Topic Descriptions

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Training for Success: Designing a Curriculum that Really Works
W. Anderson
2:00pm

Are you tired of working with a curriculum that consistently produces inconsistency? Or, are you trying to redefine your curriculum but don’t know where to start? Whether you are working with a club or teaching classes on your own, and whether you are teaching 20 classes a week or only a few classes, you want a curriculum that produces success for your clients. Learn how to set goals and design a curriculum to get you there. Identify skills, outline progressions, plan obstacle set-ups, and design evaluation tools to create a curriculum that flows from week to week, level to level, and instructor to instructor.

A Jumping Education
Salo
2:00pm
Canine Sports Recreation Center
8.5 miles from Conference

Each course an agility dog will ever step upon is mostly jumps, and yet jumping remains the least understood, least trained skill set in all of agility. Just because a dog can jump doesn’t mean he knows how to jump. Agility trainers spend many hours rehearsing and perfecting the timing and footwork of their handling maneuvers; however, they often overlook the fact that their dogs’ need time to rehearse and perfect their jumping skills. Instead trainers tend to focus on drills to perfect the dogs’ understanding of positional cues and handling maneuvers; they do not offer the dog an opportunity to focus on honing the skills needed to master each component of jumping: path, distance, takeoff spot, weight transfer, angle of elevation, height, and re-balance upon landing.

Gridwork alleviates the stress of multitasking and offers the dog an opportunity to focus on each basic component involved in jumping. It also gives trainers a methodology for building in value for the jumps, which affects how the jumps are perceived by the dog. Most trainers spend lots of time building in value for the contact zones and the start-line stay, but don’t think about building value for the one thing the agility dog will do more of in his career than any other piece of equipment—JUMP!

Gridwork is fun for the dogs and gives them a much needed opportunity for them to practice jumping skills through their careers. All athletes need to practice their skill sets to stay at the top of their game; dogs are no different!

Susan will discuss various grid set-ups, including their uses and appropriate distances for different sized dogs, along with providing demonstrations of how each grid is performed.

Attendance is limited.

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What to Do When the Magic Is Missing
Rogers
Opening Session, Friday 9:00am

We all know that class dynamics can make or break the learning environment. Sometimes it can be hard to tell exactly why some classes work and others don't. Often it is painfully obvious what is wrong with a class, and everyone knows it. Your students will expect you to fix their broken class even when there seems to be no solution in sight. This session will address what to do so that every student feels he is getting valuable instruction, even if he isn't in the perfect class.

The Mechanics of Jumping
Salo
Friday 11am

While it may seem to us that we are asking for a single behavior when we give our dog a cue to “jump,” it’s not the case for the dog. When we say “jump,” we are really asking him to solve a multiple-part question that encompasses all of these components: path, distance, takeoff spot, weight transfer, angle of elevation, height, and re-balance upon landing. If the answer to any part of the question is incorrect, it impacts the entire behavior. The impact can be as dramatic as a dropped bar or a refusal to jump. Or it can manifest subtly as restricted speed or emotional or physical stress that has a long-term impact on the agility dog’s ability to do his job.

In order for the dog to become, and remain, successful at jumping, each component needs to be taught and practiced. Susan will unfold the complexity of “jump” by isolating and identifying each component of the behavior so that the handler can employ meaningful teaching tools to help the dog discover his own answer to each part of the jumping question.

The Distance Advantage
Sacerich
Friday 11am

Is distance work a routine part of your class curriculum? Can your students’ dogs confidently layer obstacles and perform a pinwheel independently? Although necessary for games like Gamblers and FAST, distance work has untapped potential for all classes and student teams. Distance work allows students to get in better handling positions, allows slower handlers to successfully compete with faster dogs, and often helps slower or unmotivated dogs gain speed and confidence thus saving time. Learn how to incorporate distance training into your curriculum to give students a competitive edge no matter the class or venue.

Making a Living with Dogs
Phairas
Friday 11am

It sounds like a dream: to make a living working with dogs. But for some it is easier said than done. You CAN have your dream job, more time for agility competitions, AND still pay the electric bill. It doesn’t take a business degree to do it. Join Gina Phairas of dogTEC in an exploration of resources and skills that dog pros need for a thriving business. Whether you’re a full-time agility trainer or do some instructing “on the side,” this seminar will teach you how to grow your bottom line. Topics include finding and growing your client base, low-cost marketing solutions, and more.

Why School Dogs to Jump?
Salo
Friday 1:30pm

When considering this question, think about all the time spent teaching the sit-stay, the contact behaviors, and the weave poles. Yet without a methodology to teach the dog jumping skills, the handler has no way to build in value for the one behavior the dog will do more of in his career than any other piece of equipment—JUMP! Each course an agility dog will ever step upon is mostly jumps, and yet jumping remains the least understood, least trained skill set in all of agility. Just because a dog can jump doesn’t mean he knows how to jump. Teaching a dog to jump efficiently and confidently will not only improve speed and performance, it will increase the longevity of the dog’s career by reducing physical stress on his body.

Bringing the Trial to the Classroom
Sacerich
Friday 1:30

Preparing students for successful competition goes beyond just teaching skills and running sequences in the relaxed teaching environment. We need to bring the trial excitement to the classroom to simulate the pressure, novelty, and chaos that student teams experience in competition. How can we increase their confidence? How can we motivate students to try harder, run faster, and make new skills second nature? Revitalize your upper level classes with a variety of fun exercises and games that will get the adrenalin flowing and help your students to successfully and consistently use skills under the pressure of competition.

Video Analysis in the Classroom
w. Anderson
Friday 1:30pm

Video Analysis may be the most underused tool at the agility instructor’s fingertips. Why? Many instructors are comfortable reviewing runs but do not know how to incorporate video analysis into their program. Learn to use this exciting tool to do everything from documenting baselines, to teaching novice handlers how to execute sequences properly, to helping experienced handlers evaluate the most efficient path for their dog.

Who Wants to Go on a Roller Coaster?! Teaching the Teeter
Strenfel
Friday 3:30pm

The teeter is an obstacle that many dogs outright avoid or perform tentatively. Teeter issues can also start to affect the dogwalk performance as well. We will explore why the teeter is such a concern to dog and learn how to split up the training of the teeter into several components so that each dog and handler team can achieve safe, confident performances on this problematic obstacle. We will cover several different teeter games including the Buja board, Bang Game, and Drop Zone.

One Jump, Two Jump: Part 1
Rogers
Friday 3:30pm

Sandy's one-jump exercises will create the foundation for a consistent handling and communication system between dog and handler. These exercises are easy to learn and can be taught to any level of student, including beginners. Topics will include pre-jump work, teaching the difference between extension and collection cues, beginning distance work, and the seven turn cues that every handler should know. Emphasis will be placed on teaching the exercises in a classroom setting.

Sustainable Boundaries for Success and Sanity
Phairas
Friday 3:30pm

Do you find yourself wishing there were a few more hours in every day? Are you constantly running to keep all the “balls” in the air? Maybe you have a list of things you would like to do someday, when you have more time. Finding success while keeping your sanity can be challenging. We’ll look at creating a sustainable work schedule that makes time for the daily “have tos,” the longer term “need tos,” and your personal “want tos.” It really is possible to get more done in less time—come learn how.

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View Saturday's Schedule

The Mechanics of Jumping
Salo
Saturday 9:00am

While it may seem to us that we are asking for a single behavior when we give our dog a cue to “jump,” it’s not the case for the dog. When we say “jump,” we are really asking him to solve a multiple-part question that encompasses all of these components: path, distance, takeoff spot, weight transfer, angle of elevation, height, and re-balance upon landing. If the answer to any part of the question is incorrect, it impacts the entire behavior. The impact can be as dramatic as a dropped bar or a refusal to jump. Or it can manifest subtly as restricted speed or emotional or physical stress that has a long-term impact on the agility dog’s ability to do his job.

In order for the dog to become, and remain, successful at jumping, each component needs to be taught and practiced. Susan will unfold the complexity of “jump” by isolating and identifying each component of the behavior so that the handler can employ meaningful teaching tools to help the dog discover his own answer to each part of the jumping question.

One Jump, Two Jump: Part 2
Rogers
Saturday 9:00am

This presentation builds on the exercises learned in Part 1 on Friday. Once your students understand the one-jump fundamentals, you can continue their education with the two-jump exercises. They include lead-outs, extension work, collection work, the seven turn cues, and distance work. The two-jump work adds teaching and handling the 180, the 270, and the next step of serpentine training. Teaching the basic exercises is covered in Part 1 so attendance of that session is suggested in order to get the most out of the Part 2 session.

Turning Your Hobby into a Business Venture
Goudy
Saturday 9:00am

This session will provide information and steps to get your business started in the right direction. Topics include entity selection, setup requirements, on-going compliance, and operational suggestions. Should facility conditions permit, the presentation may incorporate an online demonstration.

Why School Dogs to Jump?
Salo
Saturday 11:00am

When considering this question, think about all the time spent teaching the sit-stay, the contact behaviors, and the weave poles. Yet without a methodology to teach the dog jumping skills, the handler has no way to build in value for the one behavior the dog will do more of in his career than any other piece of equipment—JUMP! Each course an agility dog will ever step upon is mostly jumps, and yet jumping remains the least understood, least trained skill set in all of agility. Just because a dog can jump doesn’t mean he knows how to jump. Teaching a dog to jump efficiently and confidently will not only improve speed and performance, it will increase the longevity of the dog’s career by reducing physical stress on his body.

What is on Your Mind?: Student Issues
Sandy Rogers and Moe Strenfel
Moderator: Monica Percival
Saturday 11:00am

Join session moderator, Monica Percival , for a candid conversation with Moe Strenfel and Sandy Rogers discussing your most difficult student issues. Participants will turn in questions during the session as the foundation for this impromptu problem-solving session by our experienced speakers. If you are frustrated or in need of ideas to help you with student issue, this is the session for you.

Structure Matters
Gross-Saunders
Saturday 11:00am

Not all agility dogs are created equal. Structure plays an important role in speed, endurance, and overall athleticism of the dog. These differences are not only from breed to breed but between individuals in a breed or body type. Take a look at the anatomy of the dog as it relates to soundness, strength, flexibility, and stress under pressure. Find out what conformation flaws are most likely to create problems and what ones a dog can compensate for. Understanding structure allows instructors to understand whether or not individual dogs are capable of what students are asking of them in agility training and competition.

Weaves from the Dog’s Perspective
Strenfel
Saturday 1:30

Why is it that some dogs can learn weave poles quickly while others simply can’t get the job done no matter what you do or how much time you spend training? This session focuses on weaving from the dog’s point of view, something that every good trainer, handler, and instructor should do at every stage of an agility dog’s training. Learn to identify what an efficient weaver looks like, how equipment used in the initial training process does affect the dog’s eventual performance, how different training methods can produce different types of weavers, and how weaving can be split into three different behaviors. The most common methods of teaching the weave poles will be explored, looking at both the pros and cons of each method.

Helping Students to Analyze Courses
W. Anderson
Saturday 1:30pm

The training is done, handling has been perfected, what’s next? Analyzing a course correctly can be the difference between a “Q” and a train wreck. Unlock the mystery of course analysis. Help your students learn to memorize the course, identify their team’s strengths and weaknesses, and choose the correct strategy for running the course.

Tax Deductions Worth Barking For
Goudy
Saturday 1:30pm

This session covers information and record-keeping requirements for logical and defendable income tax deductions. Topics include, but are not limited to, business expenditures related to travel and entertainment, vehicles, home-office and capital assets.

Introducing Canis familiaris
Barber
Saturday 3:30pm

Increasing our understanding of operant conditioning has revolutionized dog training. However, is being able to recite the four quadrants in our sleep really enough? Or have we spent so much time understanding its conditioning that we have lost sight of our operant? Aside from an amazing athletic ability, what are our canine teammates bringing to the table? In this session, we will examine the selective forces that have shaped the dog before and after domestication. Explore the fundamental differences between domestic dogs, their wild cousins, and the species holding the leash. Improve your ability to understand your students’ canine partners by developing a better understanding of the dog’s perception, instincts, and motivation.

Topic: Self-Control Games
B. Anderson
Saturday 3:30pm

Many of us involved in competitive dog sports seek out the high drive, high energy dog. But along with that drive may come some problems; lack of self-control on the dog's part being one of them.

It is important early on to establish the dog's respect for the trainer as his leader. These dogs need to know there are rules to be obeyed in everyday life as well as during play and training. This is done through guidance and direction, not domination. I start incorporating "wait" games into daily life with the dog's food bowl, going out the door for walks, and permission to run after the ball I just threw. This is one way to start the habit of waiting for permission from you to begin an activity such as waiting at the start line.

Controlling the games allows the trainer to control the dog.

When Pets and Fun Collide
Rogers
Saturday 3:30pm

Do you find yourself dreading those “pet classes” that are designed for “fun?” Are you frustrated with students who don’t care about the skills and methodical curriculum that you spent years developing? Do you question whether you want your school to cater only to “serious” students? In this session, Sandy will share her journey of coming full circle back to teaching agility to anyone who thinks it might be better to do something with their dog then to go out to the movies. The focus will be on a curriculum designed to get these student what they want (on the equipment immediately) without them having the skills they need, and how to do it in a safe way that has a chance of not ruining the foundation of possible future agility addicts.

On the Road to Success: Groundwork for a Solid Foundation
Strenfel
Saturday 7:00pm

Teaching agility equipment before a handling system is in place is a lot like trying to drive a car with no steering wheel, no brakes, and no gas pedal. The human team member is simply a passenger at the mercy of the driver, which in this case would be the canine partner. Groundwork training puts the human in the driver’s seat instead of the back seat! It establishes a common language between human and dog so that they truly become a team. We will go over simple groundwork exercises for pet-dog teams versus teams that aspire to go on to competitions.

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Weaves from Start to Finish
Strenfel
Sunday 8:00am

Moe will go over training weaves her style from start to finish including the three major behaviors that are required for successful weave pole performance. Learn a novel way to teach and proof even the most difficult entries. This method of training can be modified for pet-dog agility instruction as well. (Attendance at “Weaves from the Dog’s Perspective” is suggested but not required as a prerequisite for this session.)

Classes Gone Wild: Difficult and Disruptive Students
Barber
Sunday 8:00am

Sharing your love of agility with new students and helping them develop their full potential can be extremely rewarding. Unfortunately our students are not always perfect future handlers, arriving ready to soak up knowledge. What do you do when you are faced with a pack of wild students? We will discuss proven techniques for teaching and inspiring students in a recreational learning environment and how to train your wild ones to be better students. Transform the way you deal with difficult or disruptive students and tame that wild class!

Topic: Getting People to Motivate Their Dogs
B. Anderson
Sunday 8:00am

A substantial part of training is learning how to incorporate play so that your canine partner views training as fun. There are no shortcuts. A quiet, laid-back dog will require his owner to work many times harder than his classmate who has an "over the top" BC or field-bred Lab.

The focus for the dog lacking play drive will be to build his enthusiasm about working with the handler. Don't despair. This can take weeks or months, but it is possible to make working with the handler the high point of the dog's day! There are games and techniques to help increase the dog's play/prey drive. The most important thing is to help your student stop focusing on the negatives -- "I can't" or "he won't" – and replace those words with "What can I do differently to make this happen?"

The best way to motivate the dog is to motivate the handler!

Let’s Play Games
Barry
Sunday 10:00am

Play drive is an important element of the equation for building speed and desire in the agility dog. Once tugging and motivation have been established, how do you get your students to use that play drive to improve their agility performance? This session will focus on games to deepen working relationships, build speed, improve focus, and increase the dog's desire to work. Also covered will be how to reward and proof with toys as well as how to balance food and toy rewards.

Crosses and Turns
Strenfel
Sunday 10:00am

Running even short sequences requires that your students understand how to work the “steering wheel” so they can navigate their team smoothly and efficiently. We will look at the most common “changes of hand” and explore ways to help the team become smoother. We will cover front crosses, rear crosses, turns away, shoulder pulls, and blind cross with modifications for most, depending on the level of the team (pet dog versus competitive).

Warm-ups and Cool Downs
Gross-Saunders
Sunday 10:00am

Simple, effective exercises protect the muscles from strain of the sudden exertion needed in agility and then to help the body cool down properly. Just a few minutes of stretching and exercise before and after an agility run can make a huge difference in the dog’s athletic ability and avoiding injuries. Debbie will show you ground exercises as well as some strengthening exercises with aids like the theraball. Learn why, when, and how to use warm-ups and cool downs effectively.

Acceleration and Deceleration
Barry
Saturday 12:30

The handler’s stride length and speed directly impacts the stride length and speed of the dog. Many handlers misuse these tools even if they understand the terminology. Learn exactly how acceleration and deceleration can help guide all dogs, from mini to open and from slower to speedy. We will also briefly cover lateral motion and forward motion in terms of how it relates to acceleration and deceleration.

Perfecting Handling Skills without a Dog
W. Anderson
Sunday 12:30

Have you ever missed a “Q” because your timing was off? Handling can be one of the most difficult components of agility training to perfect. Wouldn’t it be fantastic if you could refine your handling skills without subjecting your dog to hundreds of incorrect repetitions? These simple exercises help students learn correct handling procedures or polish existing skills without ever touching a dog. They can even practice them at home!

Wanted: Motivated Teachers
Barber
Sunday 12:30

“Without labor nothing prospers.” –Sophocles, 496-404 BC
Agility organizations are full of people who enjoy agility—not necessarily people who are effective agility instructors, managers, or diplomats. How do you recognize, attract, train, and retain quality instructors? In particular, how can you build or supplement an agility instructing team with volunteers? Once you’ve assembled your team, can you hold them to a core curriculum and a set of training guidelines? Or how do you bring curriculum and class changes into an established club or business? What do you do if your instructors are not teaching effectively or are not following your club or training facility’s guidelines? We’ll explore these and other challenges facing someone charged with developing or overseeing agility classes for their club, organization, or business.

What Is a Handling System?
Barry
Closing Session, Sunday 2:30pm

A handling system is a consistent form of communication between the handler and dog. For success on today’s courses, it is critical that the dog know exactly what is expected of him based on the cues the handler gives. It is also important for the handler to understand the cues he or she is delivering (sometimes unintentionally) to the dog. We will cover the cues that are available to handlers as well as the similarities and differences of some of the handling systems used in agility today.

View Sunday's Schedule