Agility-Flyball-Tricks

Also See:
Training Philosophy
Puppy Kinder./Basic Obedience
Canine Good Citizen
Therapy Dog
Credentials
Class Registration Info & Form

Agility and Tricks - now you and your dog can have fun learning agility and tricks to do that compliment and advance your training.

This class is geared for fun and enjoyment by all and is designed as a non-competitive sport to reduce the risk of injury and excessive pressure on the canine and human participants.

Flyball is a great dog sport, where dogs run a course over several low hurdles, trigger the flyball machine to toss a tennis ball, grab it and run back over the course. Dogs of all sizes, shapes, ages and breeds can play, with or without hurdles.

Koa Andison shows how it is done...press the pedal, catch the tossed ball, then reload, push down annnnd.....cock, ready for the next run.

This can be simply a fun activity for your dog, learning to run up to the flyball machine, trigger it and run back to you, or, at the other end of the spectrum, dogs compete as teams, (usually 4 on a team) against each other to see which team can finish the course first. In competition, it is a timed event, with certain requirements regarding procedures.

So far, Koa Andison (pictured above) had the fastest learning time in our classes, taking only 15 minutes to learn to run up to, trigger, catch the ball and run back to the start. If you have a real TBA (Tennis Ball Addict) dog, you may be able to equal or better this, but in most cases, it takes a little longer to train the basics of this activity (30-45 minutes). After that, its just fun. (Note: most dogs don't learn to reload, as Koa is demonstrating above [it only took her a few minutes to start understanding the additional skill]...but it sure is nice if they can!)

If you are interested in learning this sport, with your dog, or perhaps being part of a team, please contact us at info@caninesunlimited.com for further information.

Classes are one half hour long, due to the intensity and activity level. Any level of flyball experienced or inexperienced dog is welcome. This is a low impact activity, with very low hurdles (if used at all.) Age limit is 16 weeks or older. Young dogs (14 months and younger) will be especially carefully monitored for injury prevention (due to growth plates forming.) There is a lower risk factor of injury than some of the other sports such as frisbee catching, competitive obedience, or agility because of the lower impact (low or no hurdles,) fewer turns and twists (actually, only one turn) and no need for doggie "gymnastics" in the air or on the ground.

Requirements: Any canine participant must have had at least a beginning level obedience class and the handler/dog team should be able to demonstrate a minimal level of control off-lead, around other dogs, as this is an off-lead sport.

Participants will be expected to help with set up and take down of equipment. Classes will be held at the Shotokan Karate Club Dojo, and if and when appropriate, outside (weather/temperature permitting). During the winter months, classes will probably be indoors, due to weather.

Call 790-DOGS (3647) for the next scheduled class.

Please see the Class Registration Info & Form to register.