Fenzi Dog Sports Academy - AG120: Agility Basics 2

Course Details

This course builds on the agility handling moves we learned in AG110: Intro to Agility. Now we will begin to put these handling maneuvers into small sequences using combinations of 3 jumps and a tunnel. We will also further refine the handling process to your individual dog so you can understand what your dog needs on these courses.

Teaching Approach

Lectures are released in one batch on the first day of each week. They are a combination if written lectures ((bullet points/steps) and video demonstrations.

As you are working through these drills, you will be required to step towards obstacles and move away from obstacles. The ability to throw rewards if needed is also an advantage. While the lectures assume an able-bodied handler and a dog who is interested in food or toys, Loretta is highly flexible for students at the Gold Level and will also try to accomodate as much as possible for Silver. Loretta is happy to make adjustments based on the team's needs. Please ask for modifications if needed.

Feedback is provided using a timestamp, and description of what is being talked about in the video submission. An example of this is below:

0:35 when you stepped forwad with your right foot, your foot was not pointing to the jump, but it was turned 90 degrees. That is why your dog did not send to the jump. Please rotate your foot clockwise (to the right) approx 6 inches so it is facing the jump bar.

0:55 here you did a LOVELY job moving off that forward send. That is just how I want it to look! WELL DONE!

This class will have a Teacher's Assistant (TA) available in the Facebook study group to help the bronze and silver students! Directions for joining that Facebook group will be in the classroom after you register.

Instructor: Loretta Mueller

Loretta Mueller (she/her) has been involved in agility since 2003 with her first rescue dog, Ace. Since then she has been involved in a variety of dog training activities including USBCHA herding, competitive obedience, rally obedience, and service dog training. In 2007, Loretta...(Click here for full bio and to view Loretta's upcoming courses)

Syllabus

View Full Syllabus

We will be using a MOTION BASED SYSTEM in this handling class.

Week 1-Serpentines and Threadles In Course Work. Discussing walking courses effectively.

Week 2-Introducing the Tunnel!!!! Discriminations in Agility: How to recognize them! How to handle them! (THIS IS WHERE THE TUNNEL WILL BE USED!!!!) Tailoring Collection Cues For Your Individual Dog.

Week 3-Building Committment to get further down the line in courses. Introduction to Mental Management, Introduction to Fancy Turn #1.

Week 4-Lead Outs: How? Why? Where? Introduction to Fancy Turn #2.

Week 5-Smooth Transitions between Extension and Collection.

Week 6-Finding the Best Handling for YOUR team! Looking at Options.

Prerequisites & Supplies

View all Prerequisites & Supplies

Prerequisite: AG110 or permission from the instructor. You can purchase the lecture-only option of the prerequisite class from our Prerequisites Purchase Page. It is very important that you have worked on the exercises through AG110.

Equipment: MINIMUM EQUIPMENT: 3 jumps and one tunnel (used for discriminations and teaching of the tunnel). One of the 3 jumps needs to have wings. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A TUNNEL, but you have another piece of agility equipment (examples are tire, table, dogwalk, aframe, teeter, weaves) that your dog is capable of performing, you may use that for the discrimination exercises in Week 2.

Optional equipment: Get creative :-)

Sample Lecture

This lecture will be discussing getting distance on courses and what you need in regards to commitment to obstacles to allow you to handle to your best abilities! I like to combine these because to me they are very connected. The commitment ALLOWS you to get the distance needed. This distance allows you to get you further down the line on courses. I need my dogs to have good distance and stay committed to the obstacles so I can show them the next line!

What is distance? Distance is a numerical description of how far apart objects are. In this instance, I am thinking in terms of how far you are from the obstacle.

What is commitment? The state or quality of being dedicated to a cause, activity, etc. In this instance, I am talking about your dog instantly staying dedicated to an obstacle once it is cued.

Can you see how these two things are closely related? So as we build distance (the ability for the dog to go to an obstacle) we are also building that commitment (the dog staying dedicated while you move onto other places on course).

When we are working distance/commitment, we want to make sure we are not staring at our dogs, this is the first thing we as humans want to do. You want to always look where you want your dog to go! And if your feet, chest and arms were important before, they are REALLY important now :)

Commitment/Distance is important for high drive/fast dogs why? It allows us to get further down stream on the course so we don't get behind and end up doing "reactive handling" versus what we are doing here which is "proactive handling".

Commitment/Distance is important for lower drive/slower dogs why? It allows us to DRIVE our dogs through the courses. Once the dogs realize that we will be playing CHASE, they will run faster, we will be there to keep them going and show them the course most effectively.

Testimonials & Reviews

Read All Testimonials

A sampling of what prior students have said about this course ...

If you want to build a strong agility foundation or are looking to review and strengthen your existing foundation, look no further than the Agility 110 and 120. The classes are packed full of material that will allow you to build a solid knowledge base. Loretta has a keen eye for details and the ability to critique your work with a critical eye. Her evaluations are always both helpful (with lots of suggestions) encouraging. For me personally, the changes I have seen in my dog are nothing short of brilliant. I can not wait to continue our agility journey with Loretta as both our mentor and cheerleader.

Absolutely amazing to realize what you can learn about teaching skills and handling moves under the watchful eye of Loretta. Everybody made incredible progress and learned detailed and technical skills that go way beyond basics.

What a fantastic journey through all the essentials of agility. Incredibly clear and detailed instructions and the feedback is simply incredible. Second-by-second you know exactly what went right and what went wrong. Being able to replay those moments and compare with the comments is an incredible way to learn. Just love these courses! Mary Ann

I can't say enough good things about this class. I have learned so much more than I ever thought possible in such a short time. Loretta's is an incredible teacher. Her attention to detail and support of her students is beyond measure. I would recommend this class to anyone interested in exploring the sport of agility as well as anyone who wants to advance their current skill set. Christine Y.

Loretta is over the top fantastic!! My only regret, which I knew when I enrolled, is that because of travel plans, etc, I knew that I would not be able to keep up at gold level, so I enrolled at bronze, and - as expected, couldn't begin to keep up. But I'm back home now and plan to do as much as I can on my own, and to try for gold next time it is offered, or maybe enter my puppy in Ag 1 this summer and do 2 with my older dog in the fall. I would recommend ANY course that Loretta teaches! And I am totally addicted to Fenzi courses. More and more appealing classes are being offered such that it is a matter of how much can I take on at one session. Can't wait for May 22 to sign up for the next session!!

Loretta was absolutely amazing in both AG110 and AG120. We are doing things I never thought my dogs could do. But given the right information, they are flying through the sequences.

This class is amazing. I am doing things in the AG series in a matter of months that it would have taken me years to learn. The feedback at gold is play by play so that you can see exactly your strengths and weaknesses, as well as your corrective steps. The material is fantastic..both written and full speed and slo mo video. Loretta is fast to make supplemental materials even on topics not explicitly covered in the course. Loretta invests an unbelievable amount of time into her students. Thanks! Tanya M.

Loretta Mueller is incredibly responsive to students' performance and training concerns. Her curriculum has breadth and depth, yet lessons are presented in easy-to-understand steps. I can't say enough about her. Carol B

Just can't put into words how much Loretta puts into her classes!! The second-by-second analysis with exactly what is and what is not working, or why the dog responded one way versus another is absolutely invaluable!!! She brings SOO much enthusiasm to an online classroom! ~Briana F.

Registration

There are no scheduled sessions for this class at this time. We update our schedule frequently, so please subscribe to our mailing list for notifications.

Registration opens at 9:30am Pacific Time.

AG120 Subscriptions

	Gold	Silver	Bronze
Tuition	$ 260.00	$ 130.00	$ 65.00
Enrollment Limits	10	25	Unlimited
Access all course lectures and materials	✔	✔	✔
Access to discussion and homework forums	✔	✔	✔
Read all posted questions and answers	✔	✔	✔
Watch all posted videos	✔	✔	✔
Post general questions to Discussion forum	✔	✔	✖
Submit written assignments	✔	✖	✖
Post dog specific questions	✔	With video only	✖
Post videos	✔	Up to 2	✖
Receive instructor feedback on	Questions All videos	Questions All videos	✖

Find more details, refund policies and answers to common questions in the Help center.

Webinars

AG120: Agility Basics 2

Course Details

Teaching Approach

Gold

Silver

Bronze