| Playing, training or working your dog is incredibly | | | | with Come. |
| rewarding. Dogs are generally friendly, responsive, | | | | Place your dog in a Sit-Stay about 3' from the table, |
| and quick-to-learn. Agility training is a healthy sport for | | | | facing it. Leave your dog in a sit, walk to the other |
| both canine and owner, as it gets you outside and | | | | side of the table, call your dog, "Come Table". |
| active building your bond in the fresh air. We see | | | | When he gets on the table step toward him and |
| dogs of all shapes, sizes, and breeds (including mixed | | | | praise him. This will help prevent him from jumping |
| breeds) come into their own when presented with a | | | | off the table to come to you. Build your dog's |
| bit of agility training. This really is a great way to | | | | distance from the table, move him away from the |
| keep you and your dog fit, physically and mentally. | | | | table in increments, 4', 6', 8', and so on. As your dog |
| The experience of being out of doors, working with | | | | is comfortable coming to you and sitting on the table, |
| "Prince," "Rover," or "Rex" is stimulating, and lets you | | | | the next step is for you to build your distance from |
| experience the immense capacity that dogs have for | | | | the table as you call him to the table. Build your |
| fun and challenge. | | | | distance also in increments. Have your dog sitting 10' |
| Agility is a fun team sport that you and your dog can | | | | from the table, you walk to the other side of the |
| enjoy together. Agility is a combination of Advanced | | | | table about 6' away from the table, call your dog, |
| off-leash obedience, Directional commands, and | | | | "Come Table". Build your distance slowly so that |
| Obstacle familiarization. In order for your dog to | | | | your dog can succeed at staying on the table. |
| have off-leash control to run around a 100' x 100' | | | | Starting from about 3' from the table, with your dog |
| ring, you first want to develop that control on leash. | | | | on leash, you are both facing the table, send your |
| Control behaviors that are beneficial for your dog to | | | | dog to the table by saying, "Go Table". You may |
| have are "Come", "Sit", "Down", and "Stay". Your | | | | need to extend your arm, point or step to toward |
| dog does not have to be perfect at these | | | | the table. Practice this until your dog is able to go |
| commands, but the better he is the more you can | | | | to the table without you having to place him on the |
| accomplish with the actual running and playing of | | | | table. Practice with the dog on both your left and |
| agility. The formal obedience "Heel" on the left side | | | | right side. When the dog is on your left side use |
| is not necessary for agility because you will be | | | | your left arm to point to the table, and when the |
| working with your dog on both your left and right | | | | dog is on your right side point with your right arm. |
| sides. You can develop these behaviors from your | | | | Develop your distance so that you can send your |
| own training or taking classes. There are a multitude | | | | dog easily from 30'. |
| of books on the market on obedience training. | | | | Now, its time to teach the next Directional |
| The main Directional Commands we teach are | | | | Command, "Back". Have your dog on leash again, |
| "Come", "Go" and "Back". Come means approaching | | | | and start from 3' away from the table, but this time |
| and moving to you. Go means you and the dog are | | | | your dog is sitting on the ground facing you with the |
| facing and moving in the same direction and the dog | | | | table behind him. From your dog sitting tell him, |
| moves out ahead of you and keeps going until other | | | | "Back Table". Extend your arm pointing to the table |
| wise directed. Back means the dog turns away | | | | and guide him with the leash if necessary until he |
| from you. This can occur when he is facing you and | | | | understands the new word. Practice sending your |
| turns away or when he is at either your left or right | | | | dog to the table several times using your Left arm, |
| side, and turns away from you. We teach | | | | "Back Table", extending your left arm. Then |
| Directional Commands using a table. For training we | | | | practice with your Right arm pointing to the table, |
| use 12" high agility tables for all dog sizes. First the | | | | "Back Table". When your dog is turning to go to |
| dog must be comfortable jumping up on the table. | | | | the table then start building your distance from the |
| Once he is comfortable on the table, use his Sit-stay | | | | table. These are three very versatile commands |
| or Down-stays on the table. Develop your distance | | | | that you can use and develop on all obstacles and |
| away from him slowly. Release your dog to you | | | | throughout an agility run. |