Glandore Dog Agility section
In order to start agility
training, your dog must be over 12 months of age. If you are not sure about
your breed of dog (for example, larger breeds might need to wait longer than
12 months), please consult your vet.
If you have a puppy which you would like to do agility with once it is old
enough, why not come to the club's obedience classes,
held in Mallusk or Holywood, and progress through some (or all) of the Kennel
Club Good Citizens' Awards until you can take part in agility?
We welcome handlers of all
ages and abilities and dogs of all breeds to our agility classes and will
train you to whatever level you fancy- just to have fun, just to try or to
compete at national and/or international levels. (Please note that in order
to compete successfully at agility, it usually takes a dog and handler team
around 2 years (or more) depending on breed and committment/ practice).
Agility training takes place all year round at Sweetwall Stud, Dunadry on
Sunday afternoons.
If you are coming for the first time, you need to join one of our Beginners' courses, please email and check that there is space for you on the next course. We have had such a demand for Beginners training that we are now running 8 week courses with an assessment week to make sure you can cope in the next class!
Your
first 'taster' class is free, after which, if you decide to continue with
agility training, you will need to
join the club. Currently membership of Glandore club is £15 per family/
partnership per year, then
£3.00 per lesson (£4.00 for 2+ dogs) every time you come. Membership
includes obedience classes,
too.
NB: Especially between September- April, please wear old clothes
and wellies or stout boots, as
the training fields can get very muddy!
Agility classes are as following:
Socialisation period (supervised, off-lead), for all dogs, 1.30pm to 1.45pm.
Please note- the gates are closed for this session at 1.30pm, so if you are
late, you won't be allowed to come in!
Particularly useful for dogs which are not used to the company of other dogs,
please let us know if your dog has any socialisation issues
BEFORE you let it join in!
Competition & Improvers: 1.30
pm to 4.15 pm
Beginners: 1.30 pm to 3.00 pm
There is a tea break for all handlers from
3.00 pm to 3.15 pm, when announcements are often made, also time to ask any
questions. Please note, you are expected
to help put out and take down the equipment, all members help with this so
that it is not left to just a few...
On completion of the Beginners' class, dog and handler
pass into the intermediate/ competition class, which runs from 1.30pm to 3.00pm,
and when the partnership starts to compete (or would theoretically be able
to compete) they are welcome to stay all afternoon.
Progress depends upon the individual dog and handler and how often they attend,
as dogs (and handlers!) forget things from week to week!
Members of the agility section ususally meet after class in the local hostelry, Ellie Mays and organise social events occasionally, normally without their four-footed friends!
If you would like to see more agility photos, click here!
