The classes I am taking start every dog with 12 full weeks of strictly handling classes and 2 on-2 off contacts. ~16 weeks before the dogs jump and 18 weeks before they are doing full height contacts. It’s excellent foundation training for both dog and handler. I imagine it would keep experienced handlers sharp on their skills as well. 4 out of 6 of the dogs in my beginner class are being handled by people who are competing or have competed other dogs. The club trains and competes UKC, AKC, CPE, TDAA, UKI and USDAA and is licensed for UKC, AKC, CPE and TDAA trials. Maybe looking for these accreditations in the trainer or clubs background would help find the kind of instruction you are looking for. How far are you able to drive? Would it help to expand your search?
[QUOTE=TBFAN;8792883]
This is helpful, thanks! So much I don’t know, and don’t feel like I’m learning where I’m at.
Does NADAC or USDAA have breed restrictions? Does AKC have a non-purebred agility classes?
My dog is jumping 12" right now, but is approximately 23" so could go higher. We’re keeping the heights low to work on accuracy.[/QUOTE]
NADAC, USDAA, and CPE don’t have breed restrictions, and, as other folks have mentioned, AKC has allowances for “All American” dogs - they run with (and compete against) the purebreds. Whether or not All Americans are allowed to compete in AKC trials is a decision left to the individual clubs. I’ve only seen a couple of clubs that have excluded All Americans, but it’s something to be aware of if you have a muttly dog. (The exceptions there are single breed specialty competitions, which can be limited to dogs of that breed (or group - there’s a Terrier only trial up in PA in the fall) and the occasional trial that specifies that specific breeds may not enter because they have a breed-restricted specialty taking place on the same day in the same general area - kind of rare, but it can happen.) TMI, probably, but worth knowing.
As far as jump height - I think other folks have covered it pretty well - individual venues have different rules about jumping over or under a dog’s measured height. It would be worth it for you, OP, to try to get an accurate measurement on your dog - as an example, in AKC, if he’s truly 23" he’ll have to jump at least 20" (if you elect to run him at Preferred (1 jump height down from his actual measurement). If he’s only 22" tall, you can jump him at his regular height of 20" or drop him to Preferred and run him at 16".
That said, you might want to start training him at 20" - you’ll probably find that it’s a little easier for you as a handler, because the 20" height is going to make him be a bit more careful in his jumping style (and by extension a little slower) - at 12", he’s basically doing speed bumps. At 4yo, he should be physically capable of doing his “measured” jump height, and it’s important that he be conditioned to jump what he needs to in competition. Agility (AKC at least) is not like an equine event where you can have a rail/bar and still win or place - dropped bar=NQ.
Another training option for you might be to see if you can take some private lessons with one of the instructors where you train, so you can focus on handling and coursewalking skills (which would be a great way to break up a long lesson - you can work the whole hour, but your dog probably should get a break). You might even find it worth it to take privates with somebody who’s farther away on a less frequent basis - quality of instruction over quantity.
You also mentioned something about a third location where the agility area is really small? You might go back there and ask if they do any handling classes - you really don’t need a huge space to do good work - you just need to use the space available. (And it is VERY helpful to teach your fast dog to work close and precise - just like with the horses, there are times when the accurate “ride” is more successful than the fast one.
For some trials/organizations - the local trials are put on by local clubs. Some clubs may participate in putting on trials for more than one organization.
Try this: The various organizations usually have event calendars up on their websites (which I will link below). And if you get a trial premium, there is generally a club name and some contact information for that local club. Folks there may know where the really good training classes are. Also, the websites will publish the rules for their agility trials, which may help you decide which organization is better suited for you and your dog, when you get to showing.
This may also help you figure out which organizations have trials in your area most often.
NADAC:
http://www.nadac.com/trial-calendar.htm
CPE:
http://www.k9cpe.com/events.htm
USDAA:
https://www.usdaa.com/events.cfm
UKC:
http://www.ukcdogs.com/Upcoming.nsf/CertainView?Open&Group=DogEvents&Events=AGIL
Thanks LauraO!
What is a “trial premium”?
[QUOTE=TBFAN;8794646]
Thanks LauraO!
What is a “trial premium”?[/QUOTE]
Prize list
Gonna hop in here and answer for LauraO -
This is a trial premium: http://www.ntxagility.com/index_htm_files/RedDirt-Sept-2016-Premium.pdf
It’s basically the entry form, but has all the information one needs to know about entering the trial - where, when, judges, which classes are offered, who’s providing the equipment, what kind of facility is it, cost of entries, first (opening)and last (closing) days that entries can be accepted - AKC trials are always (in my experience) pre-entry only, no day of trial, although some other venues may allow them - and so on.
After the entry period ends (the closing date), and usually one to two weeks before the trial itself, a judging schedule will be sent out (via email) that gives you additional information about the trial, like start times, order of classes, and things like the hours the site will be open. (These things may not be locked in until the trial secretary knows the total number of entries and how they break out into the different classes.)
Judging schedule supercedes any information in the premium - so it’s very important to review it - people have missed walkthroughs (and runs) because they didn’t check the schedule, and planned their arrival based on the premium!
OH! And each organization will have it’s own registration process - your dog will need a number that they use to keep track of qualifying runs and titles. You may also need a number, depending on organization.
Fees for this are generally pretty nominal ($10 - $25), so if you are used to USDF / USEF etc, it will seem REALLY cheap!
Each organization also has it’s own way of getting that information and collecting the fee, and some of them can take a few weeks to process. So when you are ready to trial, be sure you factor that in to entering your first trial, whichever organization or organizations you try out.
Can some experienced agility peeps weigh in, please?
I compete regularly in AKC and CPE agility with larger dogs (St. Poodles). You have been given lots of great advice here by everyone, things I would have said to you as well. Both venues have pros and cons in my mind, but I enjoy each of them so like to do both.
However, this part of one of your posts “I entered the more advanced class after an initial assessment, and they don’t walk any courses, they just send you out in the middle of the ring and expected us to complete a course of 15 jumps” would certainly make be be looking for a new place to train.
I’ve trained at several different clubs over the years, taken privates with various trainers and attended a number of seminars. We ALWAYS walk the course before we run, in training and at trials. I’ve never been told to just go out in the ring and start doing the course. How could you possibly know where you are going next or even begin how to handle your dog on the course, prepare for contact obstacles, correct entry into, weaves, whatever. It would be like taking a horse into a ring full of jumps without walking it first and being told to just go out and jump all the jumps.
^ Yes, Townsend, that’s how I feel too! I have asked several times about walking the courses at this school and am told it will “come later”. I’m not happy about that at all, because we need that info now!
At the previous school, the UKC one, we walked every course first, with explanations. It was one of the things I really liked about it. Even though they don’t focus on distance work at all.
Thanks everyone for the advice! One last question - what are opinions on continuing to train at more than one place at once? Is it a detriment to our training?
I could keep going to the UKC school for course walking, and the AKC/NADAC for distance work, even though their teaching styles and focus are somewhat different.
I really appreciate you guys helping out a newbie 
You can’t ever know enough, get as much on the ground experience from all places you can find some, other than outright goofy stuff that is not helping you or your dog, of course.
The more cross training you do, the more “good” training you and your dog experience, the netter both of you will be in the end.
Our AKC licensed performance dog club has a whole set of instructors of all kinds and all complement each other, the strictly clicker training ones, the more traditional ones, there is something for everyone.
Then we also have some very advanced members, some class instructors also, that also give private lessons.
Just be sensible where you and your dog are and do what is fun, but don’t overdo it.
The more you learn, the better you will be at making your own path.
Don’t forget to have fun!
[QUOTE=TBFAN;8798454]
what are opinions on continuing to train at more than one place at once? Is it a detriment to our training?
I could keep going to the UKC school for course walking, and the AKC/NADAC for distance work, even though their teaching styles and focus are somewhat different.[/QUOTE]
What is your answer if the topic was horses? Mine is diversify! Each instructor has different strengths.
I also want my coaches to be receiving coaching. The courses evolve, some more than others depending on venue, so the instructors need to know what’s current.
Generally speaking, I’d agree that training with two clubs should be fine. My caveat would be that you may need to be ready to “stand your ground” with one or the other if the training philosophies diverge.
As an example, I was “homeschooling” one of my dogs for agility while taking a mid-level Rally class with him - Rally class instructor started introducing jumping, using her method, which is different than how I teach my dogs - I have enough history with this instructor that I was able to say, “No, GoofyDog isn’t ready to jump yet”, so we were excluded from those activities (and homework) - we actually got a printed out list of homework one night and it said “Jumping (except GoofyDog)” - no skin off my nose, because I was getting what I wanted out of the class - just be aware that you may have an experience like that as well. If you just stick to what’s best for your dog, you’ll be fine.
It is possible that you could encounter some folks who aren’t OK with you training elsewhere - a friend trains with someone who uses a very specific handling system, and I don’t know that her instructor would be very happy with her if she started doing things that are outside that system - but it works for them.
Along with coaches continuing their education by training with other people, I also think agility coaches should be competing, too - it’s a pretty dynamic sport, and I want to know that whoever I’m training with is current in their understanding of it.
Our club also puts on seminars and go to other club’s seminars to learn more and train under different eyes.
If you are working with any group, you should find out when they have seminars or are going to some and try that also.
Sue Ailsby was, when she used to travel, be a very well received instructor:
So was Pat McConnell, but she was more of a general instructor’s instructor, learning theory her field and dog handler teacher for vets and vet assistants:
You mentioned that you had tried Susan Garrett’s online classes, but had trouble keeping up. If you are in an area with a real dearth of good agility instructors (and some areas certainly are), but you have space and equipment to practice on your own, I would definitely suggest looking at some other online options as well. I’ve taken classes from four different online “schools”, and all seem to serve people with different needs. Susan Garrett’s stuff was not a good fit for me. Too much information too fast, and the lack of feedback (since I couldn’t afford the Inner Circle expenses) meant it was really easy for me to give up. I’ve had better luck with Agility University, Fenzi Dog Sports Academy, and most especially Data Driven Agility. DDA is the one that suited me the best, due to the way feedback is offered and the speed at which the class moves.
My area has basically one school, which wasn’t a good fit for my younger dog. I do online classes, and supplement those with in-person lessons about once a month from an instructor about 3 hours away. It’s not ideal, but it’s the best solution I’ve got.
Yes, exactly - I love Susan Garrett’s theories, I just cannot keep up with all of it and feel like I’m falling behind. Its frustrating, as I wish there were options that good locally and I don’t want to waste this money that I’ve spent, but I fear that’s whats happening with the online content.
I have also heard good things about Fenzi, so I will look into those other options - I did not know what else was out there. Thanks!
There are a lot of responses that I haven’t read thoroughly so I’m sure you’ve gotten great advice already! I train with a mostly NADAC handler, which works well for a fast dog (I have slow small dogs, but we adapt). NADAC does a lot of distance work because their courses tend to be bigger and more open, so that sounds like something that might work well for you. The Chances courses in NADAC and the Jackpot courses in CPE are both distance challenges.
I like both NADAC and CPE for their emphasis on dog safety and fun–I especially like the rubberized contacts, which seem a lot safer. People have been very friendly at the NADAC and CPE trials I’ve been to. I’d like to try a UKC trial at some point, since there are some about an hour and a half away. I have dachshunds, so we don’t move too fast, and USDAA and AKC seemed a little too competitive and fast for us.
Oh, check out Lisa Bonker. She does NADAC and has a lot of online courses and videos, especially on distance. She’s great–I took a conditioning clinic with her a while ago that was really helpful, and I love when she or her husband Dwayne judge at our trials; they’re both awesome.
