| Training |
Any dog can enjoy agility with a little training
That's right. Any dog with reasonably good physical condition and disposition
can enjoy the sport of dog agility with a little training. The same goes for the
handlers. About the only additional pre-requisite is some basic obedience
training. Having a reasonably secure "come" along with a sit, down and
stay will make the training much more productive and enjoyable. The dog should be able to
do these things too.
The Columbia Agility Team offers training
The Columbia Agility Team offers agility classes from Foundation through
Competition classes at its practice barns in Wilsonville and Forest Grove.
Shown below is the Winter 2010 Foundation class.

The dates, times, location and links to registration for Spring training sessions are shown below. The club training director is Julie Padbury. Questions regarding CAT training can be directed to Julie .
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Summer
2010 Classes
Summer Classes will begin the week of June 6 |
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Summer 2010 Class Schedule |
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Foundation -- Registration |
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| Wilsonville | Monday 7 PM | Autumn |
| Tuesday 8 PM | Pam | |
| Tuesday 11 AM | KC | |
| Saturday 11 AM (Juniors Handlers 18 or younger) | Deena | |
| Beginning 1 (Must have completed Foundation or Equivalent) - Registration | ||
| Wilsonville | ||
| Monday 8 PM | Jamie | |
| Tuesday 9 AM | Julie | |
| Tuesday 7 PM | Steve | |
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Beginning 2 (Must have completed Beginning 1 or Equivalent) -- Registration |
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| Wilsonville | ||
| Tues 10 AM | Julie | |
| Thursday 7:30 PM | Dick | |
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Advanced Beginning 2 (Must have completed Beginning 2 or Equivalent) -- Registration |
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| Wilsonville | Sunday 7:30 PM | Dick |
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Pre-Competition/Competition -- Contact Julie Padbury to register |
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| Wilsonville Wilsonville |
Saturday 9 AM Pre-competition (requires instructors approval) | Dick |
| Saturday 10 AM Competition (requires instructors approval) | Dick | |
| Forest Grove | Monday 7:30 PM Pre-Competition/Competition (requires instructor approval) | Barbara |
Agility Foundation is for any dog who has not had prior agility training. Dogs must have had basic obedience training in a class setting and be able to sit, down, stay and recall consistently before starting Foundation. This class will introduce the dog and handler to agility equipment and handling skills on the flat. Students taking class with CAT for the first time must start with a foundation class or demonstrate to the training director that they have had the equivalent training through another instructor. Contact Julie Padbury to arrange an evaluation
Seminars
The Columbia Agility Team and other organizations
sometimes sponsor seminars given by well-known agility instructors/competitors.
These are listed on the Calendar page.
Other
trainers
Other training opportunities are available from individual
instructors. They typically offer group and individual instruction at various times
and locations in the Portland area. If you would like a
list of trainers in your area, send an e-mail with your general location to
catdogs@columbiaagility.org ,
subject -- Trainers
Seminars
Periodically CAT and other clubs in the Northwest will offer
specialized seminars in agility techniques or related subjects. These seminars are taught
by nationally and internationally renowned instructors. For example, check out the Nancy Gyes Semimar held in July
2000. See the Calendar for up-coming events.
Practice
Barns
Practice makes perfect -- or at least better. The Columbia
Agility Team now has two practice/training facilities that are available for open practice
for club members and for individual or group practice sessions. Each barn has a full
complement of agility equipment. We don't advertise the
locations of the barns. If you are a member and need directions, contact the Web Handler.
The Wilsonville Barn (Larsen Barn)
The CAT Wilsonville practice barn is
available for "drop-in" club practice sessions Friday evenings from 7 PM to 9 PM
and Sunday afternoons from 3 PM to 4:30 PM for beginning dogs, 4:30 to 6PM for
advanced dogs. Cost is $3 per dog, $5 for two. The barn can be rented by
CAT members for individual or group training sessions at other times (unless the
Barn is being used for CAT Classes) for $25 a month for one hour per week.
The Barn Manager is Art Brest. Contact Art
to reserve time.
The Forest Grove Barn (Van Dyke Farm)
The Forest Grove barn can be rented by CAT members for individual or group
training sessions at other times (unless the Barn is being used for CAT Classes) for $25 a
month for one hour per week. The events calendar for the Forest Grove Barn
will tell you what's happening and when the barn is available for rental. Barn users
contact Leilani Baker for the password, and more
information.
Forest Grove Barn
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The Barn Manager for the Forest Grove barn is Mike Chapman. Contact Mike for available times, directions and so on.
Please Observe the Barn Rules
Having daily use of the barns for pratice and classes is one of the major
benefits of CAT membership. To make sure that we are able to maintain the use of the
barn, we must make sure we observe the Barn rules. Larsen Farms (Wilsonville) is an
operating retail nursery. We cannot allow our comings and goings or the actions of
our dogs to be a hazard or disruption to the Larsen's workers or customers.
Similarly, the owners of the Forest Grove Barn deserve common courtesy and thoughtfulness
from the CAT members using their facilites. Please check the specific rules for each
site. In general, the rules are:
These rules and guidelines are for the safety of both dogs and
handlers.
1. NO ONE is permitted to enter the building for any reason until the
designated leader is present.
2. IT IS THE LEADER'S responsibility to open the barn, take care of
lights and stay until everyone has finished working. During evening hours the leader is
also responsible for closing the entry gate when leaving the barn area.
3. ONLY Columbia Agility Club members are allowed to run dogs within
the barn. The only exceptions are students participating in a CAT agility class.
4. UNLESS your dog is on the course, it shall be confined to a crate or
x-pen, or under physical control by a lead. DO NOT LET YOUR DOG OFF LEAD
OUTSIDE THE BARN.
5. ONLY ONE dog may be run on the course at a time. During warmups more
than one dog may be on the course providing all dogs are on lead.
6. THE COURSE DESIGN will be at the discretion of the leader. Anyone
desiring to change the course or training activity should seek the leader's approval
before moving obstacles.
7. DOG FECAL material must be picked up and bagged and left in the
small plastic bucket inside the barn. DO NOT place plastic bags in the
Portable Toilet. Handlers must spray any soiled areas inside the
barn with the disinfectant spray bottle provided. Please do not leave food treats and
material in the arena grounds.
8. NO FEMALE DOGS IN HEAT are permitted within the barn area, or in the
parking area at any time.
9. DESIGNATED LEADERS must promptly report ALL incidents involving any
injury to persons or animals, or property damage, to the respective Barn Managers.
The CAT Library
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There are many other resources to help you in training. Books
and DVDs, for example. CAT maintains a library on agility and other dog
related items. These resources are available to CAT members to check out.
You can browse the library
holdings. (requires
free Adobe Reader) If you wish to check something out, contact
the librarian, Diana Dickinson.
There is also a monthly magazine, Clean Run, that offers lots of tips and training exercises for both the novice and the experienced competitor. Clean Run also has a number of training manuals and other training and trial equipment that you can order. You can subscribe to the magazine and purchase agility goodies at www.cleanrun.com.
There's more, but this should get you started. If you know of another agility book or other resource you've found particularly helpful, send us a message at catdogs@columbiaagility.org and we'll try to add it to the library.