Dog Agility in Seattle!!

We are thrilled to be able to finally offer agility at Ahimsa in Seattle, in our brand new 3100 square foot space in Ballard! Ali Johnson, CPDT-KA is our instructor.

These classes will prepare you for competition, but they're also a lot of fun, even if you don't plan on competing. If you want an even more fun-focused class, with sports other than agility, check out our Backyard Sports & Agility class.

Click the links for registration information or read below to compare the classes.

• Control Unleashed* 1 & 2 - for some rock-solid focus work
  
• Agility 1 - Introduction
• Agility 2 - Obstacles & Handling
• Agility 3 - Patterns & Proofing
• Agility 4 - Competition Prep
• Practice & Play Space Rental - by yourself, with friends, with or without equipment. So many uses!

CONTROL UNLEASHED (Series class)

Do you envision taking your dog to off leash dog parks or off leash hiking, but your dog bolts at the first opportunity? Are you interested in pursuing dog sports such as agility or flyball? If so, Control Unleashed may be the perfect fit! Exercises focus on building your connection and training relationship with your dog to ensure that you stay connected whether the leash is there or not. Class is modeled on the book “Control Unleashed” by Leslie McDevitt.
Prerequisite: Advanced Manners or instructor permission. Prerequisite classes must have been taken at Ahimsa, otherwise instructor permission is required. (dog demonstrates fluency in name response/watch, sit, down, stay (6 feet), recall (25 feet with calm dog as distraction), leash manners/casual heel, and leave it all with another calm dog present at a distance of about 10 feet. Ideally, the dog would have some understanding of a go to rug and at least one trick, but this is not required. Handler is comfortable using the clicker, is proficient at reward delivery, and does not rely on any type of correction to handle the dog through the above exercises.)

CONTROL UNLEASHED 2 (Series Class)

This class is a continuation of Control Unleashed, and targets each dog's specific training goals and/or challenges. Whether your dog's weakness is tennis balls, food, doggie playmates or human attention, we will design and execute a training program to reward them for choosing to work with you instead of succumbing to temptation. Dogs who are worried or reactive will be gently and gradually taught that choosing their handler is a safe and rewarding choice. Class is modeled on the book "Control Unleashed" by Leslie McDevitt.
Prerequisite: Control Unleashed group class

AGILITY 1: INTRODUCTION (Series Class)

Team up with your dog to learn how to navigate obstacle courses together! Agility is a great way to build confidence in a shy dog or to focus the energy of an exuberant dog. Obstacles introduced include jumps, tunnels, and the table. Handling exercises introduce sends, calls, post turns, and front crosses. Dogs must be at least one year old when class begins.  Prerequisite: Instructor permission (Instructor permission requires a 15 minute meeting with the instructor to complete the Agility Entrance Skills Assessment.

The Agility Entrance Skills Assessment has four parts: a 30 second off leash stay with you at a distance of 1-2 feet, a 30 second off leash casual heel/moving attention, a 30 foot recall and a 15 foot sit or down stay. For the first two items, I will be playing tug with my dog as a distraction, and we will get within 6 to 10 feet of you and your dog. These first two parts are to simulate what it is like to wait your turn in class when another team is performing a high energy exercise. The third part is to simulate what it is like when you dog takes a turn and must perform the exercise off leash without running to greet the other dogs in class. For the recall, my dog will be tethered or crated within 6 to 10 feet of your dog’s recall path. The final item is to ensure that your dog has enough training to perform a longer distance stay and demonstrates the ability to begin startline, pause table, and contact training. You are allowed and encouraged to use treats, toys and praise throughout the assessment! If your dog breaks concentration once or twice and is easily recalled back to you, they may still pass the assessment; I’m just trying to ensure that agility class will be fun and that you’ll get to spend the time doing agility training rather than chasing your dog and working on a sit stay.

AGILITY 2: OBSTACLES AND HANDLING (Ongoing Class)

Continue to strengthen the skills learned in Agility 1 as well as introduce your dog to the weave poles, teeter, Aframe, and dogwalk. Handler exercises introduce rear crosses and sequencing. Agility 2 increases in difficulty each session for returning students and is intended to be taken repeatedly until students are ready for Agility 3. Prerequisite: Agility 1: Introduction (teams who started agility training elsewhere: dog fluidly commits to and performs tunnels, jumps, and the table. Dog understands either a nose or paw touch to a contact plate and can leave the handler to touch one at a distance of about 10 feet from the handler. Handler has some experience with front crosses and post turns, but may not yet be comfortable deciding where to place them in a sequence.)

AGILITY 3: PATTERNS AND PROOFING (Ongoing Class)

Challenge your dog’s knowledge of the obstacles and handling cues learned in Agility 2. This class improves dog/handler teams’ ability to work smoothly together in motion. Agility 3 increases in difficulty each session for returning students and is intended to be taken repeatedly until students are ready for competition handling classes. Prerequisite: Instructor permission (dog has progressed through weave training to a channel of no more than about 3 inches, or is in the process of fading wires, is comfortable running full length contacts and may have faded a target plate or hoop, has progressed through teeter training to about half of full height. Handler is comfortable walking sequences and can easily find and execute at least two crosses in a sequence.

AGILITY 4: COMPETITION PREP (Ongoing Class)

An agility competition preparation class for students whose dogs are proficient on all obstacles, including the weave poles, teeter, and contacts. Handlers should be comfortable with sequences requiring a minimum of two crosses. Sequences will be offered each week to improve handling strategy and execution.  Prerequisite: Instructor permission (dog is proficient on all obstacles, handler is comfortable with front crosses, rear crosses and post turns. Team is ready to compete or already competing)

* Our Control Unleashed classes are based on the exercises in the book, "Control Unleashed: Creating a Focused and Confident Dog" by Leslie McDevitt