Companion Dog School of Tulsa

Agility is a popular competitive dog sport where a handler/owner directs their dog through an obstacle course within a certain time limit.  Dogs run off leash, with the handler using voice instruction, body language and training cues, while running the course.  Both UKC and AKC obstacles will be taught using the handling system of internationally acclaimed agility trainer, behaviorist and author Greg Derrett.  Your dog will climb on, walk/run over and run through different types of jumps, contacts, tunnels, swinging bridge, A-frame, dog walk, teeter and weave poles.  We offer 5 levels of Agility classes, Puppy Agility, Beginner’s & Advanced Weave Poles and Boxwork.

Puppy Agility introduces a puppy to “puppy sized” equipment in a fun way.  This class is for puppies that are between 4 and 12 months of age on the first day of class.  This can also be the next step in training after completing Puppy Kindergarten or a basic puppy class.  If your puppy or dog is older than 12 months, we recommend enrolling in Agility 1.  Owners will learn to teach puppies fun things like mini agility obstacles, while reinforcing basic manners skills such as: sit, down, come, and walking on a loose leash.  Prerequisite:  Must be current on puppy vaccinations and a have a negative fecal test result.  Puppies must behave in a healthy social manner and NOT have aggression issues with other dogs.

Agility 1 is the first introduction for students/handlers and their dog to agility and the equipment.  Dogs should know sit and down and be generally under control when off leash.  Your dog will be introduced to jumps and contact obstacles such as the Dog Walk, A-frame, Teeter, Box, Pause Table, Tunnels and Jumps.  Prerequisite:  Successful completion of Basic Manners or the equivalent basic obedience training or Puppy Agility. 

Agility 2 continues with skills training, where beginning agility foundation work left off.  You and your dog will learn all pieces of agility equipment.  Classes designed to improve handling skills, begin practicing short sequences and start working on full sized agility equipment. Prerequisite:  Successful completion of Agility 1 or the equivalent agility training.  Dogs should have a stay and be able to work off leash.

Agility 3 is the start to running full course sequences and introduction to foundation skills for obstacle contacts.  Students/handlers should know the agility equipment and are comfortable working off leash with their dog.  This level will cover exercises to help you improve your handling with front and rear crosses, skills training for “marked” contact zones of A-Frame, Dog Walk and Teeter, short sequences of contact obstacles and running longer courses.  Prerequisite:  Successful completion of Agility 2 or the equivalent agility training. Dogs do not have to be proficient on contact obstacles, but should have been introduced to all equipment.

Agility 3 – Advanced continues with full course sequences and foundation skills for obstacles. Students/handlers should know the agility equipment and are comfortable working off leash with their dog.  This level will continue exercises to help you improve your handling with front and rear crosses, skills training for “marked” contact zones of A-Frame, Dog Walk and Teeter, short sequences of contact obstacles and running longer courses.  Prerequisite:  Successful completion of Agility 3 or the equivalent agility training.  Dogs should have completed Weave Pole class and can go through 6 poles most of the time.  Dogs do not have to be proficient on contact obstacles, but should have been introduced to all equipment

Agility 4 lays groundwork for longer sequences and introduces a “walk through perspective” for the student/handler to recognize traps and challenges that are common in intermediate/advanced trial competitions.  This class will improve student/handler confidence and is ideal for those competing in agility trials, that know all agility equipment, and either have a title, or close to attaining one.  Practice will be running longer full course sequences of contact obstacles, jumps, weaves, table, tire and tunnels.  Focus is on teamwork skills to enhance the working relationship between you and your dog.  Prerequisite:  Successful completion of Agility 3 or the equivalent agility training.  Dog should be able to perform all equipment, solid performance of Teeter and weave 6 poles.  Preferably, dog should be able to consistently complete 9 to 12 weave poles.

Agility 4/5 is ideal to help improve consistency in the trial environment.  This class is great for those students currently competing in agility trials, have earned a title or close to attaining one, and could benefit from practicing courses to reinforce consistent performance.  Student/Handler teams should be proficient on all UKC equipment and might still need additional training on specific equipment for improved trial performance.  This class covers sequences that reinforce basic handling, but more complex handling techniques will be practiced.  Courses will include the use of jumps, obstacle contacts, tunnels and weave poles in practice sequences.  Prerequisite:  Successful completion of either Agility 3, Agility 4 or the equivalent agility training.  Dog should be able perform all UKC equipment and weave 6 poles consistently, preferably weaving 9 to 12 poles.

Agility 5 is the most advanced agility training class at CDST.  This is an ideal ongoing weekly practice to use for “perfecting” handling methods used in Excellent/Master level competition.  Each session will include:  Instructor-led course analysis, combination of running full courses and working complex sequences.  Focus will be on advanced skills such as wraps, threadles, serpentines and distance work.  Also perfecting front, rear and blind crosses.  This class is for those teams that perform consistently, are confident on the equipment, and usually competing at intermediate or excellent competition levels.  Prerequisite:  Successful completion of Agility 4, Agility 4/5 or the equivalent agility training.  Dog must be able to perform all equipment with confidence and run full courses.  Dog should have earned agility title.

Agility Boxworks – Beginner is done entirely using sequences of jumps to improve footwork, speed and coordination as your baseline for handling skills. This course is taught “drilling your skills” by using a series of jumps and technical skills.  No contact obstacles or weaves are used in class.   Jumping is a critical agility skill and you will practice Front Crosses, Rear Crosses, Post Turns, Wraps, 270 Jump sequences, and Threadles.  Drills will be tailored to specific handling skills used in running agility courses.  Prerequisite:  Successful completion of Agility 2 or the equivalent agility training.  Dog should be able to work off leash and complete a sequence of 3 jumps or more.

Agility Boxworks – Advanced  will continue to build on the skills learned in the Beginner course.  Drills will be tailored to more advanced handling skills used in running agility courses. Prerequisite:  Successful completion of Agility Boxwork-Beginner course or the equivalent agility training with instructor approval. 

Agility Weave Poles 1&2 uses a combination of channel and in-line pole training methods to train your dog how to weave.  It’s “truly” amazing to watch the progress of your dog weaving after each weekly exercise is practiced.  Instruction begins with the basic foundations used in the channel method creating a wide path of vertical poles for your dog to run through.  Gradually the poles are brought closer together.  The in-line poles have plastic guides, connected to every other pole, making the weaving path very clear for the dog.  This is a proven method for your dog to mentally understand the concept of weaving.  And we have thousands of successful weave pole graduates to show for it!  Prerequisite:  Successful completion of ONE or more of the following classes:  Basic Manners or the equivalent basic obedience training, Puppy Agility or Agility 1.  Dogs should have a stay and be able to work off leash.

Agility Weave Poles 2×2 Method is a popular method developed by agility expert Susan Garrett.  This training makes it easy for dogs to develop speed and footwork at the same time they learn the weaving motion.  Your dog is first introduced to 2 weave poles.  Once dog is showing confidence from exercises from all approach angles, then a second set of 2 poles are added to the exercises.  The two sets are rotated and spaced to form a straight line of 4 poles for weaving practice.  More poles are added, and before you know it, your dog is weaving a full set of 12 weave poles!  Dogs who learn with the 2×2 approach are usually very proficient at finding the weave entry, the #1 problem for novice dogs.  Prerequisite:  Successful completion of ONE or more of the following classes:  Basic Manners or the equivalent basic obedience training, Puppy Agility or Agility 1.  Dogs should have a stay and be able to work off leash.

Agility Weave Poles Advanced focuses on common problem areas such as missed weave entries, early exits and slow performances.  Weaving demands independent concentration and execution by your dog and requires the student/handler to send the dog into the weaves from different course positions, especially if competing in trials at advanced agility levels.  You will get the additional skills training you need to hit entries consistently.  Or maybe you just want to feel more confident about the weaves in general.  You will learn handling maneuvers for entering weave poles from either side, from the rear, from any angle and long distance sends.  Prerequisite:  Successful completion of Weave Poles 1&2 or Weave Poles 2×2 Method.  Dogs should be able to weave 6 weave poles.  This is not a class for dogs that don’t know how to weave.