Meet
Our New Agility Instructor:
Jo Ann Mather
I’ve
been involved in training and showing dogs in obedience, conformation,
and tracking for almost 30 years. In 1991 I “fell into”
agility and became completely immersed. In 1995 I co-founded Sno-King
Agility Club and just completed two years’ service as president.
I’ve served as training director and instructor for Sno-King
and developed their pre-agility curriculum.
My
background is in education; before moving to Washington I taught art
and social studies in Junior High School. Originally from the Missouri
Ozarks, I am completely in love with the Pacific Northwest and wouldn’t
want to live anywhere else. Currently I share my five acres with my
husband, three shelties and one neurotic cat.
I’ve
been an AKC-approved obedience judge since 1985, a couple of years
later I added tracking and in 1996 I became an agility judge as well.
I love judging agility; it’s great to see how the handler/dog
teams meet the challenges set for them.
I’m
still an active exhibitor and my current competition agility dog,
Dixie, earned her Master Agility Champion title, as well as her CD
(Companion Dog) and PT (Herding Pre-Tested) titles in 2004. At the
2005 AKC Agility Championships in Tampa, Florida, Dixie was 3rd out
of a total of 202 dogs in the 12” division.
Agility
Course Descriptions
Introduction
to Agility (Pre-Agility)
Emphasis is on building a working relationship between dog and handler
in an
agility-type setting. Some clicker work on handler/dog focus. Emphasis
on
positive reinforcement.
· Teach the dog to send to a target, using clicker
· Plank work in preparation to contact obstacle work
· Introductory tunnel work
· Introduction to table.
· Basic obedience moves useful in agility
Beginning
Agility
Pre-Requisite – Pre-Agility class or permission of instructor.
Introduction to all obstacles, with emphasis on safe and correct execution.
Introduction to weave poles, hand out of weave pole construction plans
and emphasis that weaves must be taught at home. Beginning sequencing
and some introductory handling moves. Dogs with serious obstacle issues
will need to repeat this class before moving to Advanced Beginners.
Advanced
Beginners
Pre-requisite – Successful completion of Beginning Agility and
permission of instructor. Emphasis on perfecting obstacle performance
and introduction to sequencing and handling. Handlers should be working
diligently at home on weave pole performance. There may be some obstacle
issues, such as teeter and weave poles, which will be worked on in
class.
Novice
Pre-requisite – Permission of instructor. There should be no
serious equipment issues at this level. Dogs must be doing weave poles,
including correct entry on both left and right side. Focus on this
class is on
sequencing, handling, and beginning of course analysis. Dogs should
be
either competing in Novice or getting ready to do so.
Competition
Pre-requisite – Permission of instructor. For dogs who are competing
at the Open and Excellent level (or equivalent in NADAC or USDAA).
Focus will be
on advanced handling techniques and problem solving. Serious emphasis
on
course analysis and handling.
Class
Schedule
