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FAQ Categories |
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Can I take a class more than once? Do we still have class in bad weather? If I miss a week of class, can I do a make up class? Can my child take the class with our dog? |
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Are there any prerequisites for the tracking class? How old should my dog be before they begin tracking? What equipment is needed for the class? Do I need obedience training before taking a tracking class? |
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General Information |
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What are dog sports? |
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Dog sports include several activities that people can compete in with their dogs. Some examples would be agility, tracking, flyball, or freestyle. |
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What is your refund policy? |
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If you cancel a class 10 days prior to the class start date we can either refund your money or apply it to a later class. If you need to cancel a class within 10 days to the class start date we will apply that to a later class to be completed within one year. |
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Do you accept credit card payments? |
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If you register for a class on line we will accept credit card payments up to 10 days prior to the start date of the class. After that point registration for the class is closed. Note: We need to receive your payment within 10 days of you registering for a class to confirm your place in the class or it will be opened to other students. |
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Can I bring friends or family members to watch? |
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We love to have spectators come and watch classes and runs, however we ask that they respect the dog's concentration in the ring and not call the dog's name and sit quietly while classes are in session. We find noises and running outside the ring to be distracting for the dogs. |
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Classes and Requirements |
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When are your classes? |
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Our regular agility classes typically are in the evening for one hour, one night a week. Our tracking classes vary by session. To see a calendar of when the next classes are happening click here. To see further descriptions of the classes click here. |
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Can I start with any class? |
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Our classes are designed to follow one another with each class building off the previous class. All students start with Exploring Agility to see if it is something they and their dog would enjoy. For further descriptions of our classes click here. |
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Can I take a class more than once? |
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You are allowed to repeat a class as many times as you feel you need to in order for you to feel comfortable with the material. If you are unsure of your ability level in moving to the next class, talk to your instructor and he or she will be happy to assist you. |
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Do we still have class in bad weather? |
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In severe weather classes will be canceled. Call the phone number to see if classes are canceled. For outdoor classes be sure to call before coming as weather conditions can differ by area of the metro. Tracking classes will be held in the rain, if you are unsure contact your tracking instructor. |
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If I miss a week of class, can I do a make up class? |
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If a class is canceled because of bad weather the instructor will schedule a make up date for that class. If you are unable to make it to a regularly scheduled class there are no make up sessions available, however please come to your next session early so the trainer can go over whatever you missed. |
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Can my child take the class with our dog? |
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We require children under the age of 12 to take a Junior handler obedience class with the dog prior to taking an agility class so they know how to handle the dog properly. After that they are welcome to take the class with their parents present during class time. |
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Why do I need Obedience training for agility classes? |
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An owner needs a certain amount of control over their dog before beginning our agility classes. Because there are several dogs running in a confined space, sometimes off leash, the environment can get exciting and you need to be able to control your dog. |
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Why is there an age limit for my dog in agility? |
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We put an age limit of 12 months or older for all of our classes except Puppy Agility because a dog's bones do not stop growing until 12-18 months. Our training program gradually introduces your dog to contacts and full height equipment to avoid putting more stress on growing bones and joints by introducing large equipment. |
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What is agility? |
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Agility is a team sport where a dog and handler maneuver a planned obstacle course competing against other teams in accuracy and speed. There are several variations on courses from those with just jumps or tunnels to those using all the obstacles. |
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What agility is NOT |
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Though agility does require a certain amount of physical conditioning, it is not a place to let your energetic dog run off his excess energy. You will need to have your dog under control in an excited environment. Also, it is not an environment to try and change aggressive behavior - we can recommend dog behavior schools to address these concerns. |
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Can any breed do agility? |
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Agility is open to any breed or mixed breed of dog. However the dog should be healthy and not aggressive. Some obstacles are changed to accommodate different dog heights, so size is not an issue. Though some breeds take naturally to agility, we work with each individual dog to help them enjoy the sport. |
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What is Tracking? |
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In really simple terms tracking is when your dog follows a scent. For further description of what is covered in our tracking classes see our tracking page. |
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Are there any prerequisites for the tracking classes? |
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There are no class or age prerequisites for the tracking classes. Because the class is outdoors and with other dogs. we do require that you have your dog on preventative medications such as flea and tick control and heartworm and other parasite preventatives. Your dog will be on leash at all times in this class, even when tracking. |
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How old should my dog be before he or she begins tracking? |
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There is not age limit to begin training your dog to track. As long as a dog is physically able to handle long walks they will be fine. For puppies we can modify the training to keep it shorter. |
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What breed of dogs can track? |
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All breeds can track. Some are better equipped with a longer snout while others may be hindered with a short snout – either way they can follow a scent trail in ways we as humans will never be able to do. |
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What equipment is needed for the class? |
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For the first week just a buckle collar, 6 ft leash, 3 flags, piece of cloth and leather the size of a glove to use as articles, watch, clipboard and great treats. After the first week of class you will need to have at least three more flags, a fitted harness, a 40 foot tracking rope with a clip to attach to the dogs harness, a vest, carpenters apron or something to carry your gear and treats. It will also be more enjoyable if you have comfortable clothes and shoes or boots as you will spend a lot of time walking. We will have class regardless of weather and you need to practice in all types of weather – this is how you and your dog learn. If you decide to go on and test you will have no control over the weather on that particular day! |
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Do I need obedience training before taking a tracking class? |
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No - dogs will be on lead during the entire class time and only need to be able to use their noses! |
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How do I know when I am ready to compete? |
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This question is best to ask your trainer, as the answer differs for every dog and human. We do have a document about what to expect at your first agility trial on our resources page. |
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Do you offer private lessons? |
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We do offer private lessons on agility topics. Please send us an email with your request for more information. We also will have specialty classes on specific topic areas like weave poles or the teeter. |
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