Sports Workshops

In-person

Agility/Rally Special: Attention Games

Is your agility or rally dog convinced all other humans & dogs should be their best friend? Do they veer off-course to visit nearby students or dogs? Let’s work together to teach our pups that THEIR human is the best and coolest thing in the world.

In this workshop, you will:

learn to play pattern games to get them excited to look at you
discover your dog’s best warm-up routine
practice easy agility/rally skills in the presence of human and/or dog distractions (your choice!!)
get a few tricks up your sleeve for getting your dog re-engaged when they run off to say hi or sniff
treat your dog like a rock star every time they choose you over the distractions

Note: You will be “working” during other dogs’ turns in the ring. This “work” is very easy!! You will be sitting or standing in the room while another dog is doing agility or rally with their handler. Your job is to ignore that dog, no matter how cute they are and how hard they try to convince you to notice them. The other students will do the same for your dog during your turn.

Prerequisites: Any agility or rally class at any level. Dogs should be comfortable being crated or tethered without their human being visible (or you can bring a second human to keep them occupied).

Agility Special: Learn CPE Agility Games: Colors & Wildcard

Canine Performance Events (CPE) holds regular agility trials in the DC area. It’s the perfect venue for teams new to competing because there are no weaves or teeter in Level 1 and everyone is super supportive of newbies!

In this workshop, you will learn how to play two handling games, Colors and Wildcard.

Colors: There are two short courses available in the ring. Obstacles 1 and 2 are usually the same, but then they veer in opposite directions. Pick ONE course and run it – and hopefully your dog picks the same one!

Wildcard: A Choose Your Own Adventure course that has A (easy) and B (hard) choices in three places. In Level 1, you run the course, choosing two As and one B and avoiding the other options.

Prerequisites: Intermediate Agility or higher. For new-to-YDF students, your dog should be comfortable doing 8-10 obstacles in a row off leash, including A-frame, jumps, and tunnels.

Agility Special: Learn CPE Agility Games: Jackpot & Full House

In this workshop, you will learn how to play two strategy games, Jackpot and Full House.

Jackpot: The first half of Jackpot is a points-accumulation game where you and your dog design your own course and collect points based on the obstacles you complete. In the second half, you and your dog must successfully complete a distance handling challenge. This game is similar to AKC FAST and USDAA Gamblers.

Full House: This is a super fun game where you and your pup invent your own course and collect points based on which obstacles you complete. Learn some tips & tricks for playing the game and some important things to keep in mind so your self-made course is safe for your dog.

Prerequisites: Intermediate Agility or higher. For new-to-YDF students, your dog should be comfortable doing 8-10 obstacles in a row off leash, including A-frame, jumps, and tunnels.

Agility Special: Learn CPE Agility Games: Snooker

In this workshop, you will learn how to play the strategy game Snooker.

This game can be really confusing to learn when you’re at a trial – so come practice it in a low-stakes environment first! You’ll also learn some cues to train to make it easier to score a perfect 51 points. This game is also played in USDAA and UKI agility with slight rule changes.

Prerequisites: Intermediate Agility or higher. For new-to-YDF students, your dog should be comfortable doing 8-10 obstacles in a row off leash, including A-frame, jumps, and tunnels.

Instructor:

E Foley (Foley’s Dog Training)

Fee: $50 per one 60-minute class

Upcoming Classes & Registration

Class fees help support the free programs and services provided by Your Dog’s Friend, a non-profit organization dedicated to educating and supporting dog parents.