Whether you are aiming high and want to get competitive, or you're looking for a way to have fun with, and knacker out Fido, I can help.
How do I differ from those around me? 'Fun' or 'Social' agility groups tend to be run by people who have very little knowledge about the sport, and have few skills themselves, (therefore cannot teach any advancement on the sport to you or your dogs). As a Championship/Masters handler, having worked a Shih Tzu, a deaf Dalmatian, Papillons and lots of Border Collies and their crosses, and being a qualified Agility 1st trainer, I am well positioned to help you get the best out of your dog, help you to reach yours and your dogs potential, and teach you in a safe and professional way.
What can you expect from my classes? Time invested in self control drills, proprioception and canine conditioning (separate conditioning classes also run on an adhoc basis, see FB group for details) and flat work skills. All of these things set you, and your dog up for success. Should you turn up to a group and you find yourself luring a dog around a course each week, your dog will get faster and faster and then neither of you will have control on a course. It's now a sport where you can expect to find a minimum of 16 obstacles up to 10m apart - can you run that fast?
My goal is to teach independent skills and real know-how to everyone. For you, this means that as a team you are safe on any course, and if and when you want to dabble and earn those rosettes, you won't be in over your head. For your dog - having independent skills means he has to think, and if he's thinking, he's working much harder than simply following cheese in your hand.
What coaching do I get? Well this is an important question, and coaching for myself is something I constantly invest in. I've been asked before, that as a qualified trainer, why would I do that? A good trainer needs coaching too, and this is to ensure that my skills stay fresh and we as a club don't stagnate. If no one challenges me as a handler, then how can I challenge you?
To date I have received coaching from industry greats such as Greg Derrett, Joanne Tristram, Shaun Hunt, Lee Gibson, Ola Kordas, Shannon Springford, Helen Postle, Dave Munnings, Dalton Meredith, Neil Ellis, Iain Patz, Alan Bray, and as a club we host Sam Lane and Lynne Gressler on a regular basis.
Problems with your agility dog? As a behaviour specialist I have worked with competition handlers that are having problems in the ring. We've work through all sorts of show issues such as being calm in the queue, maintaining a start line, lunging at other dogs, building confidence in the ring and jumping up at and/or biting the handlers.
If things are not going to plan for you and your agility dog, perhaps a fresh pair of eyes and a different approach may help.