beginners
If you are interested in starting agility with your dog please read below for more information.
 What you will learn...
  All dogs and handlers who join our Club start out with the beginners course. Our beginners class is an 8 week course that focuses on teaching our dogs how to learn as well as teaching handlers how to use positive reinforcement and shaping to learn new behaviours. Handlers are also taught how to use a clicker.
  The first four weeks of the course involve teaching shaping, shadow handling, low height jumps and the pipe tunnel. Dogs are introduced to the plank (the start of contact equipment training), weavers and the table. Over the second four weeks of the course, the dogs become proficient at weaves (progressing to 6 weave poles by the end of the class) and are introduced to low-height contact equipment. Jump training and introduction to tunnels (e.g. cloth tunnel) continues throughout the course.
 

Dogs are introduced to most of the agility equipment in this course including jumps, tunnels, low height contact equipment, weavers as well as some of the specialized jumps which include the broad jump, spread hurdle and tyre. Training of many of these individual obstacles continues in the Novice class.
How is it taught...
  BAD Club promotes the use of positive training methods. We use a training tool called a clicker and treats to teach dogs new behaviours. We also actively encourage the use of toys and other positive training tools. No harsh handling or harsh corrections are tolerated at any time.
  Depending on the number of handler/dog teams in your class there will either be one or two instructors assisting you. Generally speaking you will have the same instructor for the first 4 weeks and then new instructors for the last 4 weeks. All of our instructors are volunteers who generously give up their time (and the opportunity to train their own dogs) to assist you during the class.
What else do I need to know... 
  Your instructors will go through the ground rules ground rules with you during your first week. If you have any questions or concerns please speak with your instructor or the course co-ordinator.
Who should I contact...
  BAD Club holds only 3 or 4 Beginners classes in each calendar year and the numbers are limited to 10 handler and dog teams per course. Dogs must be at least 11 months old when they start the course. Please contact the course co-ordinator for the details of the next available class. Contact details are as follows...

Course Co-ordinator...
  Jeff Smith - ph 0414 763 424 or email smilo@bigpond.net.au