General Rules

Our Driveway and Parking:

Driveway Speed Limit is 5 mph. Please be cautious of dogs and handlers, especially after dark.

Do not park in the median or the other parallel drive. Extra parking can usually be found at the top of the driveway.

Class Preparation

Be Prepared: Remember to bring: a hungry and motivated dog and many small-sized, soft treats. Also for the agility classes please bring; favorite toys; a clicker; notebook and pen.

Please arrive in time to warm-up and potty your dog prior to class.

Potty Your Dog: Please potty your dog in designated areas. You are responsible for cleaning up after your dog. Waste cans and Pooper-Scoopers are provided. In case of an accident inside the class field, be sure to promptly pick up or rinse off the affected area.

Play Field Rules:

• One dog per handler on the field at a time.
• Dogs should be supervised at all times.
• Please clean up after your dog.
• No throwing balls or toys when more than one dog is on the field.

Manage Your Dog:

Agility Class is not the Dog Park. Do not allow your dog to play with other dogs in class. While socialization is an important part of any well-rounded dog's education, agility classes do not provide the time or atmosphere for dog-dog interaction. It is a time for team building between handler and dog. (The exception would be carefully monitored interaction on the Play Field.)

Leashes: Dogs should remain on leash, except when the instructor has given consent to be off leash for training. Off-leash dogs are expected to be under verbal control at all times.

Be respectful of each dog's space. Allow a minimum of 6 feet between dogs. Flexi-leads are not allowed for this reason.

Be conscious of your dog at all times. If you dog is sizing up another dog, or simply over-stimulated by the motion and excitement of agility, this would be a great time to get your dog to focus on you. Practice focus games, tricks or calming techniques. This will greatly reduce the possibility of a confrontation.

Dogs should not wander or be on course during walk-thrus. Please bring a crate, mat, or teach your dog a reliable stay. Ties are also provided along the fence.

Keep the Flow

Run Order: The instructor will determine a general run order prior to class starting. (i.e. Tall to Small or Small to Tall.)

For the first round, anyone at the called jump height may go. After that, follow the order you went in on the first round and continue that order for the rest of class.

Be Ready for Your Turn. Have your dog in position and ready to start. Always wait until the prior team has finished and is safely on leash before releasing your dog.

Having Finished Your Run…promptly exit the finish line area, with your dog on leash. Remember to reward and provide a cool-down time for your dog.

Help in Class

Please do not move equipment that has been set for class, unless given permission to do so. Then, please replace the equipment to its original position.

All students should assist in changing jump heights. An efficient class runs like this: one handler and dog team is on the line ready to go, one team is warming up, and one team is rewarding and cooling down. Everyone else should be available to change jumps with the expectation that the jumps will be changed for you when it is your turn to run.

Having a leash-runner (someone who will take the leash from the start-line and place it at the finish line) is very helpful, too.

Numbered Cones: The numbered cones may need to be collected to reset a sequence or course. The rule for cones is: BIG number on the BOTTOM. If everyone follows this rule then one person can collect 1-6, another 7-12, and another 13-20, and they can be easily regrouped and stacked in numerical order.

Agility Instructors Are People Too

Listen to Your Instructor: Agility instructors are teaching because they enjoy seeing dogs and handlers learn. Our instructors come with their own unique experiences and insights into agility. While there is no single technique that works for all, they have lots of good information and are willing to share.

Do I hear an Echo? Please do not ask your instructor to repeat information because you were off-task or chatting. This wastes valuable class time for all.

Questions: Remember that your class is shared with other teams, each working through their own training issues. Questions that apply to the class and topic at hand are certainly welcomed. However, detailed training questions that pertain to you and your dog are best addressed in a private lesson.

Observe and Learn: Please know that many instructors are hard-pressed to find time to work with their own dogs. If an instructor is training her dog, please do not interrupt them. You are welcome to observe and may be pleasantly surprised by how many good training tips you are able to pick-up.