Terri Schmidt is the director of the pre-agility program here at Dallas Dog Sports.   If you would like to discuss where your dog might fit into our pre-agility program, you may contact Terri directly at gotdogs@hotmail.com.

ALL of the pre-agility classes are clicker-based training.  It is a positive, reward-based training program that utilizes a mechanical box-clicker to 'mark' a desired behavior, followed by a valued reward such as a treat or toy.

Pre-Agility Classes  Offered:

Pre-Agility Level 1 (P1)
Eligibility:  Dogs must be a minimum of 4 months old.  No aggressive dogs, please.  This level presumes your dog knows little about responding to any commands, however they must be willing to walk with you on collar and leash.

What you will learn:  How to use the clicker, how dogs learn, timing of rewards, how and when to give a cue/command, and how to evaluate your dogs physical condition and weight.  Every week of class will build on the previous week.  You will be assigned homework to do with your dog during the week between classes.

What your dogs will learn: All of the work done in the Pre-Agility Level 1 class is on-leash.  Sit (with hand signals), Down (with hand signals), Stand (with hand signals), Watch me (for 15 seconds with mild distractions), Leave it, Sit-Stay (for 30 seconds, 6 ft. away, with mild distractions), Come when called (on a leash from 6 ft. away, instructor holding dog), Ladder work (to help teach the dog where his feet are), Building drive (Ready Steady Game), Name Game (attention exercise), How to start playing with your dog, With me cue, Hand touch, Target stick touch, introduction to the Tire and Tunnel.

Pre-Agility Level 2 (P2)
Eligibility:  Dogs must be a minimum of 6 months old.  No aggressive dogs, please.  This level presumes your dog starts with the knowledge that is outlined above for the Pre-Agility Level 1 class under "What your dogs will learn".

What you will learn:  Conditioning your performance dog, team building, shaping behaviors with the clicker, random rewards and jackpot rewards.  Every week of class will build on the previous week.  You will be assigned homework to do with your dog during the week between classes. 

What your dogs will learn: All of the work done in the Pre-Agility Level 2 class is on-leash.   Sit-stay (for 30 seconds, 12 ft. away with moderate distractions), Down-stay (for 30 seconds, 12 ft. away with moderate distractions), Check-in game (attention exercise), Watch me cue (with distractions), Verbal sit and down, Come to hand (from 20 ft. on a retractable leash and a long line), Follow the Hand exercise, About turn, Cross in Front maneuver, Flip Circle, Spin warm up trick, Ready Steady game variations (for building drive), Circle work.

Pre-Agility Level 3 (P3)
Eligibility:  Dogs must be a minimum of 8 months old.  No aggressive dogs, please.  This level presumes your dog starts with the knowledge that is outlined above for the Pre-Agility Level 2 class under "What your dogs will learn". 

What you will learn:  More team building and how to stay mentally connected to your dog, How to start your off leash work, Start some agility groundwork, Sends, Learn about table work, Learn about contacts and targeting work, Learning how to work with a lot of distractions.  Every week of class will build on the previous week.  You will be assigned homework to do with your dog during the week between classes.

What your dogs will learn:  Where's my dog (attention game), Watch me at a distance, Moving verbal sits and downs, Circle Work, Sit and down stays (20 ft. for 1 minute with major distractions), ground Target, Box work, Sweep exercise, Recall (from 20 feet with distractions)..

Class Fees
Class fees are listed under the "Classes" icon from the main menu or click here on Class Fees.

Registration
There are now 2 ways to register for a class: 
1) Print a registration form from your computer, or 
2) Complete the online registration form. 
For either registration option, class fees and vaccination records will need to be mailed to Dallas Dog Sports.

CLASS SCHEDULE: The Pre-Agility and Beginner Agility classes are the only sessions that have a start and stop date. All other levels are on-going classes.  View our current Class Schedule.