Foley's Dog Training

02/04/2025

Thank you, Monica, for helping out yesterday! We got the broken jump cups on the older jumps replaced and she cut up the wire fencing to make weave pole guides. Both are projects I’ve had on my to-do list forever. ❤️

02/02/2025

Bryce (R) was the only dog in Skill Building Class today, so I brought out my youngest pup, Laszlo, to share the class with him. They are too cute together. ❤️

02/02/2025

This little cutie patootie is Winnie, a cattle-beagle-chi-etc who moved to the area recently. She took agility classes before but this was her first time trying agility outside. After a bit of sniffing to get comfortable in my yard, she did great! Even got some happy zoomies in at the end. ❤️

02/01/2025

had his first lesson this morning and had a fun time! He wanted to play with the fleece tug, which was gross and wet from being rained on yesterday. 😂

01/23/2025

Miku the Japanese Spitz pounces on the target after running through the tunnel.

I haven’t been able to have outdoor lessons or classes for most of the month. Well, most of 2025, technically. It’s a blessing to have classes to be able to teach indoors. I was planning on my building in Laurel being open by now.

Alas…

01/22/2025

Raffle for a 5-meter Galican agility tunnel and tunnel bags (WITH SHIPPING INCLUDED!). Proceeds benefit Team USA for the competition in Chile -

Support Team USA at the Americas y el Caribbe competition in April 2025! Raffle tickets are for 1 new Galican 5m tunnel and 6 sets of tunnel bags, generously donated by Run It! Ultimate Dog Agility Equipment. Shipping is included if you win! Raffle drawing will be held on Feb 10 2025 at 1pm EST. Pu

01/21/2025

New dog tattoo alert! Added Jadzia and Laszlo to my other arm to complete my lineup of all my dogs, past and present. ❤️ For now, at least. 😆

Thank you for the awesome artwork!

01/04/2025

Agility Trial Fun Fact: Agility dogs jump anywhere from 4" to 24" at competitions.

Every dog is measured before they compete. Your pup's height at the shoulder determines their jump height.

For example, my 3 cocker spaniels range from 13-14" at the shoulder. This puts them in the 12" jump height. In trials, they compete against other dogs jumping 12" (e.g., cockers, shelties, mini poodles, medium-sized terriers, hounds, and doodles).

All organizations have the option to compete at a lower jump height. Why would you want to jump your pup lower than their regular height?

- Older dogs (called "veterans") have lower jump heights so they can continue playing the game as long as they are having fun!
- Dogs who are on the edge between jump heights may be more comfortable jumping the lower of the two heights. For example, if my cockers are even a smidge over 14" they have to jump 16" in AKC. That's too high, so we would opt for Preferred 12".
- Dogs with short legs and long backs (e.g., corgis, dachshunds) are prone to back issues, so it is generally advised that they jump the lowest allowed height in competition.
- Dogs who are THICC (lookin' at you, pittie friends) often opt to jump at a lower height to avoid the wear & tear on their shoulders. (With jumping, it's the landing that is stressful on the body -- and moreso if you are 3 dogs squished into 1 dog worth of space like a neutron star.)

The optional 4" lower jump height class is a different name depending on what venue you are competing in. It's called:

- Preferred (AKC)
- Performance (USDAA)
- Skilled (NADAC)
- Select (UKI)
- Enthusiast (CPE)

There is also an 8" lower jump height class in CPE called Specialist. It's a fantastic way to play the game if your dog is not the biggest fan of the jumps, but loves everything else about agility. ;-)

Got questions? Leave a comment!

01/04/2025

Agility Trial Fun Fact: Agility trials offer some sort of "just for practice/training" runs you can sign up for.

It is called NFC (Not For Competition) or FEO (For Exhibition Only) depending on the venue.

You can bring a toy into the ring with you as long as it does not squeak/crinkle/etc or have a pouch to contain food (even if it's empty). For most venues, the toy cannot leave your hand (so think tug vs. ball). You cannot bring food in the ring as it is a potential distraction for the other dogs.

You will get the maximum course time (usually around 60 seconds) in the ring with your dog. Here are some things you can practice:

- Taking the leash off & putting it back on
- Chasing you around the ring and playing when they catch you!
- Start line stays
- Contact performance (hit that yellow!)
- Teeter practice (you can hold the teeter if your dog needs it!)
- Recalls away from ring crew or judge
- Any sequences of obstacles
- Or just run the course w/o the stress of being judged!

If you think your dog is not ready for trialing yet, entering 1-2 runs a day as NFC/FEO is a great low-pressure way to experience the trial atmosphere. I ran FEO with Laszlo at the last CPE trial and we had a blast doing just the tunnels of the Standard 1 course.

Got questions? I'm happy to help! Leave a comment.

01/04/2025

There are agility trials every weekend this month - most within an hour drive of my house (and maybe yours, too?). If you're curious about agility trials, they are open to the public! You can literally just show up (BYO chair!), plunk yourself down ringside, and watch the trial for as long as you want. It's a great idea for those who are taking agility classes or lessons but aren't sure if they'd be interested in competing. Every venue has a different style of agility and different vibes, so try a few on for size.

01/02/2025

Happy 10th Birthday to my boy Syrio!

ARCHMX Tell-Tail’s First Sword of Braavos

12/31/2024

I am in love. This is Tonic the 9-month-old Saint Bernard. He was sooooo sweet and I wanted to hug him forever and he would have liked that except he also had zoomies to do. What a happy guy. ❤️

12/27/2024

Penny the chocolate lab came for her first agility lesson and had so much fun, she got the zoomies! She loves to work and eat treatos. ❤️

12/27/2024

Found!!!

12/26/2024

Ezra the came by for a Hanukkah photobooth & mini agility lesson. He was a little worried about the tire jump but we still got super cute pics. ❤️

Comment PHOTOBOOTH and I’ll DM you the link to schedule your appointment before the end of the year. :-)

12/21/2024

Nugget and Ollie had the Skill Building class all to themselves this chilly morning! Fun fact: Nugget is 25% Alaskan Malamute and LOVES the cold. His brother Ollie prefers to wear a coat to stay warm. ❤️

12/20/2024

Is there anything more heartwarming than seeing a senior doggo having the BEST time? Luna (age 12.5) doesn’t care that the jump bar is literally on the ground. She just knows she is having fun with her humans and getting to eat cookies. ❤️