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If training our dog to leap over hurdles, crawl through tunnels, traverse a see-saw, scale an A-Frame, walk a plank suspended four feet above the ground, and weave though a line of poles like a snake sounds exciting…Then Dog Agility may be just for you! Nearly all dogs – mixed and purebred alike – can enjoy agility. Dog agility combines a fast paced, athletic challenge with strategy and teamwork. It’s a great way to build your dog’s confidence, improve its physical condition, and spend quality time together. Whether it’s for fun or competition there’s a class to fit your schedule. Agility Classes Offered For All Levels
PAWSitive Impact Agility offers classes at multiple levels from Beginner to Competition levels. There is sure to be a class to suit you and your dog! Class Offerings Classes will be offered on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Foundation classes will be held on Thursday, while Competition level classes will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday (these classes are by invitation from a PAWSitive Impact Agility Instructor). There will not be any Monday night agility class offerings. Foundation classes will consist of 4 weeks with classes of 45 minutes in duration. Times these classes will be offered are on Thursday evenings from 7:00pm – 7:45pm or 8:00pm – 8:45 pm. Level One (4 week class) - Focus is on introducing handler/dog to ground work, jumps, tire, and tunnel. Teams will be doing short sequences by the end of the session. Level Two (4 week class) - Focus is on short sequencing, greater fluency and handling skills. Additional obstacles will be introduced: chute, channel weaves. To progress past this level dogs must pass an AKC CGC Test. PAWSitive Impact Agility will offer CGC classes and testing (see details on the CGC page). Level Three - Obstacle Training (4 weeks)– Focus is on contacts and weaves, short sequencing, distance and discrimination work. This class will be divided into two parts – one working on contacts and weaves and one working on targeting, distance and discrimination. Level Four - Advanced Skills for Dogs (4 week)– Grid and caveletti work, introduction of broad jump, panel jump, double and triple jumps. Level Five - Advanced Handler Skills (4 weeks) – Reading course maps, walking courses, learning crosses, turns and setting lines for their dogs. Level Six - Agility Games (4 weeks) - Focus will be on handlers learning Gamblers, Snookers, FAST and other agility games. At this point most students and their dogs should be ready for either pre-competition or competition classes. Visitors are welcomed to drop in and watch agility training in action. Call for current training schedule and directions. For additional information, call PAWSitive Impact Agility at 281-692-9053 ________________________________________________________ Agility Class Fee Structure General Students Agility classes are $60 Level (4 weeks sessions). Classes cancelled due to bad weather are not counted. Contributing Students Agility classes are $40 per month (4 weeks) or $10 a week for three months preceding one of the following:
Working Students Agility classes are $25 per month (4 weeks) or $6.25 a week for three months preceding one of the following:
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ADDRESS: 3939 Allen Rd., Pearland, TX, phone # 281-692-9053. From the South:
________________________________________________________ Student Application & Waiver Forms If you are interested in joining one of our classes, please complete the following application and send it along with a copy of your dog's vacination records to PAWSitive Impact Agility. A confirmation e-mail or if no e-mail address is given then you will be notified via phone a week prior to classes being started. Puppies less than 4 months of age are not accepted for class enrollment. It is highly recommended that your dog be current with its kennel cough vaccination. Handler’s Name: _____________________________________ Age (if minor): ______ Address: ______________________________ City: _______________ State: _______ Zip:_____ Home Phone: ____________________________ E-mail Address: _____________________________ Work Phone: _____________________________ Fax Number: _______________________________ Dog’s Name: _____________________________ Breed: _______________________ Age:_____ What activities do you do with your dog? ___Obedience ___Conformation ___Flyball Other (describe): ____________________________________________________________________ Has you or your dog had any agility training or experience? ___Yes ___No If yes, please describe: _______________________________________________________________ When can you attend agility class? Please give both a first and second choice. __Thursday 7:00 PM to 7:45 PM __Thursday 8:00 PM to 8:45 PM How did you first learn about agility? _____________________________________________________ How did you hear of PAWSitive Impact Agility classes? ______________________________________ My dog will (Please check all that apply): __Come __Sit __Down ___Stand __Stay My dog has been vaccinated against: (Please check all that apply) __Distemper __Corona __Parvo __Hepatitis __Leptospirosis __Rabies __Bordetella __ Attitude toward strangers (Hands-on and approaching from behind) (Please check all that apply): __Lick them to death __Reserved __Shy __May bite __Will bite Attitude toward other dogs (Please check all that apply): __Lick them to death __Reserved __Shy __May bite __Will bite Return this completed form along with a copy of your dog’s vaccination certificate, the signed Liability Waiver to:
Liability Waiver
I understand that attendance of a dog agility training event is not without risk to myself, members of my family or guests who may attend, or to my dog, because some of the dogs to which I (we) will be exposed to may be difficult to control and may cause injury even when preventative measures are taken. I hereby waive and release the instructors, members, and guests of PAWSitive Impact Agility from any and all liability of any nature, for injury and damage which I or my dog may suffer, including specifically, but not without limitation, any injury or damage resulting from the action of any dog, and I expressly assume the risk of any such damage or injury while attending any training session or club event or while on the training grounds or surrounding are thereto. In consideration of and as inducement to the acceptance of my application for membership or my participation as a guest in this agility group, I hereby agree to indemnify and hold harmless the instructors, members, and guests of PAWSitive Impact Agility from any and all claims, or claims by any member of my family or any guest that may accompany me to group events, while on the training grounds or surrounding area thereto, as a result of any action by any dog, including my own.
Signature (Parent or guardian if a minor): _________________________________________ Print Name: _____________________________________________ Date: ___________________ ________________________________________________________
Thank you for your interest in PAWSitive Impact Agility’s classes. You may attend the one-hour class on either of the following nights: Monday or Thursday. Wednesday night is for Competition Level Agility only. Class times are from 7:00 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. or from 8:00 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. Things to bring:
If you have not mailed them in, please bring:
We believe that agility must be fun for both the dog and the handler and strive to make sure that each step of training is fun. When you arrive at the training site, please feel free to enter the training area and walk you dog around the area on leash. But please DO NOT allow your dog on any of the equipment until your instructor has given you permission. Each week you will be allowed free work time on certain pieces of equipment as you and your dog’s skills develop. Your instructor(s) looks forward to meeting you and your canine companion. If you have any questions, please call and we will be happy to clarify any information. A map (not drawn to scale) to the training site is on the back of this information letter.
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Does my dog need obedience to start agility classes? While basic obedience is helpful for Beginner Agility it isn’t really needed until the intermediate and advance level agility classes. PAWSitive Impact Agility does not require formal obedience to start agility classes. Entry level classes are worked with the dogs on leash to help keep the dogs focused. How old must my puppy be to start agility? PAWSitive Impact Agility allows puppies as young as four months old to start agility training. However, puppies are not allowed to jump obstacles of any height. Beginner Agility Classes are held in their own special ring with special agility equipment designed low, and safe. It is recommended that puppies be allowed to take breaks from agility training after a month or two. This is a wonderful time to schedule obedience lessons! Can my child work our dog in class? PAWSitive Impact Agility welcomes junior handlers as long as a parent is a sideline cheering squad. While not offering child-sitting services PAWSitive Impact Agility is proud to be part of introducing agility to future generations. We have noticed that those junior handlers who stay with agility often become better handlers than a lot of old-timers! What happens of the weather is bad? If classes are unable to be held then PAWSitive Impact Agility notes it in the attendance rooster and you will not be charged for that cancelled class. Attending another class in the same week as a make-up is permitted and is encouraged. How long before we’re ready to compete? On average, most dogs and handlers need at least six months before they are ready to get their feet wet at agility show-n-go’s and matches. These are events that carry no titles, awards or prizes but are a great warm up before actual competition. PAWSitive Impact Agility Instructors have found that teaching the dog the agility obstacles is the easy part. The really tough part of agility training is teaching the handler how to communicate the signals in a timely fashion. As with most things there are exceptions to every general rule of thumb. Some dog/handler teams are not ready nearly that soon and others are ready then or sooner. Can I start more than one Dog at a time? PAWSitive Impact Agility recommends that unless you have already taken a dog though agility classes that you start and focus on one dog at first. Once that dog is in the intermediate level starting the second dog will be a lot easier on everyone. A first time agility handler has lots of new things to learn and since different dog work differently switching back and forth between the dog shortchanges everyone. How can I tell if my dog will like agility? Because PAWSitive Impact Agility starts all of it’s students on equipment that is low and safe we can spend most of our time having fun with our dogs. Training methods that build on positive reinforcements mean that the dog has lots of opportunities to earn rewards such as toys and treats. Why wouldn’t they like agility! New students are also encouraged to visit classes first and watch our training in action. Can both my husband and I work our dog in a class? This really depends on the dog. Some dogs are more responsive to one spouse than the other. If this is the case, then it can be frustrating for both the dog and the handler to maintain focus in the training. If your dog is equally responsive to each of you, then switching back and forth isn’t a problem. Keep in mind though that you will only be given the working opportunities for one dog, not two persons. My dog is six years old. Is that to old for agility? It is almost never too late to start training one’s dog. However, commonsense tells us that if our dog has health problems then care must be taken to assure that the dog is not pushed beyond it’s limits. The older the dog, the more care we must take in maintaining their good health. Please talk with an instructor about any health concerns that you may have for either you or your dog.
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