Classes and Other Offerings:

Thank You for your Interest in Classes at Every-Buddy’s Agility Fun!

What Do You Need To Succeed in Agility?

After almost a decade of study and experience in this sport, we have formulated a system of training that is designed to increase your bond with your dog and bring your team to a more successful experience in Agility. To really succeed in Agility, you need to look at this as a multi-year commitment.

Agility Fundamentals, which include increasing your bond with your dog, need to be in place for long range success before putting your dog on equipment. Our program helps you build your bond while introducing skills that will transfer easily to the equipment when the time is right. You are the key player in how soon your dog will be able to successfully complete course work in Agility. Practice, coupled with your upbeat attitude, will be the reason your dog learns skills quickly or slowly. Naturally, some dogs learn faster than others, but most of your team’s success is based on your motivation and positive attitude, as this just naturally motivates your dog. Dogs love to please!

Please understand it takes patience and time to accomplish the goal of playing in the Agility ring. There are still a few instructors who will put your dog on equipment within two or three classes, before the basic skills are in place. Over the years, your most successful handlers have realized that solid fundamentals are the basic key to Agility!  By the time you realize you have pushed the dog too soon, you are heading into damage control, instead of smooth coursework. It is much more difficult to retrain a dog then to train correctly in the first place, not to mention frustrating for both the dog and handler. As the saying goes: What you learn first, is what you learn best! Be kind to yourself and your dog and enjoy the process. You and your dog will be a much better team.

All dogs need to be around 6 months or older to begin classes, depending on the dog. Prerequisites for classes for you and your dog include a solid recall (come), a good “down” (lie down) and a solid “stay”. If you need help training your dog to do that, we suggest obedience classes and lots of practice, before joining us. We can recommend local trainers.  We encourage you to learn to do some basic play with your dog before you get here, so you can move along in your training, however that is part of what we train here, if you don’t know how to play interactively with your dog.  No dogs that are aggressive toward dogs or people are allowed into classes.  We do work with timid dogs and dogs with space issues as dogs usually gain confidence as they learn their Agility ropes! Dogs in heat are asked to stay home from class during that time.  All breeds and mixed breeds are welcome as long as they are in good health and non-aggressive.

Class sessions are usually 6 weeks long and one hour long each and our year runs basically from August to June with a few short breaks. We do not start new dog classes each session, so if you are interested in that, you may need to be put on a waiting list! Classes are held outside on bark during any weather unless it is below freezing or has snowed. Classes cancelled due to weather are made up by adding time onto classes or scheduling for a different day. During the winter, hot chocolate and tea are provided along with a covered standing area to stand under between your exercises. Classes are stopped during July & August, although students that are signed up for the August session have the benefit of using the Agility field during those two months.

One of the benefits of being a student at  Every-Buddy’s Agility Fun! is that you are encouraged to come to our agility field to practice your training during the week between classes. This benefit is included in your tuition price. We have an extensive video library, as well as a number of magazines and books for your perusal here on site.  We also offer Agility and Dog related workshops or seminars, as well as Fun Runs!

If this sounds like the kind of quality training you would like to have, please contact us. If you are not sure what you need, we can discuss this with you and perhaps meet for an evaluation.  Again, thank you for your interest!!

Please check the calendar for upcoming class dates.  Contact us through our email address at abi8@msn.com or call us at (360) 668-7415 for more information.

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Agility Field Rental:

The Agility Field is available for use at $5 per ½ hour visit if you are a non-student. Please remember to call first! (360) 668 7415

Note: All active students at Every-Buddy's are encouraged to use our agility field for free between classes to practice!  CALL FIRST, please!  (360) 668 7415

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Other events at Every-Buddy's!

We occasionally host Fun Runs, Special Seminars and Workshops on Agility or Agility related subjects throughout the year with outside handlers and specialists. For info on these events click here.

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