To properly execute any jumping sequences, your dog must prepare ON THE GROUND.  Whether going straight or preparing for a tight turn, it’s the decisions the dog makes on the ground (in response to our handling) that results in the proper striding, appropriate takeoff spot and weight shift to the rear to create power for liftoff.   Once a dog has […]

Verbal cues can be helpful in agility.  While our physical cues– our motion and our position — will almost always override a verbal cue when running in agility, it can be a way to give additional information to the dog.  In fact, I want my dog’s response to my physical cues to be strong before I add verbal cues.  But […]

If the evaluation in Part 1 of Lesson 1 showed a weakness in your dog’s understanding of collection when you decelerated, this exercise will help your dog to understand the difference.  Besides the value in teaching the dog to respond to your deceleration, this exercise also rewards the dog for staying on the line you have set and are driving […]

Lesson 1 – Part 1: Recognizing Collection vs Extension and Evaluation One of the most challenging skills our agility dogs face is to turn efficiently on jumps… especially when executing technical sequences that include wraps, threadles, backsides and advanced serpentines.  The dog must learn the physical skill to perform those patterns efficiently – and keep the bars up — and […]

Welcome to Nick’s Boot Camp 101 – SELF STUDY! This course has 6 weeks of lessons with 3-4 exercises in each lesson designed to give you the foundation blueprint for achieving efficient and safe turns, even on technical courses. Mastering these lessons will build your dog’s understanding of how to physically manage turns on technical sequences including wraps, threadles, backsides […]