Dream Fields Class Descriptions


This page last updated on June 10, 2005

 
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 Puppy Fundamentals classes are organized into three 7-week sessons: Puppy Fundamentals Level 1, Puppy Fundamentals Level 2, and Puppy Fundamentals 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.   

Beginner Fundamentals Classes  

Prerequisites:  

  • Dogs must be at least 12 months of age to join a Beginner Fundamentals 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 Beginner Fundamentals classes 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 Fundamentals program is to introduce the dog to each obstacle, and teach it to perform the obstacle safely, confidently and correctly. 

Dream Fields Beginner Fundamentals Classes are organized into three 7-week sessions: Beginners Fundamentals Level 1, Beginners Fundamentals Level 2 and Beginners Fundamentals Level 3.  

Novice Fundamentals Classes  

Prerequisites:  

  • Dogs must be at least 18 months of age to join a Novice Class.
  • Dogs must have basic obedience training (sit, down, come, stay). Dogs work off leash in the Novice Fundamentals 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 Fundamentals Level 1 or Dream Fields Beginner Fundamentals Level 1 qualifies)
  • Dogs must have either graduated from the Dream Fields Beginner Fundamentals Level 3 class, or be able to demonstrate confidence in the performance of all the agility obstacles, set at "near" regulation height, with the exception of the See-Saw and Weaves. The See-Saw must be performed confidently at its lowest height, and the weaves must be performed confidently in an "offset" configuration, using minimal guides.
Novice Fundamentals classes 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 Fundamentals Level 3, Dream Fields feels a dog/handler team is ready for competition (assuming the handler wants to participate in competition).  

Dream Fields Novice Fundamentals Classes are organized into three 7-week sessions: Novice Fundamentals Level 1, Novice Fundamentals Level 2 and Novice Fundamentals Level 3.