: Intermediate Level I, Intermediate Level II and Intermediate Level III.  

Starters Classes  

Prerequisites: 

  • Handlers must be confident and knowledgeable in the application of operant conditioning through the use of the clicker (working with a dog in either Dream Fields Puppy, level I or Dream Fields Beginners, level I qualifies)
  • Dogs must have graduated from the Dream Fields Intermediate Level III Class (some exceptions may be made for dogs coming into the training program from other venues. Each dog and handler team will be assessed individually to determine which class would be the best fit).
Dream Fields Starters Classes are not divided into Levels. A dog and handler may remain working at the Starters level indefinitely, or may move to an Advanced class when the dog and handler are ready for Advanced level work.  

Starters classes concentrate on providing the dogs with plenty of practice in obstacle performance, to permit the dog to gain confidence and grace in execution. "Real" competition sequences are presented to allow the handlers to strategize and determine which handling technique could be used for each challenge.   

Dream Fields Starters Classes are offered in 7-week sessions.  

Advanced Classes  

Prerequisites: 

  • Handlers must be confident and knowledgeable in the application of operant conditioning through the use of the clicker (working with a dog in either Dream Fields Puppy, level I or Dream Fields Beginners, level I qualifies)
  • Dogs must have graduated from the Dream Fields Starters Class (some exceptions may be made for dogs coming into the training program from other venues. Each dog and handler team will be assessed individually to determine which class would be the best fit).
Dream Fields Advanced Classes are not divided into Levels. A dog and handler may remain working at the Advanced level indefinitely, or may move to a Masters class when the dog and handler are ready for Masters level work.  

Advanced classes concentrate on honing the dogs' performance in a wide variety of sequences and situations. Handling is revisited and re-evaluated for each dog/handler team to find the techniques that work best for that team.  

Dream Fields Advanced Classes are offered in 7-week sessions.  

Masters Classes  

Prerequisites:  

  • Dogs must have graduated from a Dream Fields Advanced Class (some exceptions may be made for dogs coming into the training program from other venues. Each dog and handler team will be assessed individually to determine which class would best serve)
Dream Fields Masters Classes are not divided into Levels. A dog and handler may remain working at the Masters level indefinitely.  

Masters classes concentrate on minute examination of each Handlers use of the various handling techniques that can mean the difference between success and failure at the Masters level. Speed, confidence and the ability to work at a distance are crucial to the dogs success at this level.  

Dream Fields Masters Classes are offered in 7-week sessions.  

Course content will be tailored to meet the specific needs of the unique dog/handler teams participating in a particular class.