Bright Agility Academy

09/07/2024

Summer Specialty Classes! I have a few openings coming up for my limited 4 week specialty classes this Summer - mornings only, starting the week of July 29th - come join us! Tricks, Foundation, Weave proofing, a little something for everyone. If you're interested in signing up, drop me a line (and if the class you're interested in is full, let me know and I'll put you on the waitlist - sometimes things open up!)

MONDAY:
8am: Beginning Jump Grids (FULL)

9am: Advanced Jumping Grids (FULL)

10am: Sport Dog Foundation

11am: Weavepole Proofing

TUESDAY:
8am: Weavepole Proofing (FULL)

9am: Tricks for All Dogs

10am: Tricks for All Dogs

11am: Advanced Trick Challenges (FULL)

THURSDAY:
8am: Mastering Distance (FULL)

9am: Distance Challenges (FULL)

10:30am: All the Crosses (FULL)

SUNDAY: Privates
8am-12pm

Summer Specialty classes will run 4 weeks from July 29th through August 22nd ($175), private lessons are $120/hr.

BEGINNING JUMP GRIDS
Teaching the foundations of jumping using simple grids and exercises to teach your dog to learn to proper jump form, judge distances and to collect appropriately. This class is for dogs new to jumping (8 months or older) or more experienced dogs going back to basics. We will start with small exercises that can be worked on at home and build on the grids weekly with increasing complexity. Young dogs will use low jumps and stride regulators, adult dogs will eventually add height to the exercises.

ADVANCED JUMP GRIDS
For dogs that are familiar and comfortable with basic grids and jumping challenges, these exercises are meant to challenge and proof more experienced jumping dogs. For mature adult dogs that have been introduced to grids and foundation exercises already. Exercises will increase in difficulty as the class progresses.

SPORT DOG FOUNDATION
All the fun stuff to get your dog started in agility, or any dog sport! Using station rotations we'll look at introducing foundation exercises to get your started on the right foot with working with you. We will look at play, finding your dog's best rewards, reward control, focus, problem solving, tricks, body awareness, flatwork, introducing sound/motion, engagement and more! Appropriate for any age, dogs MUST be non-reactive, this is a group class where all dogs will be working at the same time (on leash!).

WEAVEPOLE PROOFING
Getting the weavepoles you've always wanted! Entries! Exits! Independence! Proofing! This class will use primarily channel weaves and 2x2s and focus on building confidence and independence into all pieces of the weaves

TRICKS for ALL DOGS
Come learn about ALL the tricks! This class will cover a wide variety of tricks of all types and different methods of training them. Every week will cover a multitude of different tricks on a different theme. This is a great class for puppies or adults, perfect for teaching your dog how to learn, and helping more experienced dogs really find the fun in learning new behaviors.

ADVANCED TRICK CHALLENGES
My favorite class - let's just train for the fun of it! For dogs and handlers that love to problem solve to teach new behaviors. Your dog doesn't need to have all the tricks, but rather an interest in developing a working relationship with your dog to train new behaviors and behavior chains. Every year the challenges are different, what will this year bring (it's a surprise!)?

MASTERING DISTANCE
Just because you can't run doesn't mean you can't have a fast and successful agility dog! We will be looking at developing handling and dog skills to teach your dog to move at a distance from you and get to where you need to be on course. We will be focusing on independent handling, starting with flatwork and moving into jumps and tunnels (contacts will not be covered). There will be weekly homework that should be able to be done with pedestals/cones/buckets for those without equipment at home. Appropriate for dogs trained on jumps and tunnels, both beginners and more experienced dogs.

DISTANCE CHALLENGES
Do you have distance and want to see what you can do with it? All new class looking at different distance challenges every week! Gambles! Layering! Handler restrictions! This will be a lot of fun, and we'll set the dogs up for success so you can feel even more confident with your distance handling by the end of the course

ALL THE CROSSES
Perfecting your timing and placement for all the crosses! Do you struggle with certain types of crosses? Fear them no more as we focus on a different cross every week. Let's master all the types of blinds, fronts and rears so you and your dog feel confident with your timing and placement. Appropriate for young dogs or more experienced dogs (exercises will vary depending on level)

20/06/2024

While there are always fun things to celebrate in agility, big and small - it's been a month of very big milestones around here! Congratulations to Agility Grand Champion Blast and Jan! Teddy and Terry got their MACH! Taco and Linda got their MACH! And two very accomplished dogs retired from agility this month, which is always bittersweet after a lifetime of agility adventures - we will miss seeing both Rylee and Tesla every week, two absolutely amazing dogs!

27/05/2024

I have an opening in an Intermediate Agility class on Tuesdays at 10am in Hopewell starting this week. If you think your dog might be the right fit, contact me for more info! (Thank you, this spot has been filled - contact me to be put on a waitlist if you're looking for a class!)

06/04/2024

**This class has been filled, contact me if you'd like to be put on the waitlist!**

I have an opening in my 6pm Competition Agility class on Tuesdays in Hopewell starting this week - contact me if you're interested! (Where we can only hope it won't be snowing!)

17/02/2024

Getting ready for classes to resume next week - so pretty! I did end up with an opening for Intermediate Agility on Tuesdays at 1pm in Hopewell. We'll be putting together contacts, beginning weavepoles and continuing short sequences ❤️ **This class has filled - contact me to be added to the waitlist for classes**

12/02/2024

**This class has filled - contact me to be added to the waitlist for classes**

I had a spot open up in my Thursday 9am-10:30am Intermediate Agility class in Hopewell starting February 22nd, looking at refining obstacle performance, proofing weavepoles and contacts, and more complex sequences and skills. Contact me for more info!

(Powder photo by Carol Wolfram!)

08/02/2024

My next set of classes starts the week of February 19th!

**Thank you, this class has been filled!**

I have a Competition class opening available on Tuesdays at 6:30pm in Hopewell. This class is appropriate for dogs that are fluent with all obstacles, have commitment and sequencing skills and focusing on challenging courses, skills and proofing (dogs are not required to be actively competing to be in this class). Let me know if you're interested in joining!

The updated schedule for 2024 is on the website as well, if you're interested in joining the waitlist for a class, contact me :-)

And, yes, I am going to try to put on some fun matches in Hopewell this year - I'll send out more information when I decide on some dates ...

(Powder Photo by Carol Wolfram!)

27/12/2023

Last call for Winter Specialty classes! I have a couple spots left for Whirlwind Foundation this January, and this will be the last Foundation class I offer until next Summer. 4 week class on Tuesdays at 10am and 11am starting January 8th in Hopewell - great for puppies, adults and everything in-between ;-)

BTW: If you're still interested in another class that is full, I'd highly recommend joining the waitlist, things always seem to happen between now and the start of classes!

MONDAY (4 week classes starting Jan 8th)
10am: International Skills (FULL)
11:30am: International Drills (FULL)
1pm: Contact Problem Solving and Proofing (FULL)
2pm: Weave Proofing (FULL)

TUESDAY (4 week classes starting Jan 9th)
10am: Whirlwind Foundation
11am: Whirlwind Foundation
12pm: All the Tricks! (FULL)
1pm: Advanced Tricks for Awesome Dogs (FULL)
2pm: All the Tricks! (FULL)

THURSDAY (4 week classes starting Jan 11th)
10am: Young Dog Sequencing (FULL)
11:30am: Advanced Young Dog Sequencing (FULL)
1pm: Mastering Distance (FULL)

10/12/2023

Bright Agility Academy Winter Specialty Classes are open for general registration! During January I'll be offering some fun daytime classes down in Hopewell, 4 week sessions from Jan 8th through Feb 2nd. Some classes are full with current students, but if you're interested in a class that is full, ask to be put on the waitlist - a lot can happen between now and then! To sign up or for more information, message me!

MONDAY (4 week classes starting Jan 8th)
10am: International Skills
11:30am: International Drills (FULL)
1pm: Contact Problem Solving and Proofing (FULL)
2pm: Weave Proofing

TUESDAY (4 week classes starting Jan 9th)
10am: Whirlwind Foundation
11am: Whirlwind Foundation
12pm: All the Tricks! (FULL)
1pm: Advanced Tricks for Awesome Dogs (FULL)
2pm: All the Tricks!

THURSDAY (4 week classes starting Jan 11th)
10am: Young Dog Sequencing (FULL)
11:30am: Advanced Young Dog Sequencing
1pm: Mastering Distance

INTERNATIONAL SKILLS: Working on specific international challenges, small 1-4 obstacle skill exercises to work on increasing independence and fluency of skills like pushes, all types of threadles, serpentines, discriminations, verbal cues and other more advanced skills. Appropriate for any level, both advanced and beginner. Depending on the dogs, we may use a station set up for maximum floor time. 4 week class, $160

INTERNATIONAL DRILLS: For those with advanced international skills, we'll be looking at challenging drill set ups for proofing trained skills through complex exercises (instructor approval needed for registration). 4 week class, $160

CONTACT PROBLEM SOLVING and PROOFING: For both stopped and running contact performances, beginning and advanced teams, any or just some of the contacts. Focusing on achieving fast, independent and reliable contacts - problem solving individual team challenges. 4 week class, $160

WEAVEPOLE PROOFING: Focusing on developing confident, enthusiastic and independent performance of weavepoles from entries to exits. Appropriate for experienced teams or those that are looking at solidifying a new performance (dogs must be started on weaves and at least be able to drive through channel poles). Channels and 2x2s will be used primarily. 4 week class, $160

WHIRLWIND FOUNDATION: An intensive station based Foundation course where we will introduce a wide variety of sport and agility foundation behaviors every week. This includes everything from play and relationship to flatwork and beginning contact behavior - also including body awareness, self control and all the important pieces to a strong working foundation. Appropriate for any age, but, please, no reactive dogs - all dogs will be working at the same time (on leash!). Dogs graduating from this class will have priority registration into any future BAA ongoing Foundation class. 4 week class, $160

ALL THE TRICKS!: If there is one thing I wish more people would focus on with their dogs, it's teaching more tricks! Putting aside how incredibly cute and fun tricks can be, the more tricks you train, the more your dog can really learn how to learn - and you can discover the best way to help your dog through that process. Tricks are a great, no pressure way to help your dog learn to love the training process without worrying about the end result. This class will cover a wide variety of tricks every week, introducing new behaviors and ideas for you to work on at home. We will cover everything from shaping, targeting, dog and handler tricks, props, retrieves and more! Appropriate for any age, any experience - all dogs will be working together, so, please, no reactive dogs. 4 week class, $160

ADVANCED TRICKS for AWESOME DOGS: My FAVORITE class - for those dogs that have some tricks under their belt and are ready to put things together in fun new ways! This session we'll be working on a trick routine for the first 3 weeks, with a performance recital on week 4 where the winner will be judged. We'll be covering different tricks to add in to your performance every week, as well as problem solving and working on your own ideas as well. *Dogs don't need to have a lot of tricks for this class, but a good understanding of how to learn! 4 weeks, $160

YOUNG DOG SEQUENCING: Just jumps and tunnels, we'll be focusing on basic, commonly seen sequence and handling challenges for young dogs along with drills and exercises you can set up at home. Appropriate for dogs that have been introduced to jumps and tunnels and basic handling moves (highly recommend you have some commitment in there too!). 4 weeks, $160

ADVANCED YOUNG DOG SEQUENCING: Jumps and tunnels, with the option for weaves (straight or channel). For young dogs that are ready for more challenge, we'll be looking at more sends, commitment, cross challenges and focusing on skills like serpentines, collection, driving ahead, tunnel threadles and more challenging leadouts and trial proofing. 4 weeks, $160

MASTERING DISTANCE: Just because you can't run doesn't mean you can't have a fast and successful agility dog! We will be looking at developing handling and dog skills to help teach your dog to move at a distance from you and helping you get to where you need to be on course. We will be focusing on independent handling, starting with flatwork and moving into jumps and tunnels (contacts will not be covered). There will be weekly homework that should be able to be done with pedestals/cones/buckets for those without equipment at home. Appropriate for dogs trained on jumps and tunnels, both beginners and more experienced dogs. 4 weeks, $160

23/10/2023

We had a lot of fun at the UKI trial over the weekend 😀 And we have another couple trials coming up, including November 3rd in Hopewell. If you're curious about what kind of courses you'll see in UKI, check out the course maps below. Lots of great spacing and flowing courses with interesting challenges - hope you'll join us!

12/10/2023

07/10/2023

Just a couple reminders - there are two UKI trials coming up soon in Hopewell (Oct 21-22 and an evening trial Nov 3rd) - get your trialing in while the weather is still good!

06/08/2023

Local UKI trials coming up!

29/07/2023

I have a few last minute openings in my Summer Specialty classes in Hopewell starting the week of August 7. These are 4 week classes in the cool morning hours - contact me for more info!

WEDNESDAY
10am: Advanced Trick Challenges: For those teams that like to train - every week a different set of challenges to train IN CLASS for fun and prizes! Appropriate for dogs with lots of skills, or dogs that are just good at training new behaviors on the fly. 4 week session starting August 9th.

THURSDAYS
8am: Puppy Foundation: Sports Foundation in a rotation station format, fun and fast moving class looking at introducing a large variety of foundation behaviors (for any sport!) in four weeks. This session is especially tailored to younger puppies. We will look at engagement, focus, play, reward control, body awareness, offering behavior, shaping, tricks, problem solving, verbal control, sound and motion and a host of other games and behaviors. Appropriate for dogs of all ages and levels, this is a great class for dogs of any age to get started right or to go back to focusing on foundation. Please, no reactive dogs, your dog must be safe to have around other dogs (no barking or lunging at other dogs permitted). 4 week session starting August 10th, dogs in this class will have priority registration to an ongoing Foundation class in the Fall.

9am: Foundation Extravaganza: Sports Foundation in a rotation station format, fun and fast moving class looking at introducing a large variety of foundation behaviors (for any sport!) in four weeks. We will look at engagement, focus, play, reward control, body awareness, offering behavior, shaping, tricks, problem solving, verbal control, sound and motion and a host of other games and behaviors. Appropriate for dogs of all ages and levels, this is a great class for dogs of any age to get started right or to go back to focusing on foundation. Please, no reactive dogs, your dog must be safe to have around other dogs (no barking or lunging at other dogs permitted). 4 week session starting August 10th, dogs in this class will have priority registration to an ongoing Foundation class in the Fall.

15/07/2023

We're all so happy Vicky is back ❤️ Agility makes the best friends :-)