Dogs may not be aggressive to people or dogs. Reactive dogs must be evaluated prior to enrolling in a class. Please contact Stephanie Capkovic at steph@bvtrainingcenter.com to schedule an evaluation.

The dog must have a sit and down on command, have a reliable recall and be able to walk on leash in a controlled manner with other dogs and people present.

Students must bring a crate and a cover to class to have a safe and quiet resting place for their dog to take a break.

Students new to Bella Vista Training Center must begin in Agility 1 unless evaluated by the Agility Director and/or class instructor. Please contact Stephanie Capkovic at steph@bvtrainingcenter.com to schedule an evaluation.

Students will be evaluated by their instructor prior to the end of the session and will be informed when they are ready to advance to the next level.

All Bella Vista policies are in effect at all times.

Enrollment Requirements

• The dog must meet all Bella Vista Training Center basic enrollment requirements.
• There is no minimum age requirement; no dog is too old or too young to participate.

Class Content

The following skills will be taught on and off-lead:

• Building teamwork (dog wanting to play with handler vs. self-reward).
• Flatwork.
• Targeting.
• Recalls.
• Body awareness – perch work, plank, ladder.
• Impulse control.
• Use of release word.
• Introduction to movement: buja board.
• Left/right (tricks that can be expanded on to use as cues).
• Stationary exercises that are necessary for success in agility.
• Distraction training will be introduced as the teams’ skills progress.

Obstacles

Pause table and low-height jumps will be used in class for proofing stay behavior.

Advancement Requirements

The dog and handler team must demonstrate the following skills to advance to Agility 2:

• 45 second sit/down stay on lead.
• 10 foot lead out from table.
• 10 foot lead out in a straight line with dog sitting behind a jump.
• Send around a cone in both directions from 10 feet.
• Send 15 feet to a target.
• Recall to heel, side and front from 15 feet.
• Handler can demonstrate all concepts and handling skills taught at this class level.

Upcoming Classes

Thursdays

Enrollment Requirements

• The dog must:
  • Meet all Bella Vista Training Center basic enrollment requirements.
  • Be at least 10 months of age.
• Current Bella Vista students must have approval from the Agility 1 instructor that the stated skills for advancement have adequately been met and be observed by the Agility 2 instructor to confirm appropriateness for the class.
• New or returning Bella Vista students must be evaluated by the Agility Director and/or Agility 2 instructor prior to enrolling in this level.

Class Content

The following skills will be taught off-lead.

This level is where all agility equipment will be introduced to the teams.  Dogs may not be performing all equipment independently, but they must be able to perform all the equipment to advance to Agility 3. 

• Sit, down and come commands and all with distractions.
• Sit-stay and down-stay at the start line and on the table for 30-second duration with distractions.
• Line-up behaviors to include the heel and side commands.
• Teeter board and “jungle gym games” on reduced-height teeter.
• Appropriate use of targets.
• Drive around a cone.
• Recall games.
• Jump commitment exercises.
• Forward focus games.
• Handler/obstacle focus games.
• Being measured with the wicket.
• Send, recall and clockwork approaches to the tunnel, jump, tire and table.
• Front, rear and blind crosses – on the flat and with obstacles.
• Stopped contact behavior for the A-frame, dog walk and teeter.
• All obstacles listed below will be taught up to full competition height.
• Introduction work on concepts of pushing and pulling the dogs.
• Introduction to sending the dog away laterally (out) and forward (go) on command to obstacles independent of the handler.

Obstacles

Winged and wingless jumps, tunnel, table, tire jump, A-frame, dog walk, teeter, weaves.

Advancement Requirements

The dog and handler team must demonstrate the following skills to advance to Agility 3:

• That they can perform the above stated obedience skill set with distractions.
• Dogs must be able to send to all listed obstacles from 10 to 15 feet.
• Dog must be able to be recalled over any obstacle above and have clear understanding of release word.
• Dog must be confident with the movement on the low teeter.
• Must be able to demonstrate a stopped contact behavior on the dog walk and A-frame with at least a 75 percent success rate.
• Ability to complete clockwork approaches to jumps, tire jump and tunnels.
• The team must be able to demonstrate front, rear and blind crosses on the flat.
• The dog must be able to hold a start line stay for the time it takes the handler to walk to the first obstacle and call them to complete the first obstacle.
• Handler must demonstrate the ability to turn dog 180 degrees with the opposite hand on the flat from both sides.
• The dog must be able to perform the following obstacles: Jumps, table, tunnels, the A-frame, dog-walk, teeter and weaves.  Obstacles may be at lower heights.
• Handler can demonstrate all concepts and handling skills taught at this class level.

Upcoming Classes

Mondays

Enrollment Requirements

• The dog must:
  • Meet all Bella Vista Training Center basic enrollment requirements.
  • Be at least 12 months of age.
• Current Bella Vista students must have approval from the Agility 2 instructor that the stated skills for advancement have adequately been met and be observed by the Agility 3 instructor to confirm appropriateness for the class.
• New or returning Bella Vista students must be evaluated by the Agility Director and/or Agility 3 instructor prior to enrolling in this level.

Class Content

The following skills will be taught.

• Warm-up exercise and stretches.
• “Out” and “find me” commands.
• Contact equipment working up to full height.
• Lead outs.
• Spread jumps.
• Weaves.
• Forward distance work.
• Front, blind and rear crosses.
• Switch and tandem turns.
• Short sequences (5 to 6 obstacles) with changes of direction.
• Handling on the flat.

Advancement Requirements

The dog and handler team must demonstrate the following skills to advance to Agility 4:

• Dog must be able to weave 12 poles from both sides with assistance/guides.
• Dog must be able to do both sit and down on table at full competition count.
• Dog demonstrates an understanding and is confident on full-height contact equipment.
• Handler can demonstrate all concepts and handling skills taught at this class level.
• Handler must have control of the dog off-lead.
• Handler must be able to lead out 2 obstacles with the dog in a sit/down stay.
• Dog can perform 4 to 6-obstacle sequences with side changes.

Upcoming Classes

Mondays

Enrollment Requirements

• The dog must:
  • Meet all BVTC basic enrollment requirements
  • Be at least 12 months of age
• Current BVTC students must have approval from the Agility 3 instructor that the stated skills for advancement have adequately been met and be observed by the Agility 3+ instructor to confirm appropriateness for the class.
• New or returning BVTC students must be evaluated by the Agility Director and/or Agility 3+ instructor prior to enrolling in this level.

Class Content

The focus in this course is on building the team’s confidence and skill in running a full-size course. We will focus on identifying options for each challenge to improve the handler’s ability to identify all options and to choose an option right for the team. Every team has strengths and challenges that must be considered when planning a run. The courses will include challenges appropriate to excellent courses, although time will be available to work with teams at their level of competition. 

The teams will walk the course(s) together to discuss options for handling. Generally, the class will practice each half of the course using one or more options and then run the entire course.

Advancement Requirements

Students who wish to transfer/advance into Levels 4, 5 or 6 must have the approval of the Level 3+ instructor and the instructor of the Level Instructor the team is entering.

Upcoming Classes

Thursdays

Enrollment Requirements

• The dog must:
  • Meet all Bella Vista Training Center basic enrollment requirements.
  • Be at least 15 months of age.
• Current Bella Vista students must have approval from the Agility 3 instructor that the stated skills for advancement have adequately been met and be observed by the Agility 4 instructor to confirm appropriateness for the class.
• New or returning Bella Vista students must be evaluated by the Agility Director and/or Agility 4 instructor prior to enrolling in this level.

Class Content

The following skills will be taught:

• Box work.
• Collection and extension.
• Obstacle discrimination.
• Handling techniques to execute pinwheels, serpentines, threadles, 180s and 270s.
• Independent weave and contact obstacle performance.

Advancement Requirements

The dog and handler team must demonstrate the following skills to advance to Agility 5:

• Dog must be able to independently weave 12 poles from both sides.
• Dog must be able to independently execute all contact obstacles and the table based on the handler’s established criteria.
• Handler can demonstrate all concepts and handling skills taught at this class level.
• Dog can perform 8 to 12-obstacle sequences with side changes.

Upcoming Classes

Mondays

Wednesdays

Enrollment Requirements

• The dog must:
  • Meet all Bella Vista Training Center basic enrollment requirements.
  • Be at least 24 months of age.
• Current Bella Vista students must have approval from the Agility 4 instructor that the stated skills for advancement have adequately been met and be observed by the Agility 5 instructor to confirm appropriateness for the class.
• New or returning Bella Vista students must be evaluated by the Agility Director and/or Agility 5 instructor prior to enrolling in this level.

Class Content

The following skills will be taught:

• Handling techniques: forced front, wrap, flip back, tandem turn, lap turn and layering.
• Backside approaches to jumps and tunnels.
• Increasing forward and lateral distance between dog and handler.
• How to choose the appropriate path for the dog on course.

Advancement Requirements

The dog and handler team must demonstrate the following skills to advance to Agility 6:

• Handler can demonstrate all concepts and handling skills taught at this class level.
• The team is competing at an intermediate level or higher in sanctioned agility events.

Upcoming Classes

Wednesdays

Enrollment Requirements

• The dog must:
  • Meet all Bella Vista Training Center basic enrollment requirements.
  • Be at least 24 months of age.
• Current Bella Vista students must have approval from the Agility 5 instructor that the stated skills for advancement have adequately been met and be observed by the Agility 6 instructor to confirm appropriateness for the class.
• New or returning Bella Vista students must be evaluated by the Agility Director and/or Agility 6 instructor prior to enrolling in this level.
• The dog and handler team must be competing in an advanced level in a sanctioned agility organization.

Class Content

This class is for the serious agility competitor that wishes to refine their handling techniques to be more successful in competition. Time will be spent on evaluating the use of different handling techniques in order for the handler to make the best decisions for their dog on course.

Upcoming Classes

Wednesdays